Why can't roll cages be installed domestically?
2 Answers
The reason why roll cages cannot be installed domestically is that they increase car costs, occupy space, and affect comfort. Disadvantages of installing roll cages: Since roll cages are not made of ordinary steel, they are constructed using cold-drawn seamless carbon steel pipes. If a family car is equipped with a roll cage, the manufacturing cost will significantly increase. After installing a roll cage in a family car, the interior space will naturally be greatly reduced. To install a roll cage, race cars need to remove the rear seats, which is unimaginable for family cars. After installing a roll cage, many interior configurations will be removed, greatly reducing the comfort of the vehicle. Introduction to roll cages: A car roll cage is a detachable assembly of steel pipes. It is made using cold-drawn seamless carbon steel pipes and is installed by connecting or welding each pipe one by one according to the interior contour of the car body. If the car body shell is removed, what you see is a metal cage constructed from several steel pipes. Therefore, Hong Kong people also call it a 'roll cage.'
Let me explain why roll cages are generally not allowed in China from the perspective of automotive modification. Primarily, traffic regulations strictly mandate that any modifications to the vehicle's structure require official approval. Since roll cages involve alterations to critical areas, they are easily classified as illegal modifications, resulting in fines. Original vehicle designs undergo crash testing, including evaluations of crumple zones and airbag systems. If you install a roll cage without authorization, it may alter the force distribution pattern, potentially preventing airbags from deploying correctly or causing uncontrolled body deformation during a collision, thereby increasing the risk of occupant injury. In daily driving, roll cages offer almost no practical benefit while adding weight, increasing fuel consumption, and negatively affecting handling. Furthermore, vehicles with roll cages will inevitably fail annual inspections, and insurance companies may deny claims on the grounds that the modifications artificially increased risks. Therefore, maintaining the factory configuration is the safest, most compliant, and hassle-free approach.
