Building a roll bar...thought of using it for something else (1 Viewer)

[copasspupil]

I need to build a roll bar and probably going metal tech since they are local.

Somebody gave me an idea yesterday about using the roll bar for the air tank - compressed air to inflate the tires and have a few female ends at various points in the cage. Anybody here done it and have any pointers and pics of theirs?

 

[3_puppies]

I need to build a roll bar and probably going metal tech since they are local.

Somebody gave me an idea yesterday about using the roll bar for the air tank - compressed air to inflate the tires and have a few female ends at various points in the cage. Anybody here done it and have any pointers and pics of theirs?

I don't think your roll bar will hold that much air. even if you punch holes where the cross tubes tie in to the main hoops, so it's one big container, there just isn't that much volume.

 

[copasspupil]

I stopped by my local offroad shop and they said that not only have they seen them on jeeps and that there was more air in them then what people might think. Which is why I posed the question.

 

[orangefj45]

actually, a cage will hold at least a couple of gallons. we built a hendrix "x" chassis tube buggy and paid extra to have the chassis made into an air tank. it holds 12 gallons of air!

too bad that it leaked all over the place and we spent pretty much a day fixing all the leaks.

i bet a cruiser cage will hold at least 4 to 5 gallons of air. getting all the welds to hold air is harder than you'd think however. tigging them would help.

 

[nuclearlemon]

it wil hold plenty of air. just remember to put holes in where tubes connect and the worst part will be getting it sealed.

 

[copasspupil]

Anybody have a pic of one?

 

[Cdaniel]

One thought to consider

Compressed air tanks have drain valves to empty the condensated moisture that collects in all of them. If it isn't emptied, corrosion will eventually weaken the tank. Is it possible to release all of the moisture in a complex roll bar tank that has several low points for collection?

 

[Dieseler]

Guys do it with tube bumpers all the time.
No reason why Roll bar cannot do the math on the volume there is lots of cubes there even with the main hoop alone.
Run the drain at the lowest point of the roll bar or even out through the base through the wheel well.
It is best to TIG weld like you see on bike frames and small pressurized cylinders no chance of slag entrapment which may cause air leaks.

 

[nuclearlemon]

One thought to consider

Compressed air tanks have drain valves to empty the condensated moisture that collects in all of them. If it isn't emptied, corrosion will eventually weaken the tank. Is it possible to release all of the moisture in a complex roll bar tank that has several low points for collection?

put plugs in each down pipe, but only need one real drain valve as the air pressure will push most of the moisture out with it. by putting plugs in each pipe, you can go through once or twice a year to be sure.