Is the stock K5 roll cage that was added to the later model years sufficent alone? Do I need to add more roll cage?
CK5
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stock K5 76+ "roll cage"
- Thread starter wazzabie
- Start date
Pretty broad question.
Martin
Martin
the key here is "sufficient" for what? DD or Moab?
potential roll over while 4x4ing. I don't care about damage to the k5. I would rather be safe. Just wondering how good the stock cab is on the k5? Does the cab contain a roll bar or is it just sheet metal?
Specifications say "cab with integral rollbar". I was impressed with the way the cab held up when I rolled. It only rolled once though. Bounced off the top and landed on all 4 wheels.
Always wondered if there was a roll bar in there. I'll try to cut into what's left Monday and take a look.
Always wondered if there was a roll bar in there. I'll try to cut into what's left Monday and take a look.
man, that was a good looking rig.. sorry mang..
wazzabie... thats truly a loaded question.. whether a rig "flops" on it's lid or rolls down a mt will need different requirements...
obviously the better the cage, the better the protection...
Ryoken's scale...
stock - "integrated" which is really just double panels - will most likely hold up to a minor roll....
single "factory" "roll bar" - may hold up a tad better
simple 4 or 6 pt cage from DOM tube - MUCH MUCH better protection than the previous too..
hardcore 8 to 12 point DOM cage with lots of triangulation and gusseting... could barrel roll it like Darrel Waltrip and probably walk away...
wazzabie... thats truly a loaded question.. whether a rig "flops" on it's lid or rolls down a mt will need different requirements...
obviously the better the cage, the better the protection...
Ryoken's scale...
stock - "integrated" which is really just double panels - will most likely hold up to a minor roll....
single "factory" "roll bar" - may hold up a tad better
simple 4 or 6 pt cage from DOM tube - MUCH MUCH better protection than the previous too..
hardcore 8 to 12 point DOM cage with lots of triangulation and gusseting... could barrel roll it like Darrel Waltrip and probably walk away...
chalet - hope you came out ok from the roll. Looks like a nice K5 and it held up well under the conditions. Please share some pics after you cut into it. I'm interested also in seeing what the "intergreated" roll bar is.
owenst7
1/2 ton status
The "integral roll bar" is just a continuous b pillar that forms a hoop over your head, connecting the passenger and drivers side. I believe it is 16 gauge...not very thick but certainly a lot stronger than the full verts were. It's not a bent tube or anything if that's what you're thinking. You can just look at the cab and see what it is without cutting it open.
The pillars are pretty darn strong but the lightweight wall thickness means that they will dent/crease more easily than say a 2"x.120" tube. Once they're damaged, the structural integrity is much less. Basically this means that they will withstand a good amount of force, but not repeatedly. If you were to lay the truck on it's lid climbing over a big rock or something for instance, I would be comfortable trusting that pillar so long as it's not rusted out or anything. I would not be that comfortable rolling a long distance down a hill with repeated loadings/impacts on the pillar.
The pillars are pretty darn strong but the lightweight wall thickness means that they will dent/crease more easily than say a 2"x.120" tube. Once they're damaged, the structural integrity is much less. Basically this means that they will withstand a good amount of force, but not repeatedly. If you were to lay the truck on it's lid climbing over a big rock or something for instance, I would be comfortable trusting that pillar so long as it's not rusted out or anything. I would not be that comfortable rolling a long distance down a hill with repeated loadings/impacts on the pillar.
A good while back someone had a picture on here after they rolled their 89-91 Blazer HARD and the roof caved in.
This!
And this!
In a very soft, slow roll the roof won't collapse. Anything more and it's pretty much a pancake.
The factory "integrated roll bar" isn't really much to speak of, basically doubler layered sheet metal and it isn't configured/attached in an awesome way. Definitely better than a fiberglass top but far, FAR from a roll cage.
I came across this video on youtube, but it wasn't titled very well, so I can't find it again. It was a truck with tractor tires, trying to climb up something, maybe potato salad, not sure....but it rolled over many times. After it's slow, first roll, the roof was completely flat. All that time put into a lift, axles, and tires....and nothing was done about safety. I don't know the occupants outcome, it was bad after the first roll. 
[YOUTUBE]147CFUq-Wzw[/YOUTUBE]
edit: found it
edit: found it
Last edited by a moderator:
gotblazers
1/2 ton status
In all 76 and up k5 roll overs i've seen the roof caves in but the integral rollbar stays for the most part intact keeping the occupants safe. Somewhat of a crumple zone i guess 
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The Pumpkinator
1/2 ton status
I could have sworn that I've seen a pic of a late model hard top chopped up on here somewhere, there is a "stamped" piece of C(ish) channel that is in the c pillar. When I had a section of another K5 cut out for my ENTIRE passenger rear quarter, I could see in the B pillar, that not only was it double walled, but it had the same stamped out C channel inside (late 80s k5)...but based on nasty rollover vids it doesn't do much.
I cut my old half top up... to throw into the dumpster. It was a little harder for the sawzall to cut the front and back portions. They had steel in them, but what it was or how it looked, I didn't pay attention. Maybe it "integrated" bar is actually in the shell, not the cab.
No, that's just the stiffener inside of it. My buddy has a Jeep TJ with a hard top and I was surprised how "flexible" the thing is. No stiffening steel inside at all.
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
Hey Chalet, What are your plans with that now, full vert time, or a new steel roof?
He's parting it. Has a build thread on it.
Yep. Parting whats left and assembling parts for my 72 right now. Prob going to turn the camper into a nice deerstand.....
Stamped steel pillar inside the roof.
So, interior cab sheet, stamped pillar, then roof skin on top. I was thinking maybe the cab was just formed to look like there was something in there.
So, interior cab sheet, stamped pillar, then roof skin on top. I was thinking maybe the cab was just formed to look like there was something in there.
ooo wicked cool Chalet!!!
thanks
thanks
