Window nets? String type or ribbon type? Preferences?

[Beat95YJ]

I am about to order some window nets for the F100. What type string or ribbon do you prefer and why?

Also on a vehicle with working doors, would you rigid mount them to the door or do you still spring load them?

The brand I am looking at has the following attachment methods:
A) Snaps
B) Screws
C) Velcro
D) Grommets
E) Bar flaps

I assume that bar flaps are the types I am familiar with for the spring loaded bars. Also have you made your own bar/spring mechanism or are the parts available as a kit?

[fj40forlife]

how about putting a seat belt clip on it. i see it done alot of times on desert cars.

[RedBullJeep]

We prefer the string nets as you don't notice them when on, even though ribbon really isn't that bad visability-wise, we made the jump to string after seeing the difference. We send Mastercraft a pattern of the finsihed shape and size and tel them our attachment method and they build-to-fit in about 12 days. They do have many common sizes on the shelf but we've never had a net that was a common size.

We buy our spring loaded bars from E-bay at half the price of most: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Windo...5060QQtcZphoto
The price is right for the time it takes to fab your own.

[Triaged]

Do you want to use them for safety or to meet SCORE rules? To meet the rules use the fine string type or mesh type because they are easier to see out of and mount them with zip-ties to the door.

If however you want to do it for safety I would:
Use either a seatbelt latch (nice and cheap) or the sternum strap type latch/link.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/3465...tall-Kits.html
Use a SFI rated ribon style window net.
Attach it to the cage and not the door.

I have seen the spring loaded type pop out in a wreck. I have also seen doors that ripped off in a wreck (and talked to drivers that were trying with little success to pull their arms back into the car while upside down in the air).

[Beat95YJ]

Nothing as lofty as score rules. (This truck would not qualify for any competetive class) I am doing it to meet mdr and MORE rules as well as for safety.

As much fun as it will be to race, if someone were to get hurt it would ruin the whole idea.

EDIT:

How would you typically attach the net to this? Or does the latch attach to the door (or Cage)?

[Beat95YJ]

Originally Posted by Triaged

I have seen the spring loaded type pop out in a wreck. I have also seen doors that ripped off in a wreck (and talked to drivers that were trying with little success to pull their arms back into the car while upside down in the air).

Furthering this point, what does anybody recommend as a secondary door latch. I have seen many iffy latches on the prerunner sites, but I would like to do the best I can.

I will think about ways to mount the net to the door bars. I will be redoing them so I am not 100% sure how they are going to turn out.

Later this year several ladies will be racing the truck at the powder puff race, so safety is very important. (My fiancee and the wife and girlfriend of some of my friends)

[Monster Krawler]

PRP in Menifee just made mine for the KOH. They used the string type, made in house, and can make different mounts like the one you have shown. I made my own mounts with old seat belt latches and picked up some thick wall stainless tube reminates from Summit Steel in Oceanside.

Preimier Racing Products 951 894 5104

Summit steel products 760 726 8823

Total cost under $150.
labor time About an hour.

I made mine totally removable, One lock screw per side to remove net completly.

[Triaged]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

How would you typically attach the net to this? Or does the latch attach to the door (or Cage)?

Many window nets have either a sleeve (mesh or net) or loops (ribbon) that the bar goes through. The 2 tabs go on the cage/door.

[BillaVista]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

(My fiancee and the wife and girlfriend of some of my friends)

When I read this on my screen, the "of some of my friends" was on the next line, so it read:


My fiancee and the wife and girlfriend ...

And I though "Fawk me, Frank's doin' a'right!"

Sorry, nothing to do with tech. I'll move along now.

[Jeff Knoll]

PRP easy, seat belt latch, easy. string type, easy to see out of.

Murrieta, not Menifee.

[JR]

Custom order the nets from Mastercraft.
Bar flaps for the top from McKenzie's or Coleman racing products.

I originally went with grommets for the bottom, but wish I went with bar flaps instead as I ended up making my own removable bottom tube supports.

There's a thread in general somewhere about Mar installing them

[Goatman]

I also got mine from PRP for KOH. The turnaround time on custom size was just a couple of days, the price was very reasonable. I used the latch type (small like a sternum strap) seat belt mount with 1" flat steel bars and it comes with the latch and all the tabs.......got it all from the circle track race shop, Victory Circle. The tabs that mount below the door bar and the tabs that come down from the top are the same, so ordering the nets the same size as the opening worked out perfectly. The nets have loops in the top and bottom for the rods to slide through.

[Beat95YJ]

Originally Posted by JR

There's a thread in general somewhere about Mar installing them

Was that Marilyn? I thought that was your daughter? I saw it on Pirate so it must be true!

[FatCity]

Definitely go with the string type Frank. The ribbon is extremely hard to see thru.

1 vote for PRP!

[JackA]

I had the ribbon type for KOH. They kinda gave you tunnel vision. I'll be going with the string or mesh type next time I need window nets. I used the bars with the seat belt type latch. It worked pretty good.

[Billy_Manfroy]

The string ones are better for visiblility, but when I endoed my truck, we landed hard on the driver's side and my elbow went through it pretty easily. Of course, my elbow would have found it's way through the spacing in the ribbon, too, so I guess just don't wreck and you'll be fine.

The seatbelt latches from Summit are what we used so you can drop the whole top of the net. Makes it easier to get in and out.