A thought about Roll Cages

[IainB]

Driving home from work today and suddenly thought about the whole roll cage thing, having seen some >150mph off's where the driver has walked without any issues, and after Zaks off - why dont manufacturers incorporate more of a roll cage when building a car?
Is it a weight thing, cost, or just the hassle, im not talking about a full on CDS multipoint cage with door bars and diagonals, more of a 'box' around the main cabin area
Thoughts - or have I just had a mad ramble?

[CocoPops]

I think the Smart cars are closest to this idea?

The passenger compartment is protected by a reinforced steel cage which its engineers call the "walnut," allowing the car's exterior to absorb much of the energy of an impact. The cage holds up to some brutal punishment… for example, in one test the cage remained intact after impacting a 20 ton block of concrete at 70 MPH

[J4MES]

most cars do - it's called the roof!! seriously, most of the 'structural rigidity' of a car comes from the fact that it's a 'shell' (think egg) and it has inherent strength... the front and rear (outside the passanger cell) are deformable crumple zones, but the rest is supposed to stay intact... it's a question of weight and cost (efficiency) as to why they're not stronger/heavier - its a balance of risk...

chop the roof off most cars and watch it go floppy...

[360bhp]

I duno mate, but it sure does feel special climbing into a roll caged car though!

[Zak33]

it's a shame isn't it

I'd feel much better about it all if I had one.

BUT you'd need good harnesses too...not just inertia reel belts!

[Lowe]

It's time's like these when you wish you had a cage..



Poor Clio, didn't make it, ended up on the roof splatted. Driver was unhurt other than his pride. Still... if you will run slicks and not have a cage...

[5lab]

awesome picture

to be honest, most cars do have a structure built into the roof and sides of the car - the a, b and c pillar are intergral to this. chances of a car actually rolling under normal crash are fairly slim - the impact of having a stronger cell would add significantly to the weight and the higher cog.

whats more, it wouldnt help ncap, so who cares

[Lowe]

http://media.putfile.com/DohAnglesey

^ video of the above

[[GSV]Trig]

How much are weld in cages?
And how much to they weigh?

[Shad]

A Custom Cages multi point weld in cage for my CRX is £450 plus vat plus fitting.

You can get bolt in cages for less, which are frankly plenty strong enough unless you get serious about racing.

Lowe: They weren't slicks at the end of the video, unless he changed over afterwards?

[Lowe]

They were cut slicks, those Toyo888's I think. He defo wasn't on road tyres, that's why he rolled, just too much grip. :S

[Butuz]

They were cut slicks, those Toyo888's I think. He defo wasn't on road tyres, that's why he rolled, just too much grip. :S

You can never have too much grip more like he rolled due to overly high centre of gravity

As for roll cages, if your going to go the expense, and impracticalty of fitting one, you may as well weld it in as bolts are not as strong, or reliable as welds. Just my 2p as per usual

Butuz

[[GSV]Trig]

Buy a bolt in, then weld it in lol...

[hitman67]

If your not doing any racing or track days then do you really need a roll cage. I mean if you take Zak's accident he was travelling at hellish speed down narrow lanes (Not having a go!) and it was an unfortunate accident. Your average driver is never going to be having that big an accident unless they have got something majorly wrong.

Even Cabrio's today are mighty strong, and your average tin top is going to have no trouble surviving a 70-80mph roll and not put any serious risk to the driver. If you are going racing then I'd say a cage is a very very good idea and strongly recommended, but for usual road use not needed.

Cracking picture Lowe! Just has "Oh *bleep*" written all over it.

[Moby-Dick]

Bolt in cages are quite cheap - a half cage for my S13 which isn't going to affect practicality as I've removed the rear seats is about £300 delivered - could well be £300 well spent though.

[Shad]

I don't see the point in rear/half cages, for safety. If a car is on its roof it will pivot on the front edge, because the engine's at the front so it's heavier.

Probably better than nothing though