2012 110 DEFENDER ROLL CAGE FITTED

[voltron]

Hi Guys.

Purely as an precautionary safety measure for my children I finally had my custom roll cage fitted into the 110 Defender. Just thought I would show you some photos if anyone else was interested in installing one locally. I am really happy with the build quality and final product. I haven't seen a Safety Devices roll cage in person so cannot compare them but Peter is an experienced roll cage builder having the trust of many circuit and rally car drivers. I showed him the designs of the Safety Devices cages and left him to do his thing and I'll be honest, I was worried about leaving my brand new Defender with a stranger but in the end it was all unnecessary.

I got a 6 point cage, with cargo barrier and 2 baby seat restraint points. All up he had the car for 10 days as he needed to familiarise with the car and start from scratch. Cost was $3k and $400 for engineering.

Having just returned back from a 3 day camping trip and managed to fit all the gear I usually take before the cage was installed, so it hasn't affected any usable space, although some may not like the position of the support bars behind the roll hoop, I was reassured that it was for better strength.

Peter has been nothing but great to deal with, enjoys building the cages although he admitted its a bit harder building them in road cars as opposed mining vehicle and race cars they can be welded inside the car and you don't have to worry about the interior so much when welding. Extra care has to be taken with these sorts of jobs.

Even with the 6-8 week delivery time and extra cost I would have been happy to go with the Safety Devices 6 point cage but they don't have one available for the new 110's and this was the next best option and personally it's an option I am happy I took as it worked out cheaper and now somebody local has some experience with a defender should anybody else want to install one.

Cheers
Graham

[DasLandRoverMan]

Is it just the internal hoops?

In general I'd say it looks good, the back section and middle braces shaped round the alpine windows look very pretty.
However, there's a few things on the safety devices cage in my (1988) one that I would have thought made it better.

Specifically having the front hoop more upright (restriction of the rear door appeture would **** me off) and tied into the seatbelt mounts on the B Pillars, with the belts mounted off the cage.

Otherwise very nice.

[voltron]

Is it just the internal hoops?

In general I'd say it looks good, the back section and middle braces shaped round the alpine windows look very pretty.
However, there's a few things on the safety devices cage in my (1988) one that I would have thought made it better.

Specifically having the front hoop more upright (restriction of the rear door appeture would **** me off) and tied into the seatbelt mounts on the B Pillars, with the belts mounted off the cage.

Otherwise very nice.

I appreciate what you are saying in all aspects of design but at the end of the day SD do not make an updated 6 point cage for the 2012 Defender, or that was the news I was last given.

I'm sure SD have alot of inside input in design of their cages from Land Rover also but we did not have that nor the time to fiddle with the smaller things like seat belts mounting off the cage, which probably would have required more modification engineering. I'm actually happy the front hoop didnt effect my seat positioning as I am 6'3" and 110kg.

Also I'm not sure where you are but in Australia everything has to be engineered when it comes to modifying or installing things into cars, so I could have purchased a 6 point from SD, if one was available, but then potentially not be legal to install due to not meeting Australian motorvehicle standards, so in the end it was safer for me to find somebody who would build it whilst a mechanical engineer was overseeing the project. Just finding someone to build it was a chore in itself. Most people I spoke to just lectured me about buying such an inferior unsafe tin can with pop rivetts and to just save my money and trade it in for a Patrol or Landcruiser.

The only restriction I have is winding the rear window up and down which isn't impossible ,just fiddly but thats it. And my children are 4 and 2 so it will not worry them one bit.

[isuzurover]

The main/rear hoop - what is under where it bolts to? Is it just bolted to the alloy seat box?

[DasLandRoverMan]

Interesting points. If it helps I'm also 6ft3, although a bit skinnier at 90kg and don't have any trouble fitting in the car.
Live in the UK.

And without wanting to sound like I'm being awkward about it, a look at the Safety Devices website shows the current 110 cage fitted to Puma Defenders, don't see why it shouldn't work for 2012 cars.

I know it's partly external, but I think it looks pretty cool. Your one at least benefits from not being visible outside?

[voltron]

The main/rear hoop - what is under where it bolts to? Is it just bolted to the alloy seat box?

I am not sure what you call the points where it is bolted too. He explained that he has installed plates that run under the car which takes up a good amount of metal so nothing can push through. I guess I can take pictures tomorrow to help understand what exactly is going on.

[voltron]

Interesting points. If it helps I'm also 6ft3, although a bit skinnier at 90kg and don't have any trouble fitting in the car.
Live in the UK.

And without wanting to sound like I'm being awkward about it, a look at the Safety Devices website shows the current 110 cage fitted to Puma Defenders, don't see why it shouldn't work for 2012 cars.

I know it's partly external, but I think it looks pretty cool. Your one at least benefits from not being visible outside?

Yeah I was after all internal cage.

[modman]

The SD roll cages cost more because they are bespoke and compliment the shape of 90's 110's ect, mount to the chassis and don't impede access or egress.

That b pillar hoop is laid back to stop front seat occupants heads smacking it

It would be interesting to see if the chassis is tied to the cage?

Regardless, well done for the initiative taken!
I have similar thoughts myself about the family when strapped into my deefer but would consider a 6-8 point external with a standard type cargo barrier.

Dc

[isuzurover]

I am not sure what you call the points where it is bolted too. He explained that he has installed plates that run under the car which takes up a good amount of metal so nothing can push through. I guess I can take pictures tomorrow to help understand what exactly is going on.

I am talking about the strip of 6 mm (?) flat bar in this image with 2 bolts in it going into the seat box. Pics of the underside of the mount (and top and underside of the B pillar hoop) would be good.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Was there a reason why the hoop in this image did not continue down to the floor of the load bed?

[slug_burner]

Good on you for getting on and doing something about it if it worried you. I too worry a little about it. I think that even a cargo barrier would help.

I am surprised that the 2012 model should be different enough that they need to develop a new design. It is probably a case of interference with the bits of plastic as I think the metal work is unchanged. On a closer look it appears that the seat boxes have an extra fold not present in my 300Tdi defer.

[voltron]

I am talking about the strip of 6 mm (?) flat bar in this image with 2 bolts in it going into the seat box. Pics of the underside of the mount (and top and underside of the B pillar hoop) would be good.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/90-110-130-defender-county/66268d1380265900-2012-110-defender-roll-cage-fitted-img_4450.jpg

Was there a reason why the hoop in this image did not continue down to the floor of the load bed?

Yes I thought that might be the points you are talking about.

The reason the cargo barrier didnt go all the way down was purely to provide a little bit more storage space. Whe packing the car I can slide stuff a bit further past the cargo barrier. Two plastic boxes I use fit perfectly under there.

[voltron]

Good on you for getting on and doing something about it if it worried you. I too worry a little about it. I think that even a cargo barrier would help.

I am surprised that the 2012 model should be different enough that they need to develop a new design. It is probably a case of interference with the bits of plastic as I think the metal work is unchanged. On a closer look it appears that the seat boxes have an extra fold not present in my 300Tdi defer.

I enquired about the 6 point internal cage for the 2012 model but was told SD don't have an updated cage for it yet by the Australian supplier. It may have something to do with the different seats but I'm not entirely sure what it was.I just wasnt going to continue travelling with my kids and wait till they did release one.

[Loubrey]

Good on you for getting on and doing something about it if it worried you. I too worry a little about it. I think that even a cargo barrier would help.

I am surprised that the 2012 model should be different enough that they need to develop a new design. It is probably a case of interference with the bits of plastic as I think the metal work is unchanged. On a closer look it appears that the seat boxes have an extra fold not present in my 300Tdi defer.

Hi slug_burner,

Yes, there are huge differences between a Puma's "load box" and that of any preceding Defender. Folds, seams, seat belt mounts etc.

What is odd though is the inference that there is a difference between the bodies of the 2007 to 2011 Defender vs the 2012 onward ones...

The last G4 vehicles (the one that got cancelled) still had Safety Devices cages on the Puma Defenders.

Regardless mate, that is a pretty spectacular result for a custom build without a template and jig! I love the way the pipes "step" in and out to allow as much clearance as possible.

Cheers,

Lou

[Gillie]

Why did it have to be engineered? or was that just for the baby restraints? You see alot of homemade roll bars in the back of utes of which I am sure none are engineered.

I reckon it looks really good, Actually now I think of it, I have a homemade roll bar in the back of the 130. The previous owner had it made or made it himself after seeing one that rolled over.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/236.jpg (http://s476.photobucket.com/user/zx12rzx12r/media/ffa804f9-b56b-42b3-93af-9564c4b6b0ce-xlg_zps11c7703f.jpg.html)

[isuzurover]

Why did it have to be engineered? or was that just for the baby restraints? You see alot of homemade roll bars in the back of utes of which I am sure none are engineered.

I reckon it looks really good, Actually now I think of it, I have a homemade roll bar in the back of the 130. The previous owner had it made or made it himself after seeing one that rolled over.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/236.jpg (http://s476.photobucket.com/user/zx12rzx12r/media/ffa804f9-b56b-42b3-93af-9564c4b6b0ce-xlg_zps11c7703f.jpg.html)

This has been discussed before.
Under the national rules, there are two modification codes - one for commercially manufactured cages and one for custom made cages.
Neither of the codes cover external cages or roll bars, so they don't need to be engineered.

[nugge t]

Nice work but I am very surprised that the bars do not have protective padding on them. This is similar to ROPS fitted to mine vehicles and there is an Australian Standard covering the padding required for head strike. We mould ROPS padding for several manufacturers from polyurethane who then have them tested and certified to ensure they comply with the head strike requirement of the Standard.

Because the cage is fitted inside the normal body, it is closer to both adult and childrens heads and of a shape which more likely to cause damage.

[flagg]

Neither of the codes cover external cages or roll bars, so they don't need to be engineered.

I discussed this with my engineer and he said they have to comply with pedestrian requirements.. if it was inside the brush bars / side steps and didn't have anything sticking out it would be OK - but he was not encouraging of an external cage, and recommended pretty much exactly what Voltron has.

[DasLandRoverMan]

Thought it might be of interest to see some of the SD cage in mine, it's one of the older designs, part internal with external front section.

Rear hoop goes through the wheel boxes and brackets onto the rear crossmember, C pillar hoop mounts to the C pillar frame level with the top of the wheel box.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/218.jpg

B pillar hoop has a spreader on the floor and goes through onto the body mounting brackets. You can also see how it ties into the top seatbelt mounts, and is fairly well tucked out of the way.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/219.jpg

Out front the hoops clamp through the roof to the top of the B pillar hoop, then brackets onto the door pillars down the bulkhead, plus another foot that goes over the bulkhead outriggers.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/220.jpg