Let's talk ROLL BARS

[SDJunkMan]

Sorry, a bit off topic here. We run the S.N.O.R.E. series, second place in 2019 #1150, and have done the Mint 400, all started wishing to do the Baja 1000. Lately the Primm race got canceled at the last minute, after everyone had arrived, glad I didn't drive out for that one. I lent my fire suit to a cousin so his son could ride shotgun. Right now I'm in deep isolation only running my Chenowth on some dirt roads around here.

I used to run a Chenowth buggy in the High Plains Off Road Racing Association back in the 80's and 90's. We used to have races in the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Was at the 1988 Mint race pitting for a couple of friends running a Blazer. Intrest in off road racing faded around here in the 90's and I sold my buggy. Been thinking about building a Baja bug just to play with in the hills, wishing I had held on to some of my race stuff.

 

[shiftpro]

I was passenger in a 78 short bed K10 in a roll over accident forty years ago. The bed mounted roll bar saved our bacon. It did keep the cab from crushing us.

The older ones where made from one piece of tubing (the main hoop). Then later ones came out that were in sections so they were more viable for shipping. These were usually a lighter gauge steel as well. Fully 'show' bars.

 

[shiftpro]

I'm gonna ramble on about bed roll bars here for a moment:
To say you're gonna get a roll bar for your bed (i've never done but heavily considered) there's really two routes i believe: bolt to bed or bolt to frame (obviously)
Now i guess you can bolt to bed if you're not planning on possibly flipping your truck, but to do it RIGHT you should do to the frame. So now then, do you cut holes into bed to mount to frame directly, or are there special roll bars with the perfect width to mount THROUGH the bed to the frame, if that makes sense. Also leading up to the main question:
Where would you find a Square Body roll bar, how many different varieties are there and how would YOU mount it/dress it up? (spare tires, off-road lights) and if you do already have such a thing, please due post your photos. Thanks fellers

The bars for stepsides mounted over the frame rails. One could make long rectangle 'U bolts' to clamp to the frame. But then if you wheel in the rocks and twist the truck up the actual 'show bar' probably would start complaining. It's really not enough to stiffen a frame from flexing, and not built for this type of stress. And 'X' welded to the inside of the bars would certainly help. But if you really want to stiffen a frame you should be looking at a cage that starts
inside the cab and runs right through to the box, and even follows to the end of the frame rails.

 

[bucket]

You know, I was just thinking. I've got a factory roll bar from a '75 K5. It must be designed to actually support the truck in the event of a rollover. It feels heavy enough. Those could easily be adapted to a pickup.

 

[Powerhouse Ranch]

You know, I was just thinking. I've got a factory roll bar from a '75 K5. It must be designed to actually support the truck in the event of a rollover. It feels heavy enough. Those could easily be adapted to a pickup.

you wait now to say this!? haha let's see some pics dude plus being how universal square bodies are it just may fit in an '88 Jimmy hmmmm

 

[bucket]

you wait now to say this!? haha let's see some pics dude plus being how universal square bodies are it just may fit in an '88 Jimmy hmmmm

For use in '78-'91 K5's, the front legs would need extended, due to the rear seat footwell.

 

[Powerhouse Ranch]

For use in '78-'91 K5's, the front legs would need extended, due to the rear seat footwell.

i gotta see this thing please

 

[SDJunkMan]

For use in '78-'91 K5's, the front legs would need extended, due to the rear seat footwell.

The rear legs would also be too short for a pickup due to the shorter wheelbase on the Blazer (they mount to the wheel wells). If I recall, those Blazer roll bars are only 2" tubes, not the 3" most "show bars" use.

 

[bucket]

The rear legs would also be too short for a pickup due to the shorter wheelbase on the Blazer (they mount to the wheel wells). If I recall, those Blazer roll bars are only 2" tubes, not the 3" most "show bars" use.

It's been so long since I looked at it. I think the rear legs are mounted low and are really short. I remember them bolting to the floor, just in front of the wheel tubs. But yes, it's a smaller tube diameter, similar to what would be used for a roll cage.

I need to dig it out of the barn again.