Exo Cages and Internal Roll Cages

[kbushnz]

Hi Yah All

Now that the Prado is a play truck and not a daily driver and I am doing more adventurous trips.
I am thinking about roll over protection for me and my passengers. (Panel protection is not a priority but would be nice)
In the back of my mind I also may wish to enter some of the club class winch challenges for a bit of fun.
The Prado is a four door....with the big butt (at the moment )

I have done some research (and searched the forum) on cage design and looked at the various acceptable standards for the winch challenge type vehicles (Oranz, NZFWDA etc etc)
There are none which show protection or hoops over both sets of seats..however can't see a reason why I cant just have two main hoops.
The only issue will be the Interior Impact rules for LVVTA...
Which are doable.
Then there is the exo cage....Solves the LVVTA issues.
The only issue with this is how to get a diagonal bracing in the build to comply with the winch rules without cutting and going thru the body?
Most of the competition guys and gals have single cabs with trays or similar so can run the hoop over the B pillar and its all outside the truck.

I have seen MudMike's exo cage on this Prado....But without good diagonals it doesn't comply with the competition rules.
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 18&t=17687

What is a man to do ??

Calvin
(Then I can go and do some Paddock Hacking )

[tgaguy1]

I have thought about this as well with my LWB Patrol. The only workable solution I came to was to have a removable diagonal brace for the B pillar internal hoop. If you mount the hoops (b and c pillar) on the specified size foot ( 6" x 6" from memory) and sandwich the floor, then pickup the seat belt mounts in the b pillar it will be rule compliant. If you do not want to get it certified you could have a EXO to the C pillar then sandwich plate through the roof to the "Cargo barrier" roll bar inside at the C pillar. It would be harder to get a removal diagonal brace into this configuration though.