davew wrote:

You need to decide on the balance you need between "safety" and practicality.

The first problem you will hit is that it's not practical or desirable to have an internal roll cage in a Defender. There isn't room for the front part of the cage and the outrigger the front part of the cage would normally mount on is in front of the bulkhead.

Most roll cage designs for the Defender hard top are internal/external for this reason. The front part of the cage is external and that then links to an internal roll hoop and bracing bars.

Do you need to meet any specific regulations for the cage or is this "just" for peace of mind ?

If the latter you have a lot more flexibility in the cage design, in the former you may not have any choices. If you were, for example, to want to compete in ALRC events they have a much stricter (and in most cases bizarre) set of regulations compared to the cage that you would need to compete in an international spec rally/competition. If you're looking for a competition cage you need to comply with the regulations of that competition. The ALRC, for example, will not allow you to compete using a cage that is certified for use in International competition.

If it's for peace of mind then the internal roll over hoop could be built with removable diagonal bracing and back stays to accommodate the rear seats. You could also get a roll hoop built with rear stays outside the load bed which would comply with international rally regulations.

davew wrote:

You can fit a fully internal roll cage into anything, it's just a real PITA in a Defender to fit the front hoop internally which is why most cages use an external front hoop with an internal rear hoop and stays.

I'd be interested to see an internal roll cage fitted to a Defender as I've never seen one other than those where they've used a fabricated bulkhead where the front hoop replaces the bulkhead and the windscreen is mounted directly into it.

To fit an internal front hoop to a standard Defender you'd need to modify/cut away the ends of the dashboard, fabricate new outriggers and move the fuel tank (on pre TD5 90s). You'd need to remove/relocate the rear view mirror, the sun visors and the interior light and you would no longer be able to remove the roof due to lack of access and access to the windscreen fitting brackets would be "interesting" potentially preventing removal of the windscreen surround and brackets too. It'd be easier to make the garage door bigger...

Obviously the rear hoop and stays are normally internal but that's not a roll cage which is what the OP was asking about. If you just want a roll hoop (half cage) then that can be fully internal and normally is.

adiep wrote:

ah yes, the very front part can be external, as the front of the defender if lower then passenger roof area. i was also referring to internal from the front seat backwards, not including windscreen. i guess its a mixture of external and internal, but looks to me as thought the internal alone will give good protection for driver and rear passengers, so should be enough

pjh wrote:

Hi Claire,

We went for a Safety Devices L148 cage that protects the passenger 'cell', with an external front hoop and internal B & C hoops. Well made and expertly fitted by Foley's.

It gives everything we wanted without being too intrusive.

All the best,

Peter

pouf wrote:

I have L-148 too

http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic12989.html

You can have only the internal cage, it is easy to do it yourself

Wow. What a great job Do you think its worth doing the roll cage at the same time as sound proofing? Or can they easily e done as separate jobs?

pouf wrote:

They can be separate jobs but it is double work.
And i think roof sound proofing would be a little bit difficult