Installing rollbar

[StuckInTheMudd]

How easy/expensive is it to install a rollbar if I buy a vehicle without one? Is that even done? Is it recommended?

[Oupa Stig]

As far as I know all the holes are there, just a bolt-on... Like that on my bakkies anyway.

[coetzer94]

Are you refering to a steel cage as the ones racing vehicles use, or a chrome styling bar as on most new bakkies?

For the chrome styling bar, you can do it yourself, just drill the necassary holes (my xtracab did not have the holes so i drilled them myself) and paint some rust proofing to the exposed metal before fitting the bolts.

[StuckInTheMudd]

No not a rollcage. Nor a stylebar. I'm referring to the normal rollbars that plaasbakkies have. The ones that offer protection.

When I bought my vehicle I saw it had a rollbar, but when I looked under the tonneau cover I saw it is actually just a stylebar. I didn't know that useless crap existed. So naive

[Knuppel]

Ed, you can fit it very easily. Just make sure the roll bar is made from decent material and not the chromed paper you saw on the style bar.

Below is a pic of one on my bakkie, Its an old SFA yes but those roll bars work, I have tested them (long ago)
4 Nice 15mm bolts with nice thick body washers or a matching plate at the bottom will secure it is case of roll over.

[StuckInTheMudd]

Thanks Marius. To what is the rollbar attached? The chassis I presume?

[Knuppel]

No. It is attached to the load body. There is no need for attaching it to the chassis. If you are in a rollover situation the bar protects the cab from getting crushed. It will not prevent damage! The load body is strong enough to attach the roll bar on as long as you attach it properly so that it does not get ripped off.

[StuckInTheMudd]

Oh, I see. I would have thought that the "soft-skinned" vehicles' panels would tear like paper.

[Mud Dog]

The inner metal of the load body is of a heavier gauge than the body panels, so it won't just tear loose. I've seen lots of roll-overs / multiple rolls as well (pics and actual) and the bars hold.

[StuckInTheMudd]

Oh splendid! I pictured having to drill through everything to reach the chassis. Good thing I was just being ignorant.

Thanks guys