Disco 3 (LR3) roll cage

[RadBadNow]

Howdy friends!

Has anyone seen or knows a manufacturer of roll cages or exterior protection for the Discover 3?

Cheers

 

[EricTyrrell]

Doubt any external cage would really protect a vehicle the size and weight of an LR3. Not to mention it'd require lots of cutting and drilling into that fancy body you're trying to protect.

 

[krick3tt]

Not so sure about that...they do roll cages on UniMogs, but then that is the type of vehicle that needs one. If you're going to be that crazy in a vehicle get a UniMog and leave the LR in the garage.

 

[DiscoDavis]

No exo cages. No point for its size/weight as mentioned.

Safety devices does have a Discovery 3 internal cage. Honestly the body is pretty stout without a cage. If you plan on rolling it over and over again that's another story.

 

[Jwestpro]

Probably ought to remove the glass roof first...

We should dig up roll over crash photos. I've seen many of Discovery 2 that weren't so nice but also pretty messed up recent modern G wagonsfr high speed shenanigans. I do wonder how the unibody would fare minus all the glass it would release. Those big 3rd row windows too, wow what a mess it would be.

 

[Victory_Overland]

Probably ought to remove the glass roof first...

We should dig up roll over crash photos. I've seen many of Discovery 2 that weren't so nice but also pretty messed up recent modern G wagonsfr high speed shenanigans. I do wonder how the unibody would fare minus all the glass it would release. Those big 3rd row windows too, wow what a mess it would be.

I've seen an LR4 on its lid here in Hawaii and it was not a pretty sight. I also do not think it was high speed and not sure exo-cage would have helped; all windows on that side and hatch busted.

Believe it or not, on a unibody, the body skin adds quite a bit of structure to the rigidity of the chassis. Cutting into for the exo-cage mounts might actually weaken it in those areas.

Although, I would think a good bumper, sliders, and rear bumper with the side slides might limit some damage if it didn't go all the way over.

 

[RadBadNow]

I was thinking of adding some grills over the windows like in the video of a defender 110 and thought would be easier if they were installed on the roll bars.

Video: Defender 110

 

[DiscoDavis]

I was thinking of adding some grills over the windows like in the video of a defender 110 and thought would be easier if they were installed on the roll bars.

Video: Defender 110

None of that is structural. Those are for small tree branches/rocks and mongrel thieves. Nothing is going to protect your glass in a rollover unless you add a TON of structural steel. If you plan on running a race truck or something like that you will remove all glass anyway and rivet in some alu. It is just fast enough without a cage, I see zero point in an exo cage, it will be slow as crap and handle even worse. Interior cage sure, if you strip everything out like a race car to mitigate weight gain.

I agree with everyone that said sliders and bumpers. They are all you "need". Remember LR did Birmingham to Beijing or whatever with factory equipped Discovery 4's.

 

[MLu]

Assuming it's just for looks, I would simply weld up whatever chicken coop fencing you like the look of onto a couple of straight pieces of metal and glue them to the door on two sides around the window. It would definitely not be "easier" to install an exterior roll cage for that purpose...

 

[A.J.M]

Having seen the state of a D3 after a roll.

There is little need for a cage. The body is VERY strong, even with the glass. Glass breaks but the steel structure stays reasonably intact.

Unlike a Defender or a Disco 1/2. They don't crumple and crush down.

 

[racehorse]

Having seen the state of a D3 after a roll.

There is little need for a cage. The body is VERY strong, even with the glass. Glass breaks but the steel structure stays reasonably intact.

Unlike a Defender or a Disco 1/2. They don't crumple and crush down.

X2 ^ - In 2008 or 2009 there was an Institute for Highway Safety study (the annual report) reflecting crashes and occupant injuries/deaths. It's usually tied to the insurance rate/casualty figures for young drivers. The LR3 was at the top of the list in terms of safety. It literally was or is the safest SUV out there. Out of 144,000 crashes/impacts across the U.S. there were 0 (zero) deaths. I was pretty amazed when I read the report. I think you can find it on consumer reports page somewhere. Been a awhile, but just to know it's a stout vehicle but yeah, you roll it, a glass roof is not your friend.

 

[Victory_Overland]

Having seen the state of a D3 after a roll.

There is little need for a cage. The body is VERY strong, even with the glass. Glass breaks but the steel structure stays reasonably intact.

Unlike a Defender or a Disco 1/2. They don't crumple and crush down.

Concur. Best option avail would be panel storage boxes in replacement of the 3rd-row windows. If I ever break one, I'll put plywood in it before another piece of glass! hahaha hahaha

 

[DiscoDavis]

Concur. Best option avail would be panel storage boxes in replacement of the 3rd-row windows. If I ever break one, I'll put plywood in it before another piece of glass! hahaha hahaha

I'm surprised Front Runner never tried a gullwing kit for the rear glass. Especially on the 5 seat models it would be great.

 

[Jwestpro]

Concur. Best option avail would be panel storage boxes in replacement of the 3rd-row windows. If I ever break one, I'll put plywood in it before another piece of glass! hahaha hahaha

Dang now I'll have that rolling around in my head now. What a great idea.

 

[454]

This is a G4 D3 after a head-on with the Audi in the foreground. The family in the D3 all went home after some time in the hospital. The Audi driver was found in more than one place at the scene.

This pic tells me all that I need to know about how safe my truck is.