Why no roll cages?

So I have seen quite a few more serious off-road builds on this site and others for the Tundra. I think I remember only seeing 1 person actually put a roll cage in their Tundra. Why don't more people do it? That was one of the first things I always considered when building a wheeling rig. I can think of a few reasons:

1. Payload on these trucks is already low and adding the weight of a roll cage isn't helping that.
2. Putting a cage inside of a truck is hard - especially if you can't take the top off of said truck.
3. Cages reduce inside space and get in the way.
4. Some people claim that you just need to be a "good driver". While there is some definite truth to this statement, stuff always happens - even to experienced off-roaders.

Especially after seeing the amount of money some spend on their builds in the mod money spent thread - I am just curious why I haven't seen more of these installed. They aren't that expensive (relatively speaking) for the piece of mind provided. I also don't see a lot of harness installations in some of these higher-priced builds.

Thoughts/Comments?

 

If I had a dedicated rock crawler that I used for extreme terrain I'd do it. But considering it's my DD, it doesn't make sense.

 

Sure - I understand that. I'm talking about the more "extreme" builds that aren't DDs.

 

@Spvrtan @papasmurf

 

There is a lot that goes with a cage. You can be the cool guy who drives the street with a cage. Most of the time they are more deadly/dangerous on the streets. Anytime you get into a caged vehicle you would want to wear a helmet. If not a dd then now you are talking a bigger truck that is capable of pulling a dual axle flat trailer with your cages tundra on it to wherever it is you plan to go.

Proper cages need certification depending where you compete.
Any time piloting a cage you should wear a brain bucket.
Full 5-6 point harness
Oxygen tanks
Also most real race cages are made into the doors. So that means. No windows and climbing in and out of the window net.

For the most part, I think a roll bar is good enough for the average Joe. That would be main hoop at b-pillars with harness mounts, and down to the c pillars.

 

What are the oxygen tanks for? If you roll upside down into water or something?

 

Helps get driver/co-driver air as they run close vented to keep dust out. Also helps with driver fatigue and keeps em cool.

 

Main thing these trucks are too damn big to do serious crazy rock crawling, ie that type of stuff where you will roll your rig until you figure out what you are doing.

 

There are a lot of negatives to running a cage. The biggest negative is comfort. The cab is loud, the space is restricted, you have to wear a 5 point and helmet, and its a pita to get in and out of the truck.

Your brain is your most important safety device. Instead of running a cage, I choose to drive safely and within my limits and the trucks limits.

 

Rock crawlers can roll and rollovers can happen at speed. But you can also choose how much you want to push the limit. For example, when I ride my mountain bike, there are some trails that I wear a full face helmet and pads. There are other trails where I wear a half helmet and no pads.

I don't drive my truck in a manner where I feel a cage is warranted

 

Well you'll also never catch me on those trails you posted where the jeeps roll.

Do you have a cage in your daily driver? I feel safer on the trail than I do on the freeway, I'll tell you what

 

I agree with that completely. But I have seen pictures/videos of people doing some rock crawling with them. And some on this site are staunch defenders of the fact that Tundras can go on "Jeep only" type trails.

I figured that you would have experience with this. I have only been in a vehicle once with a rollover. It had a cage and we were harnessed in (I wasn't driving). It was a slow speed event and we weren't doing anything that was viewed as extremely crazy by most. I am still not sure what happened, some blamed the spotter, some blamed the driver. But the fact is that we both walked away with no harm and there was really only cosmetic damage to the vehicle.

I have seen several rollovers while out on the trails. None of them were at high speed. The caged instances were always better outcomes.

I agree 100%. While I don't work in the auto industry, my background is a mechanical engineer and a big part of my work for the past ~20 years has been in high speed impacts for air carried weapons and penetration events. There is a ton to think about when trying to design a system for a highly dynamic event. So building a crawler type cage vs a cage for a vehicle that actually sees some speed would produce very different designs in my mind. I think it would be significantly harder to design a cage for high speed scenarios. Definitely interesting to think about.

Yeah, but shit can still happen. As I hinted at above, for your case, I think it would be harder to design an appropriate cage, since you do more higher speed stuff than the typical "crawler" rig.


Good discussion points. I was just thinking about it the other day and thought it would be a good thing to kick around and see what y'all thought. Thanks for the input so far.

 

Good point. I have often wondered why there isn't more race car safety design ideas that spill over into everday vehicles. Well, I know why - it would be cost prohibitive. But, you can have drivers of NASCAR vehicles walk away from extremely high speed crashes because of the safety they build into those cars. Why not try and model some of that into every day vehicles? Again - money....but it is a nice thought.

 

No not at all. I can feel how the truck is behaving and I know where the limits are to where I might have to worry about a rollover. Maybe other drivers out there should have a cage and I'm not saying I'm the best driver in the world. But I am saying that I feel safe driving without a cage because I trust myself. If that makes sense..

Well its more than just money. Its also comfort and lets be honest, aesthetics.

 

Look the bottom line is that if you're going to push your truck, then hell yeah you need a cage. But you better be prepared for the discomfort. Every one I have ever met with a cage says they suck.

 

Im still trying fit my full cage on my dedicated rock crawler!!! The Ali P go fast mobile
my tundy is only mall certified does have the obligatory chrome bull nuts though!

 

Best cage I've seen on a Tundra (for @asmoot on Instagram)..

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoK7L6ZlLCU/?taken-by=dirtskum

 

Who the hll wants to wait a whole year for LSK to get you in for a cage

 

Rich people with too much money and time to spend on vacations while waiting.

 

LOL why you draggin me into this shit.. oh wait LOL

why no cage.... umm here are some of my reasons

1. not a race truck
2. at the speeds i go the unibody on frame is safe enough
3. even in a roll over crash with cage large ammounts of damage will occur, cage doesnt prevent that
4. not a race truck
5. cost
6. weight
7. still not a race truck
8. i dont put my self into compromising situations like dune jumping
9. They are uncomfortable
10. i dont want to have to drive with a helmet on all the time
11. yup still not a race truck
12. i like my stock power seats
13. its not a rock crawler
14. restriction in interior space
15. you have to wear a 5 point
16. Annoying climing in and out over a cage ( i know i had one in my old race car)
17. STILL NOT A RACE TRUCK

that is a very nice interior and cage they did

 

FWIW, I've considered internal roll hoops at the B and C pillar that triangulate to each other (simple 4 point cage). But I don't want a full cage that necessitates a helmet (6 or more point cage). The hoops would be far enough from passengers heads that we could still daily without a helmet (we don't have back seats anymore so passenger heads are not a consideration). I'm just thinking of something that will support some of the weight of the truck in the case it ends up on its lid. Have you seen a Tundra after even a slow speed rollover?

I don't drive near as cautiously as Alex, so I'd like a little insurance inside, without everything that goes along with a full blown interior roll cage. I've seen perfectly good drivers have perfectly bad accidents, and know myself - I'll push too far one day and don't want to regret it.

 

you're wrong

 

you and Bruce both scare the sht outta me. I'm not riding with you guys anymore