External cage extra weight

I think you have summed it up exactly Kirkynut - as you say depends very much on what you want to use it for. I fitted an internal cage as my vvt is French registered and external cages are not allowed in France, so no option. However I had some protection bars made that go along the edge of the roof so that if I lean it against a tree it won't push the corners of the roof in. They also make a good anchor point for tree wires at the top of the screen. Ultimately in a serious multi roll I think an internal cage will always be stronger, but will write off the car. It's the reason rally cars have internal cages.

Edit - photo of roof protection bars

Thankyou very much kirky for that invaluable advice which I shall now take. That has answered all my worries. Much appreciated. Mike.

Obarno wrote: I think you have summed it up exactly Kirkynut - as you say depends very much on what you want to use it for. I fitted an internal cage as my vvt is French registered and external cages are not allowed in France, so no option. However I had some protection bars made that go along the edge of the roof so that if I lean it against a tree it won't push the corners of the roof in. They also make a good anchor point for tree wires at the top of the screen. Ultimately in a serious multi roll I think an internal cage will always be stronger, but will write off the car. It's the reason rally cars have internal cages.

Edit - photo of roof protection bars

Hey Obarno have you got anymore infor or pictures of the roof protection bar, i want to do something simular to min on the roof, to mount spotlights and carry my highlift jack... looks like a very nice bit of kit !! hows it fixed ?
cheers dan

Hi Dan - they're quite simple really - they are 42mm tube bent in at each end as you can see. On the roof they are bolted through the original roof bar mounts, with an extra bit of bracing between the door and windows. This mount was made with rivnuts and rubber saandwiched between the mount and the body. They are strong enough to lean against a tree, but ultimately they are only held on each side with 6 x 6mm bolts. So they will protect the roof, but if you hit something really hard - I'm not sure! For what I wanted, which is to protect the corners of the roof they seem fine. I don't doubt that if you welded an additional bar between them, back and front it would strengthen them a lot.
Sorry about the reflection of my midriff in one of the pics!

Obarno wrote: Hi Dan - they're quite simple really - they are 42mm tube bent in at each end as you can see. On the roof they are bolted through the original roof bar mounts, with an extra bit of bracing between the door and windows. This mount was made with rivnuts and rubber saandwiched between the mount and the body. They are strong enough to lean against a tree, but ultimately they are only held on each side with 6 x 6mm bolts. So they will protect the roof, but if you hit something really hard - I'm not sure! For what I wanted, which is to protect the corners of the roof they seem fine. I don't doubt that if you welded an additional bar between them, back and front it would strengthen them a lot.
Sorry about the reflection of my midriff in one of the pics!

They look fantastic, like you say a bar running across would add some strenght and also a mounting point for many toys lol, did you make them yourself ?

defently food for thought, cheers again

No a local fabricator made them for me - I think he made a nice job of it. I meant to say that the eyelets at the front was something I added so that you can run wires for protection down to some brackets that bolt to the front bumper. Just stops bigger branches crashing against the screen.

As promised, not quite in focus as its dark in the car/garage..