15 replies to this topic

[tomgale]

Model:998 HLE
Year: 1982
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):

right, my parents have decided that they want me to have a cage in the mini, i was thinking about a 6 point bolt in one (without door bars or the rear diagonal). However, i would also like to use the rear seats, probably not very often but it would definately be nessesary, and realised that the traditional way of mounting the four point harness (i'm planning on using classic buckets and four point harnesses as well) to the rear seat would get in the way.

so in short, could I attach the harness to the seatbelt points either side of the seat and then accross to the rear bar of the cage, cunningly leaving the rear seats and belts in place for occasional use?

thanks, tom.

[Dan]

You CANNOT use the rear seat with a roll cage in the car. Absolutely CANNOT. It would be lethal for any passengers in any form of accident. Roll cages are very dangerous things unless you also fit a properly secured race seat, minimum 4 point harness, full cage padding and ideally use a helmet. Manufacturer's and governments have been working to remove all the solid steel from the inside of cars for decades and you want to put it all back, very close to you.

It is entirely possible to use a harness bar to secure the harnesses to the cage, but the harness bar will make it even less possible to access the back.

[mad mk1]

You CANNOT use the rear seat with a roll cage in the car. Absolutely CANNOT. It would be lethal for any passengers in any form of accident. Roll cages are very dangerous things unless you also fit a properly secured race seat, minimum 4 point harness, full cage padding and ideally use a helmet. Manufacturer's and governments have been working to remove all the solid steel from the inside of cars for decades and you want to put it all back, very close to you.

It is entirely possible to use a harness bar to secure the harnesses to the cage, but the harness bar will make it even less possible to access the back.

What he sad bad move. DO IT RIGHT or dont do it at all.

simon.

[tomgale]

thanks, so to clarify i cant have rear seats, harness and a rollcage. also cant have rear seats and a harness and definately cant have rollcage with standard belts?

will the mini hold up ok in bad accident without all these, worst case scenario say i go round a bend to fast slide, off and go head first into a tree, will it really make much of a difference?

ive tried to make it safer, as little rust as possible and disk brakes, but its my first car and i have no experiece with these things at all, want to be on the safe side

[mad mk1]

Just dont drive like a D==k and you will be cool. If you would like to drive fast go to Avon/ MITP so no.

[tomgale]

its no so much me hitting things that worries me, its things hitting me, ive seen the size of Q7's and the like and thought 'if that hits a mini, it could drive straight through...'

[George929]

The best bet is not to drive fast around corners if your not sure if there could be something of any danger . Especially as you will be a new driver .

Roll cages are not the sort if thing you can just fit and drive. Without putting your self at risk. I've got a cage but I also have the two bucket seats and the 4 points mounted to a harness bar. I don't have a back seat as all my scaffolding takes up allot of space.

Some wise words from my father
" if you have. Roll-cage fitted and your strapped in you feel very safe like a rally driver and you try to be a rally driver because you get the idea that if you got all this protection around you ,you think to your self I'll be fine if I wrap it around a tree but in actual hack you won't be"

[DAVEY_C]

if you think you might go head 1st into a tree or similar then you may need a dash bar and doorbars would also be a good addition.... with experience you will learn to adjust your driving to suit the conditions but in the meantime drive at a reasonable speed and you should be fine....

[tomgale]

thanks guys, what about one of the cages without the front bit, just for roll protection? or are they still a bit of a head damage risk? to be honest, decent rollcages are expensive, and i have no money so that may have made the decision for me!

[George929]

Roll cage ! For roll protection the dont stop the pedals sticking in you shins

[mad mk1]

Mate you need to DO some homework before you start, as i would not get/buy a cage that was not FIA as it would be just for show.

[mikey72]

I'd try to find someone that would insure you with a roll cage in as well, before you spend your money.

[tomgale]

yeah i wasn't looking at anything not fia, there was a nice looking omp one in the classifieds for 250 but i think someone had it. besides the rear seat thing has pretty much made the decision, if needs change and i dont use the rears in a few years then i might revisit the whole cage situation. but for now ill just hope some ******* in a 4x4 doesn't run me over.

[Cooperman]

Mate you need to DO some homework before you start, as i would not get/buy a cage that was not FIA as it would be just for show.

Agree 100%. The only cages worth having are the FIA Motor-Sport Approved ones.
You absolutely MUST have full harnesses, properly installed and proper padding for the cage.
You will not be able to use the rear seats at all and to try to do so would be very unsafe as you would not be able to use the front seat belts.
The insurance company will load the insurance premium if a cage is fitted as they regard it as for motor-sport and that, therefore, the driver is intending to drive quickly.
If you drive sensibly you don't need a roll cage in a road car. If you feel that you will not be safe in your Mini, then either buy a different car or get additional driver training.
Just drive sensibly, don't 'show-off' to your friends and, here is the important bit, don't drive faster than you know how to.

[oliver122]

ive read on here somewhere that a cage can make a mini worse in the event of an accident i.e a collision , as it stiffens the mini up meaning there are no crumple zones , also having a cage does not stop the engine being pushed where your sitting , there is a topic on here you might want to look at before driving irresponsibly , i do not mean to scare you by any means but there is one picture on there that might open your eyes a little

http://www.theminifo...showtopic=52674

ollie