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Thoughts on cages in non-race cars
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=63876
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Author:  MINIRO [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Thoughts on cages in non-race cars

Hey guys, I am going for a bit of a race going theme on my mini (when it gets going) so was thinking of adding a cage, just for looks really, also I have been given orders that the kids aren't allowed in the back (not safe, or some crud like that :-p) so figuired why not fill it with bars.

so was thinking a full blown race cage something like what minisport has on offer. I know it probably sounds a bit wanky, and it most likely is. But as I said, am goin for a race type theme on the car and I just think the cage would finish it off.

Cheers & thank you

Rohan

Author:  simon k [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:11 pm ]
Post subject: 

waste of money that could be much better spent elsewhere

you should make this thread into a poll!

Author:  Monaco [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:14 pm ]
Post subject: 

Can result in insurance issues and raise some attention from the boy's in blue. It also makes the backseat more difficult to use, especially a cage with the diagonal bar. If you put a cage in with bars to the parcel shelf, it makes the backseat useless for anyone that is older than four and happens to have a head. Not to mention the holes that are very difficult to return to normal in the shell. :(

That said, I agree it does look cool! :wink:

Author:  jester99 [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:17 pm ]
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i acutally think a cage, just a half cage, is a very good idea. i was recently browsing the website and came across a post from a guy who had a ball joint fail on him at highway speeds. the car was an absolute mess, and he mentioned something about having a cage and that it may have saved his life.

having been in a few roll overs myself over the years i have to say a cage would make me feel so much more confident if something were to go wrong, plus it gives the body a bit of a stiffen aswell. (no pun intended :lol: )

i have been contemplating a half cage myself, and i have to say i love the look of a nice cage in a mini. you can get half cages that arent super intrusive, so you could have passengers if you wanted to in the rear.

i agree, if you can afford a cage, go for it.

Author:  superSeven [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:54 pm ]
Post subject: 

owen1975richard wrote:
It also makes the backseat more difficult to use, especially a cage with the diagonal bar. If you put a cage in with bars to the parcel shelf, it makes the backseat useless for anyone that is older than four and happens to have a head.


It is illegal to run a cage in the back of the vehicle and carry passengers. I believe by law it would have to be registered as a 2 seater.

Anyone who carries passengers, especially children, in the back seat of a mini with a half cage in it should locked up. The risks are way to high, esepcially just for the fact that it "looks cool"

Author:  blue_deluxe [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:59 pm ]
Post subject: 

A half-cage would be a good idea. But not if your going to carry passengers in the back. Theyll be killed when they smack their heads against the cage, but their bodies will be near enough complete.

Ill be fitting a 6 point cage in my starlet mini, but its also going to be stripped out with proper racing buckets and harnesses.

Author:  minimy [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:13 pm ]
Post subject: 

i disagree whole heartedly,i have a half cage in my mini,one i built myself.had to get it engineered,the engineer said there has to be a set distance between the front of your rear seat and the top roof bar,i believe its over a metre.in qld the bar had to be covered with insulation,ie the best i found was aircon insulation,answering the earlier question about seating arrangements,the only thing that the engineer did not like was the fact that i had a race type seatbelt anchored at the rear parcel shelf,he thought that my car should be a 3 seater because of it.ok it may be wank value to most people,but i actually race mine on the odd occasion,and id rather have the added protection it offers.my cage has a single bar at the rear parcel shelf as opposed to a double that most people run.cheers andy...

Author:  HSVJET [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:01 am ]
Post subject: 

I have a full cage in my car with a diagonal brace just behind the driver to strengthen the hoop. I had it put in about 10 years ago and it is fully engineered but I don't have any padding on it.

The car does feel safer but it is now enginered as a 2 seater and because off the diagonal you can forget even putting anything in the back let alone the kids. I put it in as I built the car for track days but since not really attending any often contemplate removing it.

It does the make car look tuff but there are a lot of other things like not being able to put the windows up or down as the winder hits the cage so you need to open the door each time. I also went for a race seat and harness which are also a pain in the a and might also come out soon.

I wouldn't put another one in, or race seat or harness just for looks as they take some of the enjoyment of driving a mini away and make it a bit uncomfortable.

That's my 2 cents worth!

Author:  mickmini [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:09 am ]
Post subject: 

mind your head :)

The main problem with cages in road cars is that you are not obliged to wear a helmet. The cage impinges on the space that your head can move freely in if you have an accident, and you hit the cage with your head. Therefore in low impact accidents (the majority that occur in real life) a cage actually decreases safety. This is the reason you need to get it engineered and that a half cage will mean no-one in the back seat.

Author:  MINIRO [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:26 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for the advice/thoughts guys, greatly appreciated & also brought up a few points in which I hadn't thought about.

I should mention tho, I had never intended on putting the kids in the back, wasn't going to put a cage in it to make it safe for them, was going to put the cage in because they aren't allowed in the back :-)

would probably end up a 2seater or maybe even a single seater, all in the planning stage at the moment.

Cheers

Rohan

Author:  low n blown [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:42 am ]
Post subject: 

Miniro,
The car does not have to be registered as a 2 seater in qld. I had the supercharged car fitted with a half bond cage that tucked neatly into the rear corners. The engineer considered it fine and only had to pad the hoop. Car remained as a 4 seater. Dont know how to post a pic. anyone have a pic of the black supercharged car you can barely see the cage. As for problems with the police, if you have a mod plate you shouldnt have any problems. You also have more chance of hitting your head on the B pillar than the hoop of a 4 point cage as the hoop sits into the rear pockets. Go for it. From a looks and safety point, thumbs up.

Author:  low n blown [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:48 am ]
Post subject: 

PS: there is a really nice cage for sale on my105 at the moment. But is a full cage with removeable intrusion bars.

Author:  Kennomini [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:53 pm ]
Post subject: 

Here's a different take on it.
If it's only for looks Make a fake one out of 40mm PVC pipe. That way you do not need a mod plate and it won't affect your insurance. Paint it up and some well placed foam wrapping to conceal the joins it'll look the goods. May work or may not, may be legal or may not I don't know you would need to check with your local transport dept.

Author:  Morris 1100 [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:57 pm ]
Post subject: 

Have you ever hit your head on a roll cage in a crash?
Have you ever hit your head on a padded roll cage in a crash?
Have you ever hit your head on a padded roll cage while wearing a helmet in a crash?
Even with the padding and the helmet it is still a heck of a bell ringer.

I would not recommend a cage in a road car. Just because it is behind the seats does not mean it is out of reach in a crash.
What happens to the half cage when a truck hits the back of the car? It pushes the rear supports forward and the main hoop can hit your head.

Author:  lil-ute [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 7:02 pm ]
Post subject: 

Morris 1100 wrote:
Have you ever hit your head on a roll cage in a crash?
Have you ever hit your head on a padded roll cage in a crash?
Have you ever hit your head on a padded roll cage while wearing a helmet in a crash?
Even with the padding and the helmet it is still a heck of a bell ringer.

I would not recommend a cage in a road car. Just because it is behind the seats does not mean it is out of reach in a crash.
What happens to the half cage when a truck hits the back of the car? It pushes the rear supports forward and the main hoop can hit your head.

no i dont think you have made this up you would be talking from experiance

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