Shipping Roll Bars & Cages

Preparing Roll Bars / Cages for Shipping

Shipping roll bars/cages safely begin with thorough preparation. These essential safety components must be in optimal condition upon arrival. Here’s how to get them ready:

Inspection and Quality Control

Before shipping, inspecting the roll bars/cages for any signs of damage, wear, or rust. Ensure that all welds and joints are secure and that there are no cracks or weak spots.

Quality control is vital to guarantee structural integrity, especially in the competitive field when every inch matters.

Protective Coatings and Finishes

These bars/cages are most often made of steel or aluminum. Apply protective coatings or finishes to prevent corrosion during transit. Rust can compromise the structural strength, so safeguarding against it is ideal.

Labeling and Documentation

Proper labeling and documentation are crucial. Marking the packages as “Fragile” or “Handle with Care.” Provide detailed documentation to ensure compliance with shipping regulations, safely guard your equipment, and track your shipment.

Partnering with Experienced Shipping Services

Collaborate with FreightCenter, which has experience handling delicate and specialized cargo like roll bars/cages. They understand the importance of secure packaging and proper handling.

Packaging Considerations

Securely package the shipment to prevent shifting, impacts, or damage. Custom crates or specially designed packaging may be necessary to ensure they reach their destination in pristine condition.

Shipping Roll Bars / Cages: Challenges and Solutions

Shipping roll bars can pose unique challenges due to their size, shape, and importance for safety. Here’s how to navigate these challenges and find practical solutions:

Challenges of Transporting Roll Bars

These shipments are often large and unwieldy, making them difficult to transport. Their shape and dimensions may not fit standard shipping containers, requiring custom solutions.

Packaging Strategies

Custom crates and specialized packaging materials are often necessary to secure shipments during transit. Like steps to ensure the density of cargo, these strategies protect them from damage caused by vibrations and shocks during transport.

Freight Options

Consider different FreightCenter options, such as ground, air, or sea shipping, depending on the urgency and distance of your shipment. Shipments may require dedicated transport due to their size.

International Shipping

You’ll encounter customs and regulatory challenges when shipping roll bars/cages internationally. Ensure compliance with the specific requirements of the destination country to avoid delays, issues, or mishaps.

Tracking and Monitoring

Use tracking and monitoring systems to monitor your shipment’s progress, helping ensure that shipments are on schedule and arrive at their destination as planned. 

Shipping roll bars/cages demands careful planning and consideration of these challenges. Working with experienced shipping professionals who understand the unique requirements of these safety components is vital to a thriving shipping process and work management when it comes to racing and competitions.

Know What Your Shipping

It’s a common misconception that standard U.S. road cars’ roll bars and roll cages are illegal. While they aren’t against the law, they’re rarely used in everyday vehicles due to practicality and safety concerns. On occasion, being in convertibles and removable tops such as JEEP to meet safety standards, roll bars provide rollover protection.

In contrast, full roll cages, with ratings like 8-point for roll bars and higher ratings like 25.5, 25.3, and 25.2 for roll cages, are reserved for racing cars to ensure safety under extreme motorsport conditions.

Specific considerations differentiate their use in racing vehicles from those in normal road cars. A Roll “CAGE” differs from a “BAR” in that it will include some form of overhead tubing structure that extends forward on both sides from the main hoop along the roof line to the A-Pillars, across the roof and windshield line and down to the floor, inner rocker, or frame of your car.

Remember when we’re speaking about a “CAGE” that the door bars on a cage run into the base of the A-Pillar bars and are not considered attachment “points.” The A-Pillar bars are now your forward points, replacing door bars on a Roll” BAR” as two points.

Standard Cars

Roll Bars

Roll bars, specifically roll hoops or single hoop bars, are sometimes used in standard road cars, especially in convertible models, to enhance rollover protection. In these cases, car manufacturers such as Jeep typically design and install them to meet safety standards and regulations. Roll bars are engineered to protect passengers in a rollover accident. 

Roll “BARS” generally have a main hoop, the main bar, or the starting point of a Bar or Cage install located behind your head. Being shaped like a giant upside-down U is your first 2 points. Harness bars run from the driver to the passenger side behind your front seats, and you would typically attach your safety harness shoulder straps to this bar.

To be NHRA legal, this bar is required and can NOT be removable.

Roll Bar Point Size

-4 Point

not recognized by NHRA, would have two bars running into the back of the car to support the main hoop from folding over. This will help with some chassis structure and roll-over protection.  It is your best option if you use your car on the street with NO rear passengers.

-6 Point

is NHRA legal in a hard top car from 11.49 to 10.00 qtr mile times at the time of this writing and would add a driver and passenger side diagonal door bar to a 4pt bar.

-8 Point

It is the same as a 6pt with the addition of two (NHRA D bars), commonly called kickers by many. NHRA does not require the addition of kickers to a roll bar and doesn’t allow you to run any faster than a 6pt ba.

Kickers add additional cage and chassis structure, especially when attached to frame connectors or undercarriage tubular structure in a unibody or full-frame car.

Roll Cages

On the other hand, full roll cages are generally not used in standard passenger cars due to several practical reasons collectively; these factors make roll bars/cages more suitable for racing vehicles, where their safety benefits outweigh these practical limitations:

Space and Comfort

Roll cages occupy a significant amount of space within the cabin, which can drastically reduce passenger seating and comfort. This makes them impractical for everyday use.

Visibility and Accessibility

Roll cages can obstruct driver visibility with their complex network of bars and supports. This can significantly block the driver’s field of vision and make it difficult to enter and exit the vehicle, making one squeeze or tuck their body around the metal bars.

Safety Concerns

Roll cages, if not professionally installed and integrated with the vehicle’s structure, can pose safety risks, including the possibility of injury to occupants in non-racing scenarios. They can also interfere with the deployment of airbags and other concerns about head injuries

Due to having exposed metal throughout the inside of the vehicle, if an accident were to occur, why they do recommend helmets when in use of a roll cage.

Competitive & Racing Cars

Roll bars are rarely seen in competitive / racing cars. Roll cages are most common, where safety standards and requirements significantly differ from those for standard road cars. In motorsport, roll cages are essential for protecting drivers in high-speed racing conditions, where the risk of rollovers and collisions is much greater.

These roll cages are designed, built, and installed to meet specific safety standards set by racing organizations such as the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA).

Roll Cage Point Size

-6 Point

Is NHRA legal from 9.99 to 8.50 in a full perimeter frame car (for example, GM A & G Bodies) where the frame of a car runs around the perimeter of your car, next to your inner rockers, and outside of your hip. A 6pt cage is a cage as described above without NHRA D bars, also known as “kicker” bars.

-8 Point

This is the minimum required to meet sub 9.99 rules on all cars that are NOT perimeter frame cars. It is the same as a 6 pt cage with the addition of the two NHRA D/kicker bars that you will tie into your sub-frame connectors, inboard rails, or some other under-carriage tubular structure, depending on what car you have.

This is the minimum cage required for Mustangs, F-Bodies, X-Bodies, Tri-5 cars, and most other cars and trucks.

-10 Point

This is the same as the 8pt with a rear X bar setup and the two usual back bars that come with your cage kit. All of the X’s on our kits require final fitting by the installer as not everyone wants to install their X in the same way. An X is an excellent way to add a large chassis structure and roll-over protection to any car cage.

Typically, it is only used in cars with no rear seats.

-12 Point

A 12pt is still legal to 8.50, but comes with a pair of bars that extend through your firewall up to the front area of your car’s frame, typically somewhere forward of your front tire and a little back from your radiator support. These add extra structure and are sometimes used for front engine plate mounting.

-25.5, 25.3, 25.2 Point

Are all sub 8.50 or over 180mph (qtr. mile time) cages? That is a whole other topic in itself. If you are looking for info about a 25._anything cert cage, we’d recommend checking out the SFI foundations website, giving them a holler, and ordering the spec book pertaining to your needs. 

Roll bars and cages are non-negotiable when it comes to the safety and performance of racing vehicles. Ensuring these critical components reach their destination safely and on time is a top priority for racing companies, auto shops, and enthusiasts alike.

That’s where FreightCenter is the go-to shipping solution for the racing community, enthusiasts, and all in between.

Regarding shipping the bars and cages, FreightCenter is the trusted partner you need. Their experience, customized solutions, compliance expertise, and commitment to timely and cost-effective delivery make them the top choice for racing companies, auto shops, and racing enthusiasts.

With FreightCenter, you’re not just shipping; you’re ensuring your hobbies or racing endeavors’ safety and a competitive edge.

Roll Bars / Cages FAQs

Q. How should I prepare roll cages for shipping?

A. Before shipping, inspect the roll cages for damage, apply protective coatings to prevent corrosion, and securely package them to avoid shifting during transit.

Q. What’s the best way to package roll cages for safe shipping?

A. Roll cages should be securely crated or packaged to prevent damage. Customized packaging solutions are often necessary to ensure they arrive in good condition.

Q. Can I ship roll cages internationally?

A. Yes, roll cages can be shipped internationally, but it’s essential to comply with the specific regulations and requirements of the destination country.

Q. What shipping options are available for roll cages?

A. Depending on your needs, you can choose from various shipping options, including ground, air, or sea freight. The choice often depends on the distance and urgency of your shipment.

Q. How can I track my roll cage shipment during transit?

A. Most shipping companies offer tracking services. You’ll receive a tracking number to monitor the progress of your shipment and ensure it reaches its destination as planned.

Q. Are there any restrictions or safety regulations for shipping roll cages?

A. While roll cages are not generally restricted, adhering to safety regulations and securing them properly to prevent damage during transportation is essential.

Q. What should I do if my roll cages arrive damaged or lost during shipping?

A. Contact your shipping company immediately in the rare event of damage or loss. They will guide you through the claims process and work to resolve the issue promptly.