Least Obstrusive Roll Cage

[jason@gmachine]

i prefer real world tests.....





i know its not a MC but you get the point.

jason

[jason@gmachine]

I do not neccessarily disagree the opinions offered above about most bolt-in rollbars/cages, but would offer that there may be a new alternative.

http://www.ridetech.com/catalog/TigerCage-2490-1.html

Before you absorb too much of this info, be aware that I designed, manufacture, and sell this product, so I have an obvious bias.

MOST custom rollbars/cages are properly designed and installed. To acheive this level of quality requires a significant investment in effort to locate and schedule a competent fabricator, and in money to pay him. Rollbar/cage design and installation is time consuming, expert work that typically brings $75-$100 per hour. A simple rollbar installation can be 30 hours including interior R&R. A typical 8 point cage can be 60-70 hours. The math adds up quickly...assuming that you can locate and schedule a competent installer. This is not such a chore in a major population area but can be a real problem in a more rural area.
The Tigercage was developed to bridge the gap between nothing [or worse, a poor cage] and the full-on fabrication excercise required for a 7 second NHRA car or a 250mph Bonneville racer. I will let you go to the link for the details but the highlights are:

1. pre-engineered design that is model specific to each application
2. SFI certification is pending - this level of approval doesn't happen overnight for good reason. We have supplied a large amount of supporting documentation for material properties, joint design, attachment design and weld process. SFI tells us to expect this process to take until the end of 2009.
3. Direct interface with the structural strength points of each application
4. 304 stainless offers the concept of "controlled crushability" similar to the crumple zones designed into a new car. 304L stainless has a ultimate tensile strength that is higher than mild steel and approaching chrome moly, but the yeild [bend] strength is lower. We expect the TigerCage to adbsorb crash energy instead of transferring it directly to the driver.

The downside...

1. It is initially expensive - 4k with harnesses - but avoids most of the installation expense. In the end the math will like come out in your favor.
2. SFI certification is not yet complete. The only thing I can guarantee you at this point in time is an increase in structural rigidity. While any increase in structural strength should improve crash safety, the conservative among you will likely wait for SFI's blessing.

The TigerCage may not be for you...but it may very well be the solution for many.

I think you have a great idea. It might not replace the Custom built car, but it sure will be a great bolt in unit. At first i was not thrilled on the clamps, but after closer examination i agree that they are more then strong enough. I also like the use of the stainless, i have been wanting to use that for a while not, but the cost has prevented me from doing so.

good job on the kit.

jason

[Bryce]

decide what your car will be used for? NHRA has different requiremnts than SCCA. These have exact build specs for the car. with bar dimensions and allowed bends etc...

If you want your family in the car then the cage will for sure not pass NHRA. So dont try to go to the drag strip and run sub 11:90 because the cage will not pass spec.

good luck, but i dont think there is a "do all car".

but for a street car a custom cage is the way to go, this will protect the people in the car.

[mikedc]

Just a comment about the safety of cages in general, pre-bent or not:




All the same logic that says it's crazy to run a rollcage in a street car . . . would also say it's equally crazy to drive a restored stock muscle car too.


So the rollcage is a risk of head impact? Okay I totally agree. But before we start condemning the whole principle of cages in street cars, take a look at the hard steel structure & total lack of cushioning on a STOCK vintage muscle car's roof. That setup is so bad it's hilarious. (And as a bonus, this ugly steel roof structure is twice as prone to crushing into you compared to a caged car when you get t-boned or roll over!)

Of course the cage makes the metal closer. But even without the cage, I'll bet I could easily knock myself unconscious if I sneezed the wrong way while sitting in the driver seat of most classic muscle cars.



I'm not encouraging anyone to run an unsafe cage on the street, but I'm saying let's keep this in perspective. These muscle-era cars are pretty unsafe at the core. The chassis/frames, the dashboards, the steering wheels, the columns, the seat frames, the crazy-stupid lap belts they came with, the lack of headrests, the crappy headrests they got even when it was mandated, the steel all over the interior on the surfaces that the passengers can come in contact with, etc.

A rollcage or other safety mods might change the factors to contend with, but it's not like safety is a binary thing. There's a million shades of gray to the issue. The safety of these cars is a long way from being white regardless of whether it's got a cage or not.



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