Hang on! (hang on to what?) grab bars.

It became apparent to me that there is a lack of "grab bars" for the person in the passenger seat to grab! Sure there is one on the dash, but it is a stretch to reach (unless one is making a panic stop!), and there is no armrest to grab. You can't put a grab bar on the roll bar/cage lest it becomes a danger to your head (not wrapped in foam).

So what are you guys doing or are passengers doomed to frailing around strapped to their seats when the going gets exciting?

 

Funny you should mention this. A guy I work with (bronco owner ) was up wheeling with some other people when one of the vehicles rolled over (big surprise). Well the female passenger apparently grabbed onto the rollbar (big mistake) and crushed her hand pretty good. Got me thinking about what I should do with mine as well. Although my wife usually bails out and walks at the first sign of a grade Almost seems like a 5 point harness with some kind of sewn on hand travel restraint to keep passengers from wanting to grab onto the rollbar. Another option might be to attach some kind of hold bar to the bottom of the seat bracket or the floor, so that they will keep there hands at their sides and on the bar instead. I'm interested ibn hearing what others have to say too.

 

Try www.raingler.com. They sell cargo nets and grab handles for Jeeps.

Paul

 

natural instinct is to grab the roll bar
sissy bar on the dash might be hard to reach
grab handles on the seats might be okay
maybe a dummy steering col with wheel on the passenger side?
when we were running Honda odysseys in the dunes years ago, we had nylon wrist restraints which kept your hands near the steering wheel in case of rollover; we used them faithfully
I suppose in a Jeep the best thing to do is keep the belts cinched up tight; then you won't feel like you are falling out
but this is uncomfortable and not trail friendly to the body

 

i will have 4point harnesses in both front seats of my jeep when it gets done. i never thought about the passenger guess i just figured if they dont like getting bounced around they can just sinch the belts down a little tighter.

 

I ordered several of the nylon strap type from quadratech 25 bucks-pr. and put them on the front cage for the passenger and on the rear support bars for the rear seat passenger. I also have seen grab bars offered that weld to the roll cage kinda like a gusset but don't remember who had them.

 

I've been having this internal dialouge with myself for some time now...

My conclusions are this:

Soft "wrap around the rollbar" type handles just do not cut it for me. They offer something to pull on, but in a rollover, you want to be pushing yourself in to the seat - this type will just mash your knuckes into the bar.

The "oh S#it" handle at the dash is ok - if you are buckled in tight.

I'm looking to add a peice of 3/4" round tube from my vertical roll bar to the horizontal bar running toward the back roll hoop. I'd like to put a slight bend in towards the cab to provide plenty of knuckle clearance. Of course, you need to have a full cage - not one that ties in to the winndsheild.

A buddy of mine did this and, as a passenger, it give me great comfort. It helps getting in to the raised rig, and feels like if I had one hand on that bar, and one hand on the dash "oh s#it" bar, I'd do pretty well in a rollover.

 

This is one of the first things I put in my Jeep. Got them on sale from Qteck or someplace like that. Not perfect, but better than grabing the bar. Main thing they are good for is entry.

 

i have 5 points in both seats, if we get into somethng that looks hairy, we just sinch up real tight

 

Thanks everybody for the suggestions. Jim, that picture looks great! I'll check around . . . those nylon straps people here are suggesting appear be a good temporary solution!

 

AHHH the heck with it just wrap your passenger with bubble wrap all around and throw them in the seat.

 

and remember to tell them when they fall out "tuck and roll tuck and roll" anyone who used to watch titus would remember that line.

 

That's a nice set-up Jim.

I think I'll incorporate that into the new cage design.

 

How about this option.



This isn't mine, I found it on the web some where.

 

That's not a bad idea there.

I ran across some great handles here at work. HMMM I wonder if they would miss a couple of them. :twisted: I'll post pics later.

 

That looks good too, Wayne. I hadn't really thought about this until now but I will incorporate grab handles in my new cage design.

 

Did'nt the Subaru Brat rear seats have the handlebars on them??? Could you canabalize a set and fab something up from those???

 

Another good idea....

But wouldn't the natural movement be to grab the cage even if those handle bars were there? Think about all of your times as a passenger.

What if those handle bars were moveable and would lock in place? Kinda like the coasters at Cedar Point. Could something like that be designed?? Just a thought...