Bronco Roll Bar Strength

[Broncocito]

For me, I have rolled many vehicles crawling. I am anticipating an aftermarket crossbar to add to the Bronco. If not I will make my own. I am not a fan of not have something over my head. I am a fan of the steel used, just not the design.

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[Lifeliberty]

I wouldn't use the existing body work as a roll bar or think of it as a roll bar anymore than I would think of a Honda accord roof as a roll bar. If you think you'll need a roll bar then you better get one

 

[croyco]

It is hardened boron steel. I doubt that it will be easy to replace because there are probably several brackets either weld ed to it or bolted to it.

Check out the Bronco 4600. There is the roll cage I am talking about.

 

[Rocketeer Rick]

I wouldn't use the existing body work as a roll bar or think of it as a roll bar anymore than I would think of a Honda accord roof as a roll bar. If you think you'll need a roll bar then you better get one

Check out the Bronco 4600. There is the roll cage I am talking about.

Consider the stock structure as analogous to roof structure in a conventional car. Just without a skin on it. So it meets crash safety requirements. But as said above, the roof structure on a car is not equivalent to an FIA or NHRA roll cage. Neither is the roll structure on the a Bronco. Notice that it is not a round tube structure, lacks diagonal braces and gussets. It is not a "performance" roll cage structure, nor is it meant to be or is it promoted as such.

Also as said before, test vehicles that are used for higher-g vehicle dynamics work always have roll cages as well as the stock roof. By the same token, trucks and high CG vehicles are also typically fitted with outriggers to prevent roll overs. So, yeah, the manufacturers do take their test engineers' safety seriously.

Just like if you've built a Mustang that runs in the 10s in the 1/4 mile, you need to install a roll cage that is built to meet the rules. Even though you have a roof. Spec Miata race cars have to have a roll cage, even though they also are required to have a hard top bolted on. So, the 4600 Bronco also has a purpose-built cage to meet class rules too.

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