By Bill Davis (Nvbigblue) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello all,
I was just thinking about how the roll bar on a MAX II is attached. From some of the photos I've seen, it looks like it is just attached to the upper body. Is there any mechanical connection to the frame at all? I would just be worried that during a roll over, the bar would simply fold the body and fail to protect the occupants. Anyone out there that has a roll bar like to comment?
Thanks,
Bill Davis

By fred4ot on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bill,
There is a metal plate that runs across the back seat (on the inside of the engine cavity) that the rollbar itself is bolted to. That plate has a hole on each side that goes over the pin on each side of the frame work holding the jack shaft and is clipped in place with a spring clip. It works - the factory has been using the same setup for thirty some years.

By Bill Davis (Nvbigblue) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred,
Thanks for the info....I thought it might be something like that. So the plate and roll bar get unclipped, and then swings up with the body? How do you get to the spring clips?

One other question......when you put a winch on the front, from what I've been reading at least, is that the body is simply sandwiched between the winch and a backing plate. Doesn't the body get pulled out of shape when using the winch? I would think some sort of frame work running down to the frame would be in order. And what size winch would you recommend?
Thanks,
Bill Davis

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Yes, Bill, it all goes with the upper body when the pins are pulled. The anchor pins are under the seat bottom (when you slide the floorpan forward the studs (about 9/16 diameter; 1 1/4 inch in length) should be right there on the outer edge of the frame right under the seat back plastic - pretty close to the jack shaft up/down adjuster bolts.

On the winch, there is a backing plate on the inside (about 12" x 9") with the body sandwiched between it and the winch plate on the outside. Then the winch is bolted to the winch plate. They seem to work fine the way the factory sends them out (if the temperature is in the 90s and above, you might get a little temporary distortion, but the plastic has a memory and goes back into shape as it cools as long as it is free to do so). I have seen some homemade ones with a piece of angle Iron lapped over the seam where the top connects to the bottom and welded to the winch plate. The factory issue is a 1400 Rule.