FJ43 Roll bar feedback

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mdsims

mdsims

10 Year
Joined
Jun 11, 2013
Threads
62
Messages
1,129
Location
Castro Valley, CA
It would appear there are currently 3 'buy-it' options to add a roll bar to my WORB model FJ43. I'm in the planning phase of a project to add a rear bench seat and car seats/boosters to fit my kids. During this project, I'd like to add a roll bar. I may also remove the extra long jump seats, as they'd be redundant at that point.
  1. Find an OEM bar from an FJ43/BJ44/BJ46. Easier said than done. Very much open to this option if someone has one to sell.
  2. Relik Garage FJ40/FJ43/BJ43/BJ46 Roll Bar - https://relikgarage.com/products/fj43-roll-bar. I haven't reached out to these guys yet, but I am interested in more photos and details on what pieces are provided. From what I've seen, looks good. Another member here sent me a few pictures as well. Thanks @Brybrys1978
  3. FJ Legends Custom Roll Bar made Toyota for FJ40, FJ43, FJ45 - https://fjlegends.com/products/aftermarket-toyota-fj40-43-45-roll-bar. Has all the appearance of an OEM roll bar. Pads, brackets for front belts, nice contoured base plates. I don't see a lot of vendor feedback on them, and the sales terms are heavy-handed. Appears custom built out of Colombia. I'd want to get more info on tubing type, material details, are the pads included or just shown, etc. The bends look forced, maybe the tubing is thin?
I'd like to cast a wide net on feedback from you all.

Thanks, Matt
 
You might consider finding a local shop to fabricate one for you. That way you can sort of have some control over the materials used and design.
 
This is a photo of an FJ43 in Europe.
The Relik is a good copy.

IMG_0086.webp
 
As the roll bar for a FJ40 seems to me already weak for real trouble, I liked to have a beefier one in the FJ43 Soft Top, it's custom made out of 3" diam and thick walled pipe.

IMG-20250816-WA0047.webp


IMG-20250816-WA0037.webp
 
Contact Metaltech 4x4. This thing is their specialty tons of is running with their roll cages. They can offer something I’m sure

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Add me to the chorus in favor of abandoning a stock bar in favor of REAL protection. You are talking about YOUR CHILDREN!

In a perfect world, you could just drive over to @fc187 and have him whip you out something tasteful like @devo has. But I’m sure Don is booked for months out; he is an artist.
 
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I have the FJ Legends rollbar sitting in pieces in my basement as I haven't had the time to install it yet. They asked for specific measurements after I ordered it and were very easy to work with. It was delivered quickly and came from South America. PM me if you'd like any specific pics.
 
@mdsims

I'm just getting around to installing my FJLegends rollbar in my 43. The fit is good so far. The kit includes some brackets to move the rear seats inward (toward the center aisle) 3 1/4". I'll be drilling new mounting holes for the seats in addition to all the holes for the rollbar. Reinforcing plates are also included for under the tub. I have some factory body brackets that are in the way of these mounting plates so I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with that right now. I have the extra long rear seats and the rollbar clears them nicely.

If you're interested in seeing some pics I can post how it's coming together.
 
I finished up my installation of the FJ Legends rollbar for my 1977 43 a few days ago. It took me about 4 hours and was part of a larger project of removing the Fivres fiberglass top (which appeared to have never been removed prior), relocating the rear seat, installing new seat belts and installing the FJ Legends bikini top. All told, it was a 3 day project with all the usual unforeseeable issues that pop up during your typical SA 43 project (broken bolts, re-tapping holes, and generally stopping to fix every every other thing that you never noticed before but would have killed you when it let go (driver's seat belt mounting bolt not actually threaded into anything).

Installation was pretty straight forward and I'm happy with the product and results. My only negative feedback is that:
1. The plates the rollbar is mounted too aren't welded at a perfect angle to line up with the ribs of the tub
2. One of the bolts was too short for the bracket that holds the rear bars to the forward bar and
3. There were no instructions so I had to contact FJ Legends to ask about some of the brackets that were included. They responded promptly.

Here's a shot of some of the parts laid out. The L shaped brackets were supposedly part of seat relocation but wasn't required for my installation. The small C brackets were used to move my seats inward, toward the center aisle.
IMG20260702102547.webp


There was 4 of these underside mounting plates.
IMG20260702183029.webp


These ribs on the underside of my wheel wells interfered with the underside mounting plates so I cut off the edge of one side.
Pre:

IMG20260702104513.webp


Post:

IMG20260702192100.webp

I had to remove the bracket with the round hole (for the soft-top frame?)

IMG20260702102646.webp
 
Seat relocation C brackets. Note the notch on the seat post that interfered with the rollbar plate:
IMG20260703163419.webp


I haven't figured out how to address the rear arm of my seat:
IMG20260703163412.webp


Finished product after installing the windshield channel and bikini top:

IMG20260709154920.webp
 
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