ID This Hard Dog Please!
 

I'm considering buying a gently-used Hard Dog roll bar for a decent price, but can't really tell what model it is. It looks like it's full height with a single diagonal (i.e., not an Ace). The unusual thing is that the diagonal goes across the main hoop rather than to a rear brace. Obviously, this would inhibit passenger seat recline, but I don't really care about that.

Can anyone ID this bar? Any pros/cons to watch out for?

I see it has harness tabs. I'm not sure what model that one is.

I think it might be an early hardcore, but the diagonal location is throwing me off. Haven't had an opportunity yet to measure the tube diameter.

It has bent rear supports like a M2

The bent rear supports are typically only found on M2 Sport bars and the harness tabs are an added M2 option. When ordering from Bethania, you can ask to have the diagonal put in the main hoop.

My eyes tell me its a Hard dog M2 single diagonal. Can't tell whether it is a Hard Core or not, that would take a tape measure, but if it has the under car mounting plates, you are a set of new hardware away from a good bar. I'm not a fan of the single diagonal, but that is a visibility thing.

-Greer

I'd call up Hard Dog and see if they ever had a design with the diagonal only on the main hoop. Kinda makes sense for rigidity, but what would I know. I guess going from the main hoop to one of the back braces would be more triangular for both upside down sideways force, and upside down forward forces.

Well, the guy isn't calling me back anyway.

I need to just call Bethania, order a bar and be done with it.

They did. That is the 2nd gen design. First gen single diagonals met the main hoop at the mounting plate and just killed passenger seat clearance. Second gen corrected that. I believe you could order the discussed version through 2003-2004 time frame. I sold a few of them at PBC back in 99-2001 timeframe but visibility sucked.