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BigWheels



Member Since: 21 Mar 2010
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1405

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Choosing Roll Cages
I'm considering a roll cage for my Puma 90.

External is my preference, but it would forever change the look & maybe saleability of the vehicle. But protect the bodywork.

Internal is more discreet, & can possibly be used for hanging a hammock from. It will affect passenger accommodation as well.

Finally P&P or Safety Cages, or another?

Any helpful advice welcome. Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender
Post #150670 16th Jun 2012 11:30pm
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6088

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
I've had both, SD and P&P (SD full external on my old 90, and P&P external with internal hoop on my current 110)

Apart from the coating, which was pants on the SD one, there's little to tell them apart. Build quality seems to be as good with both.

IF you do go with the P&P one, and you fit it yourself, when you print off the fitting template for the rear hoops, throw it away and just build the cage up onto the bodywork, getting the front hoop in place first, then work your way back. once it's all in place properly, THEN drill the holes through the bodywork.

I went by the template, and the holes are about an inch off. unfortunately not under the "foot" of the hoop, but an inch away, so i've had to fit 2 bolts per side to fill the holes. not happy.


90 SD cage:

Click image to enlarge



110 P&P cage:


Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green
Post #150680 17th Jun 2012 7:20am
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markalpha



Member Since: 23 Apr 2008
Location: Downham Market
Posts: 690

England 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
I had a P&P on my previous 110. Welds etc first class but water did leak into tubes on roof sections resulting in rusty water marks on roof.

When I trade it in for 130 it did add some extra value once the sales manager looked at the cost of the cage.

In the same process of looking at SD or P&P cage for the 130 now.
Post #150702 17th Jun 2012 10:15am
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davew



Member Since: 02 Jan 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 888

England 1990 Defender 90 V8 Petrol PU Auto Rioja Red
You can't really fit a full internal cage to a Defender, there's not enough room in the front to have an internal front hoop.

If you go for an external front/internal rear then it's slight more low key than a full external but "off the shelf" these tend to be motor sport cages which can take up a lot of room internally, especially in a 90.

A full external cage is obviously the least intrusive inside and, for a 90, that's probably not a bad thing - I'm assuming you don't anticipate competing in the vehicle in events that require a roll cage though.

I/we went for a bit of both in the 90, going for a full external cage with an internal hoop and cross because I wanted an external cage but I also wanted some triangulation so in the event of a heavy roll it should maintain it's integrity.

As for P+P vs SD, I'd go for P+P every time if I can afford it. The build quality and finish is far better than the SD cages, especially since they went under and moved their production to eastern Europe somewhere.

Personally I'd get the supplier to fit the cage too, they have done loads of them and know the pitfalls. I decided to save some cash and fit our 90 cage myself - I soon wished that I'd paid P+P to do it. Whilst I got the cage fitted OK in the end and am very happy with the result it took a LOT longer to fit than I anticipated and by the time I'd finished the quote I'd been given for them to fit it seemed very reasonable !

Anyway here's the one on Pam's 90 - based on the full external expedition cage from P+P with the addition of some extra bracing on the roof and sides and an internal hoop with removable cross braces. The finish on this one is silver powder coating with a lacquer over the top of it - the cage on my competition motor has the same finish and it's proved very durable despite the fact it's used regularly to fend off trees and rocks.

Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge
Post #150707 17th Jun 2012 10:29am
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Romadog



Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Powys
Posts: 1749

Prefer SD as P&P front hoop doesnt follow the lines of vehicle body like the SD one and therefore looks like an aftermarket fit, rather than one that looks as though it was designed for the Defender. Parts also have Land Rover part numbers.
Post #150716 17th Jun 2012 11:34am
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169

England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
Romadog

i don't get what you are saying about the 'look' of the SD one fitting the lines of vehicle and the P&P one not. Looking at Diesel's Jim's 90 above with an SD cage and mine with a P&P one, then there isn't any noticeable difference!

Besides, you should buy a cage for quality in manufacture and design and the suiting of your requirements, rather than on looks. The cage is for protection, not prettification! *

**Although I think mine does look rather pretty Laughing
Post #150733 17th Jun 2012 2:57pm
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6088

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
I understand what romadog says... my SD cage was slightly tighter hugging to the bodywork. not by loads, maybe 1/2" compared to the P&P one, but enough (IMO) to notice.

The rear most hoop is where it's most noticible (or in the case of my 110, both rear hoops) compared to the rear hoop on my 90, at the bottom where it comes off of the mounting foot the SD one is a bit tighter into the bodywork.


If/when I build/buy my next 110, i'll get a camel type cage, either SD or P&P if they do one, with external front hoop but internal rear section. I love my P&P external one to bits, but it does look a tad in your face now.... maybe I'm just getting old and crusty. Laughing Laughing
Post #150738 17th Jun 2012 3:34pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10378

United Kingdom 
P&P are nice....2nd choice for me, 1st choice SD, had one on my green 90, awesome....




. I've had a Whitbread in the past, here on my red 90




good budget cage, a friend had one and the next day we went laning, then this happened...the Whitbread cage stood up well !
Post #150751 17th Jun 2012 5:14pm
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TD5_dan



Member Since: 24 Feb 2012
Location: Essex
Posts: 449

2001 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
Can i just ask, how much are you being stung by your insurance companies for fitting a roll cage, when i enquired it was nearly half my insurance premium again on top! 2001 TD5 110 County Station Wagon - sold
1970 Series 2A Station Wagon
1970 Series 2A hard top
1960 Series 2
1972 Series 3


Last edited by TD5_dan on 17th Jun 2012 6:23pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #150759 17th Jun 2012 6:05pm
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169

England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
I'm with Adrian Flux, 'commercial van' policy, with business use, unlimited mileage.

Cost me nothing extra when I added the roll cage. I just emailed them the details and they emailed back to confirm it had all been added to my policy (adding to the already long list of mods!).
Post #150764 17th Jun 2012 6:21pm
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TD5_dan



Member Since: 24 Feb 2012
Location: Essex
Posts: 449

2001 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
Thats good, looks like you really have to shop around when you start modding then! 2001 TD5 110 County Station Wagon - sold
1970 Series 2A Station Wagon
1970 Series 2A hard top
1960 Series 2
1972 Series 3
Post #150768 17th Jun 2012 6:26pm
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169

England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
AF are not always the cheapest but they do specialise in 4x4s and modded stuff. We've been with them for our Land Rovers for nearly 20 years now - from fairly standard Range Rovers through to my rebuilt 90 daily drive (now becoming our overlander) and Dave's 100" Defender challenge truck.

Only problem I've had recently is that my Defender combined with my occupation has put my premiums up and to get in at a reasonable cost it is now insured on a commercial van policy rather than a personal car policy. Not really much difference in what I get for my money, other than I don't get 3rd party cover to drive other vehicles on the van policy (although insurers are now looking to phase out the 3rd party cover on all policies in the future anyway...)
Post #150771 17th Jun 2012 6:34pm
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TD5_dan



Member Since: 24 Feb 2012
Location: Essex
Posts: 449

2001 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
Yes they are good, i am with AF for my Series 2A, but at the moment i have the Defender on a multi car policy with a run around which worked out the cheapest at the time but im finding myself using it less and less, i can go 2 weeks and only cover 30 miles in it might be better to see if i can get a limited mileage policy of some sort with AF at the next renewal. Thanks for the advice, fantastic roll cage by the way Pam! 2001 TD5 110 County Station Wagon - sold
1970 Series 2A Station Wagon
1970 Series 2A hard top
1960 Series 2
1972 Series 3
Post #150778 17th Jun 2012 6:42pm
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6088

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
NFU £0 extra Thumbs Up
Post #150785 17th Jun 2012 6:51pm
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Romadog



Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Powys
Posts: 1749

Diesel_Jim, glad you agree, but I think Greeni 's pic of red 90 with Witbread cage, proves my point with non SD cages in that they dont follow the lines of the windscreen and in doing so they become , as you say , 'in your face', which is why I didnt go full external with my 110 and instead went with Camel cage, but I am using 50th front windscreen hoop, rather than the Camel as it is also shouts I'm an off-roader without a roof rack to hide it. just my opinion. I also went for SD as its proven and simple to fit. As far as safety well when I built an off roader years ago I went for a Bowler due to its tested strength, sadly had to sell, but link below shows it being driven by its new owner.

Post #150786 17th Jun 2012 6:56pm
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