Is there a better roll bar design for no soft top?
08-18-2010, 01:04 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Is there a better roll bar design for no soft top?
Starting to research my roll bar options for next season. I have a CR which means no soft top, but also it's not a dedicated track car (see's autox, weekend cruising, but not daily driver either). Does the Hard Dog roll bar make any compromises so that it doesn't effect the oem top, or is it a pretty ideal design.
My priorities (in order) when it comes to a roll bar are:
1) Safety
2) NASA/SCCA Legal
3) harness bar that supports HANS
4) keep oem glove box (can this be done with removing the bulkhead?)
5) remove stock hoops
6) keep oem seat belts for street use
7) little to no cutting
Is the hard dog still the right option for me or would something custom be better?
My priorities (in order) when it comes to a roll bar are:
1) Safety
2) NASA/SCCA Legal
3) harness bar that supports HANS
4) keep oem glove box (can this be done with removing the bulkhead?)
5) remove stock hoops
6) keep oem seat belts for street use
7) little to no cutting
Is the hard dog still the right option for me or would something custom be better?
08-18-2010, 03:16 PM
#2
IMHO the harddog bar falls short with the uprights not coming closer to the top of the main roll hoop. It basically lowers the sheer plane and isn't the BEST design. Now...its within FIA specs in that the uprights need to be greater than 30 degrees and with 100mm of the main roll hoop. But its not ideal. Does it work, is it safe...appears so. Personally though I'm going to have my own made, and if I wasn't going to X the main hoop then it would meet all your requirements.
However with item 5 do you want to remove the stock hoops? Or do you not? You do know that the stock seat belts are mounted to the stock hoops. Its not an end all and certainly a roll bar fabricator could make up a little bracket to make it work...
However with item 5 do you want to remove the stock hoops? Or do you not? You do know that the stock seat belts are mounted to the stock hoops. Its not an end all and certainly a roll bar fabricator could make up a little bracket to make it work...
08-18-2010, 03:37 PM
#3
Registered User
i'm in a very similar boat right now.
If you had a soft top and wanted to keep it, I'd get a hard dog. From what I've found, it's the best option for fitting under a soft top.
If you don't have a soft top, maybe get a custom bar that will have better design since you have more space.
If you had a soft top and wanted to keep it, I'd get a hard dog. From what I've found, it's the best option for fitting under a soft top.
If you don't have a soft top, maybe get a custom bar that will have better design since you have more space.
08-18-2010, 08:29 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Maybe I'll get some quotes on custom bars. If I have to pay a little more for added safety and convenience, then so be it.
I'm looking to remove the stock hoops. They seem superfluous (ie added weight) when there's a "real" bar in place. I wouldn't want to remove it though if safety is severely compromised when using the 3 point on the street.
I'm looking to remove the stock hoops. They seem superfluous (ie added weight) when there's a "real" bar in place. I wouldn't want to remove it though if safety is severely compromised when using the 3 point on the street.
08-19-2010, 01:21 PM
#5
Former Sponsor
Originally Posted by patinum,Aug 18 2010, 08:29 PM
Maybe I'll get some quotes on custom bars. If I have to pay a little more for added safety and convenience, then so be it.
I'm looking to remove the stock hoops. They seem superfluous (ie added weight) when there's a "real" bar in place. I wouldn't want to remove it though if safety is severely compromised when using the 3 point on the street.
I'm looking to remove the stock hoops. They seem superfluous (ie added weight) when there's a "real" bar in place. I wouldn't want to remove it though if safety is severely compromised when using the 3 point on the street.
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08-19-2010, 05:09 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by patinum,Aug 18 2010, 01:04 PM
Starting to research my roll bar options for next season. I have a CR which means no soft top, but also it's not a dedicated track car (see's autox, weekend cruising, but not daily driver either). Does the Hard Dog roll bar make any compromises so that it doesn't effect the oem top, or is it a pretty ideal design.
My priorities (in order) when it comes to a roll bar are:
1) Safety
2) NASA/SCCA Legal
3) harness bar that supports HANS
4) keep oem glove box (can this be done with removing the bulkhead?)
5) remove stock hoops
6) keep oem seat belts for street use
7) little to no cutting
Is the hard dog still the right option for me or would something custom be better?
My priorities (in order) when it comes to a roll bar are:
1) Safety
2) NASA/SCCA Legal
3) harness bar that supports HANS
4) keep oem glove box (can this be done with removing the bulkhead?)
5) remove stock hoops
6) keep oem seat belts for street use
7) little to no cutting
Is the hard dog still the right option for me or would something custom be better?
I think your best bet would be a custom bar. I have the harddog bar with the lowered harness bar and it definately won't do all that you are looking for.
I used it with the OEM seats, belts, bulkhead, harddog bar, and CG lock for a few events and I still failed the broomstick test, grew tired of flopping around in the OEM seats, and personally thought it looked like crap with the roll hoops missing and just the center compartment.
I then deleted the oem belts, bulkhead, and center compartment, to go with Schroth ASM FE belts since they are the only DOT approved (w/ASM) and hans approved belts on the market. I use harness pads and the 4pt harness on the street. Remove the harness pads, add the sub belt and Hybrid Pro head and neck restraint and I am ready for the track.
Its not an ideal setup, but its the best street/track setup that I felt comfortable with. Other than driving back and forth to autocrosses or trackdays I seldom drive my S2K so loosing the OEM belts was not a big deal to me.
BTW, my rollhoops and center compartment are uncut and can be reinstalled if I want to return to stock and sell it the car. Not sure if that is a priority to you.
If you end up with something custom, I am interested in seeing what it looks like.
08-20-2010, 04:14 AM
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Originally Posted by chuhsi,Aug 19 2010, 05:17 PM
how do you use a harness with the oem seat?
I have never used the 4pt harness with the OEM seat on the track, but I could I guess.