General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-14-2009, 09:37 PM
  #1  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
Cspence's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,065
Total Cats: 1
Default Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?

Just looking for a roll bar and kinda like this bar. I know selecting a bar greatly depends on my forcasted use for the car....so just to let everyone know, I plan to primarily just rip around back roads and very ocassionally go to a auto x. Do you like the looks? Think it will be safe enough for my application? Anyone have any good pics of it installed? (All I can find are the same pics over and over again online.....





Cspence is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 09:41 PM
  #2  
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
kotomile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 7,537
Total Cats: 42
Default

I like it too... my "duece" bar is no longer my favorite, might try to replace it later with this.
kotomile is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 09:41 PM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (21)
 
paul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Point Pleasant, NJ
Posts: 2,957
Total Cats: 2
Default

GAYSAUCE!

Get a hardcore.
paul is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 09:42 PM
  #4  
Elite Member
iTrader: (21)
 
paul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Point Pleasant, NJ
Posts: 2,957
Total Cats: 2
Default

Not enough(read any) rearward bracing. I will not rock a bar without it.
paul is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 09:45 PM
  #5  
Elite Member
iTrader: (10)
 
9671111's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,582
Total Cats: 18
Default

Looks like something an M.netter would rock.
9671111 is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 09:45 PM
  #6  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
240_to_miata's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Cromwell, Connecticut
Posts: 2,604
Total Cats: 16
Default

i like my HDHCDD way better
240_to_miata is online now  
Old 04-14-2009, 10:06 PM
  #7  
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
kotomile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 7,537
Total Cats: 42
Default

Originally Posted by paul
Not enough(read any) rearward bracing. I will not rock a bar without it.
Hmm, good point. I retract my previous liking of this bar.
kotomile is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 10:12 PM
  #8  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
Cspence's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,065
Total Cats: 1
Default

Hmmm, good points. How bout the boss frog double hoop? If you can't tell, I like the "Double Hoop" look....don't know why, just partial to it.

Cspence is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 10:18 PM
  #9  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
Cspence's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,065
Total Cats: 1
Default

While I have everyones attention...how do most roll bars bolt in. Do they need the sheet metal that is usually on the sides of the gas tank? My car has that cut out and I just was'nt sure if I'd run into problems since its cut out? The only reason I'm asking is because the Boss Frog Bar looks like it would mount to that sheetmetal. This is the only pic I had at the moment to show you what I mean.

DSCF0060.jpg?t=1239761657

as opposed to this

Cspence is offline  
Old 04-14-2009, 10:25 PM
  #10  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
240_to_miata's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Cromwell, Connecticut
Posts: 2,604
Total Cats: 16
Default

you Trim the sheet metal and it bolts to the actual car. At least thats how the hard dog is.
240_to_miata is online now  
Old 04-14-2009, 11:43 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
SamS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,269
Total Cats: 7
Default

Originally Posted by 240_to_miata
you Trim the sheet metal and it bolts to the actual car. At least thats how the hard dog is.
Same here with the boss frog clearview maxx.
SamS is offline  
Old 04-15-2009, 12:46 AM
  #12  
Cpt. Slow
iTrader: (25)
 
curly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,178
Total Cats: 1,129
Default

Hard dog bars with rear bracing go behind that sheet metal panel to the body next to the sheet metal that surrounds the gas tank. Its a 3 bolt flange with a backing plate. All hard dog bars (with or without rear bracing) bolt to an M14 (I think) bolt from the top and front of the seat belt tower, and another 3 bolt flange with backing plate right below the lower lip of that same sheet metal panel.
curly is offline  
Old 04-15-2009, 01:50 AM
  #13  
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
UrbanSoot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Woodland Hills, CA
Posts: 4,667
Total Cats: 18
Default

boss frog bar was badass! i loved it when i hade it. now with a cage so :P
UrbanSoot is offline  
Old 04-15-2009, 01:40 PM
  #14  
Junior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
clay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Diego, Ca
Posts: 373
Total Cats: 0
Default

I've got a Boss Frog double hoop and it's definitely strong. That was the main reason I bought it. It ties all the way to the floor (with backing plates). With a crane you could probably pick the car up by it. The ONLY thing I don't like is that it may or may not be legal at a track depending on who techs you. I've had no problems doing several track days, but the double hoop layout could be interpreted as non-compliant with the SCCA guidelines. If you aren't doing lots of track days, obviously that wouldn't matter.
clay is offline  
Old 04-15-2009, 02:20 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
 
the_man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MD/DE/PA
Posts: 333
Total Cats: 0
Default

I love the look of the Extreme bar, but there's no way that I'd actually install one. The only motivation for me to install a bar would be necessity for track use, and since the Extreme isn't (as far as I know) track legal, it'd just be something else to whack my head on. No thanks. Really, it's a shame. Oh well, I'll get over it.
the_man is offline  
Old 04-15-2009, 02:28 PM
  #16  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

that **** is ******* ugly. Single diagonal bars are ftw.
hustler is offline  
Old 04-15-2009, 02:48 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
l_bader's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Alamo City, Tejas
Posts: 771
Total Cats: 1
Default

Originally Posted by paul
Not enough(read any) rearward bracing. I will not rock a bar without it.
Originally Posted by 240_to_miata
i like my HDHCDD way better
Ditto... The HD HardCore is SCCA approved and has the rearward bracing.


Originally Posted by 240_to_miata
you Trim the sheet metal and it bolts to the actual car. At least thats how the hard dog is.
I don't know about the Boss Frog, however the Hard Dog uses backplates to create stronger mount points.

The HD Deuce is not tall enough for most competion requirement, whereas the Boss Frog Double is. However, the Boss Frog intrudes into the cabin more than the Hard Dog. - If you are a taller driver, you will bounce your skull off the bar. (Note the circled area on the attached diagram of the Boss Frog Double. The cross member identified sits over the lock for the center console. None of the HD bars are forward of the package shelf...)

Also attached are some pics of my HD bar, with padding.

- L
Attached Thumbnails Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?-boss-frog-double-issue.jpg   Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?-roll_bar-front.jpg   Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?-roll_bar-rear.jpg   Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?-roll_bar-side.jpg  
l_bader is offline  
Old 04-18-2009, 06:21 PM
  #18  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
Cspence's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,065
Total Cats: 1
Default

Originally Posted by clay
I've got a Boss Frog double hoop and it's definitely strong. That was the main reason I bought it. It ties all the way to the floor (with backing plates). With a crane you could probably pick the car up by it. The ONLY thing I don't like is that it may or may not be legal at a track depending on who techs you. I've had no problems doing several track days, but the double hoop layout could be interpreted as non-compliant with the SCCA guidelines. If you aren't doing lots of track days, obviously that wouldn't matter.
Do you have any pics of the bar installed on your car??
Cspence is offline  
Old 04-18-2009, 11:21 PM
  #19  
Junior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
clay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Diego, Ca
Posts: 373
Total Cats: 0
Default

Here are a couple of old pics of my bar. I'm also not real sure it sits any farther forward than a Hard Dog. Both bars tie into the seatbelt mounts the same way and that determines how forward the bar is. The double hoop does come down in the middle above the console, but I'm guessing if you dropped a plumb line from the Hard Dog it would be in the same place. Just a guess though...




Last edited by clay; 04-18-2009 at 11:38 PM. Reason: changed pics
clay is offline  
Old 04-19-2009, 01:17 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
l_bader's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Alamo City, Tejas
Posts: 771
Total Cats: 1
Default

Originally Posted by clay
Here are a couple of old pics of my bar. I'm also not real sure it sits any farther forward than a Hard Dog.
It does...

Originally Posted by clay
Both bars tie into the seatbelt mounts the same way and that determines how forward the bar is.
Yes, they both tie into the seatbelt towers. However, the HD stays in line with the towers, the Boss Frog advances further into the seating area.


Originally Posted by clay
The double hoop does come down in the middle above the console, but I'm guessing if you dropped a plumb line from the Hard Dog it would be in the same place. Just a guess though...
Unfortunately, I don't have pics of a Hard Dog Deuce installed. Since I can't post pics to show the differences, how about an install thread with good pics:
http://www.simon-fraser.com/images/m...og%20Deuce.htm

Based upon the pics you've posted, it is easy to see who someone would run a high risk of cracking their skull against the side bars, especially when wearing a helmet.

- L
l_bader is offline  


Quick Reply: Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:05 AM.