time for a cage

[410Fortune]

you remove roof, you are removing structure from the body.
You remove doors you are removing structure fromt he body
The body will flex big time and not protect you as much. Of course yes the cage will now tie the body into the frame and also protect the driver, as well as put back the structural you removed. IMO it's alot prettier if you retain the front portion of the cab and windshield. , but then again rock buggies are cool too...

 

[351wExplorer]

uhmmmmm i think im the first to state the obvious, but dont you think it would have been a better time for a cage before you rolled it???

 

[JoshC]

I see what you are saying, and i do agree that retaining part of the cab looks cool, but i am in no way shape or form a body mechanic at all! There's no way i could do that body work and i'm not going to sink the money into paying someone to put a cab on it. See what i mean?

So, lets see if we can agree on the back and work our way forward!

 

[410Fortune]

you have a friend that can weld? Whos doingt he cage?
its pretty simple, cut roof and pillars off junk yard ex, weld onto your Ex, coupld welds at the pillars where they meet the firewall, couple where the roof meets the door pillars, BAM done.
If you are really clever you can get a gold roof

I am seeing a pattern here, solid axle = FUBAR Explorer body

 

[lifeguard379]

if you dont section te to peces togethr the right way it will never line up. you have to go the hole a pilar b pilar and rockers to do in right. alot of work and a body shop might not even do it cuz its a hard rollover

 

[410Fortune]

Yes I know, but its not rocket science. Friend has a 87 BII that was rolled, all new pillars and roof. Windshield doesnt quite fit right, the doors dont fit exactly right, the tailgate is off, but it's not too far off, and he's not building a show truck.

RangerX how far off is your cab work? dead on? I never looked
whatever you decide its unfortunate you rolled before the cage, could have stopped alot of that crushing. Makes me want my cage ASAP, I am also sick and tired of taking the bypass in my BII so this doesnt happen to me, its easy to get it on its lid once you are modified and running with maniacs on crazy trails

 

[rookieshooter]

53 and 3/4" it width of my 98 ranger TG. I had 53 and7/8" between sheet metal on B11. I had to modify hinges with no cutting of body or tailgate.

 

[410Fortune]

the ranger tailgate widths do change throught the different year bed's so you might wanna do some checking.

When I think chopped 4 door, I think of Red Bull, that truck was chopped and caged better then any other 4 door I have seen IMO

 

[Brian1]

You can do something similar to this ZJ that is local to me- he rolled his in a flat dirt lot in Moab and smashed in his front roof like yours. Also he has tabs for a plexi windshield that he runs whenever he needs to.

 

[410Fortune]

good find! just wouldnt work to well in CO if you plan to leave the house in winter, no wipers = ut oh.

 

[FROADER]

There is someone on here that used the bottom half of the rear hatch and made it drop like a tailgate. That way you'll know it fits perfect without haveing to "make" it fit. I'll try to find that link.

That Jeep is sweet. I would do something like that.

 

[SVO]

That Jeep is sweet. I would do something like that.

I concur, that is friggin AWSOME!





Jeff - :navajo:

 

[FROADER]

Found the thread with the stock lift gate as a tailgate.

Page 3/Post #53: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142351

 

[Brian1]

since everyone is liking that jeep I will try to find the build up thread about it. Give me a while.

 

[410Fortune]

It looks good for the kind fo wheeling we do, that cage has some area's that could be helped out a bit though. bends in the middle of a run = no beuno, not without support but yeah unles you roll off lionsback that thing would probably suffice.

 

[FROADER]

Another quick one...

 

[FROADER]

Man I have nothing to do today... now with exo

 

[JoshC]

You guys are awesome! haha

I love the jeep cage, that's what i had in mind. I also like the second pic you did froader with the exo cage. I do like the idea of having half my doors, and that doesn't look to bad at all in that photoshop job.

 

[410Fortune]

Colin is the man!

 

[EMG7895]

Put a jeep windshield on it and make it explorer convertable II