outside roll cage

[splodo49]

steel prices

Because of steel prices and the fact that its hard to get 1 3/4 tubing on the island ive only used my bender 3 times and today was one of those times i just bent a stinger for my new front bumper. After finally handling all the steel and realizing how heavy it is. and exocaging a whole truck your looking at some serious extra weight. My tube bender is the most expensive garage decoration ive ever bought.

 

[410Fortune]

Matt the Jeg's cage kit, was not the best fit I have seen, the amount of work it took to cut and install was also alot, to me I would rather bend my own tubes for a proper fit, I want my cage tucked into the interior as much as possible.

 

[Burns]

well money is a big thing for me as being a student. i just was wonderin how one would go about it and what they would use.

 

[rookieshooter]

Are you just wondering or are you going to do it?
If your just wondering you have enough info allready.
If your going to do an exo cage and since it will have to fit fairly snug to the body and you want the bends to look good. Get yourself a #3 tube bender for over $300 and then $200 to $300 more for dies, handle, and base to mount on. Make sure its mounted where you have room for long pieces of tube. If you want to do it right, get a tube bender not a pipe bender. Study the pics that Froader posted and then go to other sites like dezert racers/rangers or ranger station. One of the main things is learning where to start the bend. Example; If you want to make a hoop that goes from one side to the other. Take the centerline of the roof to the outside of the tube going down the side of the truck. Lets say 30" then subtract the radius of the die, lets say 6" thats now 24" then subtract half the diameter of the tube. If your using 2" then subtract 1" that gives you 23" to start bend. You may have to quirk it some after bending. It's like crossing one bridge at a time. If you have never done tube fab. you will without a dought need some extra tube to learn bending and notching. You can get a nothcer that fits in a drill press. or learn to do it on a chop saw which IMO can be dangerous, sawzall, hole saw whatever. Good luck

 

[410Fortune]

Good info.
Why aren't nice tools free or at least cheaper? hahaha
The dies get pricey! Luckily in the off road community you can often find somebody who just finished building their cage and are willing to sell/rent/lend their bender and dies. I believe you can also rent them, however with me its like why pay rent when I could have one in the garage

Now to hit the lotto!

 

[410Fortune]

Looky HERE:

http://www.dezertrangers.com/cgi-bin/ib/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=2;t=27136;

Now these guys typically are talking about cages that will hold up if you flip it doing 60 MPH, so alot of this may be overkill for amny of us, but EXCELLENT basic cage/tube chasis info

 

[rookieshooter]

I read the whole thing. I like what he said about incorporating some inside cab tubes if you do an exo cage. I got rid of all rubber body mounts so the cage,cab,and frame act as one. I may do what they said about having a crumble zone built into the bumper. Maybe instead of bolting the tubed bumper directly to the frame. Have it mounted insuch away that if it does take a hard hit, it transfers some of the force up or down to the bracket holding it. Or maybe even putting some energy absorbing material between the bumper and the frame. I might also add some more triangulation in my cage after reading that artical

 

[Burns]

well its a thought that is pretty strong but im not sure it would be worth all the work when i could do a series of small bars across the roof of the front seats.

 

[boble86]

James T, texans cutting there roofs off??? man who would do such a thing.

 

[james t]

James T, texans cutting there roofs off??? man who would do such a thing.

Everybody but me it seems. Although, technically mine comes off with wrenches instead of the sawzall.

 

[410Fortune]

You could cut the botls with the sawzall if you want.

 

[boble86]

lol. atleast i re inclosed mine.

 

[arsoul]

I just finished my cage. Bought my steel here in washington at a place called whiteside steel in Clearview off Hwy9 near Snohomish. 1 3/4 inch .90, $1.65 a foot. Its what Evergreen speedway has specked for the demo derby vehicles and racers, so i figured if its good enough to crash into other vehicles at 40mph+, its good enough for me.

internal or exo? I did both. i removed the doors, chopped the back off, and the cage is attached to the body in 8 sections (which has been reinforced with 1/4inch plate). I'll get some pics up as soon as i get my camera back.

i agree with the exo downfalls. lots of extra tube needed. I was going to go that way, but i couldnt figure out how to safely get around the body to the frame. then you have frame/body flex issues.

 

[arsoul]

not really a roll cage per say, more like seriously reinforcing the body.

 

[bmxking5]

Damn, that thing looks badass Arsoul. Very different, but badass.

 

[FROADER]

I remember when you started with that and I didn't know how it would turn out. You did a great job putting the body on that frame. It looks real good.

 

[splodo49]

Damn good job . Ive been pondering the same as the back with the cage tappering down. I want to make a canvas cover for that part so its like a desert hummer. What kind of bender do you have? And if you do what dies do you have?

 

[rookieshooter]

I like it. Looks futureistic. It they ever do a remake of MadMax that truck ought to get a lead role. One suggestion, mount some twin 50's on top

 

[FROADER]

http://www.*********.20m.com/photo5.html
http://www.*********.20m.com/photo4.html

 

[splodo49]

nice