Roll Over Bar

[ATG]

I've got a TVR-Service fitted rollcentre roll bar on the basis that it comes highly recommended ... I'm perfectly happy with it and new what I was getting in advance ... but a couple of points worth considering .... if you are tall (I'm 6'4 and drive with seat fully back) the bar is close to your head laterally and vertically. Also the bar is not that wide ... i.e. inside the line of the front seats. These are necessary compromises in the design to allow the roof to be raised and lowered, but have to be a draw back from a safety point of view.

I'm considering fitting a new driver's seat to see if I can get my bum a bit lower. Obviously, there isn't that much lower to go given the design of the exisiting seat, and I couldn't afford to have the new seat mounted an inch further forward than the original either. Not sure if there is much mileage in this idea, but I'd like to get myself lower in the car if possible.

[shpub]

rolfe said: I guess that brings me back to the original point. The price of the Tower bar is obviously based on an MSA approved bar even though they havent spent the money on the approval.

But neither has the factory or the other suppliers. At least Tower View had the good sense to work with a recognised expert/supplier in this field to ensure that the product was as good as possible. They recognised that making a good roll bar is a lot lot more than simply bending a metal bar and bolting it to the selt belt fittings and hoping that it would be strong enough.

If you don't think it is worth paying for that expertise etc then don't buy one.

[rolfe]

shpub said:

rolfe said: I guess that brings me back to the original point. The price of the Tower bar is obviously based on an MSA approved bar even though they havent spent the money on the approval.

But neither has the factory or the other suppliers. At least Tower View had the good sense to work with a recognised expert/supplier in this field to ensure that the product was as good as possible. They recognised that making a good roll bar is a lot lot more than simply bending a metal bar and bolting it to the selt belt fittings and hoping that it would be strong enough.

If you don't think it is worth paying for that expertise etc then don't buy one.

Couldnt agree more and full marks to Tower and the rollcentre for doing it. Just answer me why, when the rollcentre bar to FIA approval and to a similar design, is a £150.00 and this one is £325.00?!( I am sure they have to do more than just bend a piece of metal to acheive their approval).

[GarryM]

There may be some confusion here - the Tower bar is made by Rollcentre. Tower simply retail it. Rollcentre do not sell the bar direct AFAIK. (I'd be a bit upset if they did as I've just paid Tower View!)

Edited to add: Ahh, if you mean they sell other bars for £150 (not for TVR Griff/Chim) then I guess that's to reflect the additional time spent developing this particular bar - does seem a hefty price hike but then it's a low volume product I suppose.

>> Edited by GarryM on Friday 23 May 15:26

[shpub]

GarryM said: There may be some confusion here - the Tower bar is made by Rollcentre. Tower simply retail it. Rollcentre do not sell the bar direct AFAIK. (I'd be a bit upset if they did as I've just paid Tower View!)

To be accurate Tower View paid all the development costs for the bar and own the rights to it. I know as they had my car for 6 weeks while the development work was done on it!