window net attachment
 

The obvious consensus from the recent post is to go with a mesh window net. What about the attachment method? I have seen a couple of methods (seat belt buckle and spring-loaded) and there may be others. What is the best method of attachment?

Attach it to the roll cage and it will keep your arms inside if the door flies open but it may prove an obstacle in an emergency. Attach it to the door frame and it will open easily in an emergency (if you can open the door) but may not protect you if the door opens! Take your choice.

Window Net
 

If you are planning to race the car check with your sanctioning body as to there rules.

Some may allow mounting to the door, some to the cage and door and some to ther cage only.

Me? Attached to the cage because my doors are just fiberglass skins. Mesh. ..and spring loaded so I can bang it out of the way in a hurry if I need to get out. Don't want to be fumbling with the seat-belt buckle style if my eggs are a little scrambled from impact.

I know NASA requires a spring loaded or other quick disconnect mount on the top. You definitely want to attach to the cage. DO NOT use hose clamps, bungee cords, or zip ties to hold it in, none of them are strong enough. Not only does it hold human body parts in, it can keep car body parts and other misc debris from getting in. You want the net in place until you or someone else pulls it down.

Clarification: I am going to be attaching the net to the cage.

For the attachment to the top of the cage, I have seen various types of latches: One is basically a seat belt latch (usually referred to as a GM standard latch); another is a bar with a spring that you insert into a hole in the top; another is a latch like the old race harness latches that they had before cam-locks (and there may be others out there). Whatever type I use I will properly mount to to the top of the cage.

So, specifically what I am trying to find out is what is the best type of latch to use at the top of the net to open and close the net and if there are pros and cons to the different types?

Our PRC rules are similar to PCA, as opposed to NASA. We won't be changing the window net rules for 2009, so you can refer to last years rules for clarity.

I have some misc. window net mounting stuff I am not going to use. Let me know if you are interested. The Coleman Racing spring bar/kit:

http://www.colemanracing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=76_880&products_id=3604.

The Coleman spring bar is particularly nifty. I have made something similar out of carbon fiber tube for my car.

I also have the the clever roll bar/cage clamps made by Allstar (eliminates the need to weld on tabs):

ALL10221: ALLSTAR CLAMP-ON WINDOW NET INSTALLATION KIT - FOR 1-1/2" TUBING; http://www.pitstopusa.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=1087

I use the simple $15 ribbon window net from Racer Wholesale. I don't feel a need to use anything fancier or more expensive. Don't feel a need for mesh.

If you want a really neat (though spendy) window net set-up, try the Schroth... HMS Motorportsports in Peabody, Mass. Joe Marko runs HMS and is great on safety stuff. Certainly an excellent place to buy a HANS device as well.

Of course, my strongest advice is just to have Mat fab something up... with some simple weld-on tabs et cetera. Hard to go wrong if you can get your vehicle over to Mat. Cheapest and most informed path in my opinion.

- MM

Mike:
Thanks for the info. The car goes to Mat for the cage on Tuesday. When I asked him which type to use, he pretty much said to use whichever type I wanted (which is the reason for the post). My inclination is to go with the spring-loaded bar, but I wanted to get some feedback. I think I will go with the springloaded bar and have Mat weld the tabs on.

Paul

Spring. THe clip is not difficult, but if you're upsidedown, injured and on fire, the spring is simpler. Bang it backwards. No locating clips and squeezing.

The Coleman spring rod works very well for the upper support. Tony at TC Design uses these often, and I am sure they are popular in many types of cars. Another style I failed to mention uses a ubiquitous GM pushbutton seatbelt latch. See for example: http://www.racerwholesale.com/index.php?cPath=48_142.

I have one of these kits laying around too if you need it. You see this type a lot on grids in all kinds of racing.

The trickier part is the lower attachment. Weld-on tabs seems to be a common approach, with some type of round or flat bar. Some use cable to attach to the cage structure.

Mat will have some approach that is time tested when he does your cage. I am sure it will be a great cage.

- Mike

I prefer the spring type too. Here's a thread with some pictures of one I did and links to kits:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-autocross-track-racing/362934-window-net-i-searched-but-what-setup-should-i-use.html

how did the roof carve go paul? posted some pics of my completed cage in the regional forum thread if you care to take a look. couple things i noticed since getting the car back, the doors close way different even after adjustment (one better, one worse), and the steering wheel is about 3" off center now. i have an email out to the fabricator to see if the wheel was removed and possibly reinstalled a couple splines off or it was all chassis flex causing the wheel to go off. an alignment will close this out in a month or two, so no harm but id like to know which it was.


before the cage, get all the interior clean up done! i had a bear of a time removing the last of the glue with the jungle gym in place... you will have that "no turning back now" hollow feeling in yer gut for about 20 minutes after seeing the cage in place. after that 20 or so of hollow you only get stoked for what's next. mine in for paint next saturdee. what color are you doing the interior on yours? black seems the natural choice, but way too hot. i will be going with a light blue shade of gray. kinda like the color of the grand cherokee jeeps that you only see of the grand units in.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/california-southwest-us-az-nv/443725-plunge-post4408146.html?posted=1#post4408146

cant wait to see the pics of your unit.

t

You could always spin the steering wheel all the way one way, then all the way the other way. If it comes out unevenly left to right, then it could very well be that the wheel was replaced off by a spline or three.

--DD