roll bar removability

[1971ford]

i want to install a roll bar in my 69 like the one in this picture:


however, i will be using this truck for camping accasiionally and have a nice campershell for the truck. so how could i make the roll bar pictured above removable? im thinking bolts somewhere but would strong bolts support the truck if it were to roll? or maybe there is a better way to install a rollbar? i dont want to cut into the cab or have one in the cab.

[TheEskimo]

All the ones I have seen just bolt in, unless it was welded in for a race. They usually just bolt to the bottom of the bed, at least the ones I see around here do.

[rjewkes]

perhaps you could get on for the bed that would hide under the camper?

or perhaps(being you work at welding shop) Fab or have one fabbed that would fit under the camper.

perhaps with easy remove lights?

[1971ford]

bolt to the bottom of the bed
i dont think i would trust the bed floor to support my truck in a roll-over. i was thinking running the pipes throught the bed floor, welded onto the frame rails, and having bolts or something almost even with the bed floor...

[1971ford]

perhaps you could get on for the bed that would hide under the camper?

or perhaps(being you work at welding shop) Fab or have one fabbed that would fit under the camper.

perhaps with easy remove lights?

i like that idea...
so it doesnt matter if the roll bar is as high as the cab roof, as long as its higher than my head right? then i could tuck the roll bar under like you said. id still rather have some bolts or somethign so i could remove the whole thing to carry more cargo too, but if not ill tuck it.
then i could roll it with the camper too with it tucked in though...

[rjewkes]

I'd imagine higher than head is good as race cars with full roolcage have cage under body pannels but over head and all around.


if you got it too easy to unbolt i wouldn't trust it eihter. usualy i think the rollbar bolts/lag(screw like?) bolts just above the frame in the bed. and in a roll over could mean the diff in life and death.

I've even seen levle with the top of the bed.

[1971ford]

here i highlighted the roll bar setup so its easier to see, and i added some red lines indicating bolts. what if i had 4 massive bolts just above the bed floor holding the complete (minus frame-to-massive-bolt secion) roll bar assembly?


how tough do bolts get?

(the red lines indicating bolts look too high in the pics, they would be a inch or two above the bed floor)

[foghorn]

Ryan i belive that grade 8 is the hardest that they make.




Foggy

[1971ford]

allright, do you think grade 8's would hold in a rollover?

[fordman]

yes bolting to the frame is the only real pomps protection tyou will get. other roll bars that are bolted to just the bed are just for show.

[aramil]

maybe you could just notch the camper top... the bolt idea sounds good, but they could get sheared off in a roll over.

[Pipes71]

are you planning to roll it??

[1971ford]

if i ever rolled it that would be the worst day of my life. its just since im making it a offroad truck, you never know when you will hit that one wrong rock or angle or ditch...
i dont plan on ever rolling it, but i dont plan on dying anytime soon

[ZOEGA]

Cool pics!
There is more of that truck?

[1971ford]

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