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Roll Cage Test Results.

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Norcal69, May 11, 2020.

  1. May 12, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    That is exactly why I took the shoulder harnesses out of mine. I honestly never wore them. On the trail I couldn't look out the side of the jeep and see where the tire was. I just run the 3" wide lap belt.
    Steve left the shoulder harnesses in for his son. When he flopped over on the Rubicon he was glad is son had them on.
     
    colojeepguy likes this.
  2. May 12, 2020
    Maddevill

    Maddevill Member

    Shingletown CA
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    Oct 3, 2019
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    Glad your friend is ok as is the Dawg.
    Secondly....can you adopt me? My jeep needs so much of your talent....Dad.

    Mad
     
  3. May 12, 2020
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    When I rolled my CJ5 the passenger seat came loose too. I took to securing it down with the seatbelt if no one was in it.

    Same experience on race-type shoulder harnesses. Never wore them. In my CJ6 I put in TJ retractable belts which I always wore.
     
  4. May 12, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    It never crossed my mind that the passenger seat would fly out that easy. We are going to modify the factory brackets to prevent it from happening again.
    Then again hopefully this is a once in a lifetime experience for Steve..... :)
     
  5. May 12, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    I modified mine so there's bolts at the pivots...still pretty easy to remove but it won't fly out on its own.

    20200512_081218.jpg
     
  6. May 12, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    The roll over was a straight sideways flop at decent speed. You can see how it would be easy to get into that chicane a little "hot", a little late.... turn sharp and flop over. Imagine driving your jeep at 45-50mph into this turn and making a hard right. Those farmers fences get replaced all the time.......
    If you've wheeled with Steve you know hes not afraid to approach an obstacle with a little speed. I would be surprised if the speed wasn't a little faster than he describes......perhaps distracted driving..... Given the speed, sharp impact angle, lack of gussets....... cage did its job.


    [​IMG]
     
  7. May 12, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
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    Dec 24, 2006
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    276
    Thank you very much for posting this, as I have the same lift and no sway bars and only a single hoop cage. It is eye opening.

    I have always worried about frame cracks when you put a rigid cage on a flexible frame....are you seeing those with your cages or are they boxes or something?
     
    Focker likes this.
  8. May 12, 2020
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    Nov 5, 2018
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    I'm glad he's okay. I had a roll over with mine in Sept. Its not something I want to ever experience again. I really appreciated your pictures. It was interesting to see that the inner fenders were not pushed down. Mine were down at least 3". Having the extra mounting contact points as apposed to the old style, must have really helped. BTW, my passenger seat came out too. I'm addressing that in my rebuild.

     
  9. May 12, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Neither of us have noticed any frame cracks. We will end up going over this jeep with a fine tooth comb before it goes back out on the highway..... steering, suspension, hook the swaybar back up.......... ect
    Tying the front hoop to the dash adds a ton of rigidity to the body and spreads out the load on the roll cage mounting points. Below is a picture of my cage to dash tie in as well as gusseting on the floor sandwich plate. Steve's jeep was done this same way. Minus the triangle gussets....


    Two of the bolts were factory dash bolt holes.....


    [​IMG]


    Floor sandwich plate and gusset.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. May 12, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    That jeep was beautiful before the accident. I have no doubt that you will rebuild it even better! Feel free copy any of the dash tie in ideas when you rebuild.
    You are very fortunate that the windshield frame did not get folded back onto you. That was one of the main reasons I first went with the front hoop. I can't imagine the injury from having the window frame bend back onto the occupants.

    The passenger seat coming out is really disturbing..... that thing flying around in there could kill you just as easy as the wreck could....

    The lack of scrapes and damage to the fenders leads me to believe that Steve may have been going a wee bit faster than he thought..... There is pretty much no body damage other than the scrape on the top of the hood and some added character to a previously rubicon rashed fender.
     
    Timber Cruiser likes this.
  11. May 12, 2020
    wheelsontheroof

    wheelsontheroof New Member

    dupont pa
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    theres a difference between a lap belt and a seat belt. I've encountered both types operating heavy equiptment. One holds you at the waist and the other holds the top of your thighs. the latter is more appropriate for low speed where upper body movement is required so you can see what you are doing. its also less painfull to hang upside down in. . I would drive in that roll cage as is.
     
    Keys5a likes this.
  12. May 12, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
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    You might have said this- but is the roll cage just attached to the body, or did it tie all the way into the frame?
     
  13. May 12, 2020
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Interesting adventure. I understand that I'll drive more carefully than before... I let the roll over to Beethoven !:madwife:
     
  14. May 12, 2020
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    or
     
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  15. May 12, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    The cage is attached to the body only. There are sandwich plates of differing sizes to prevent eventual cutting of the floor board and wheel wells. The dash bolts go in the factory locations.
     
    V8willysCJ5 and Bigdaddy13 like this.
  16. May 12, 2020
    Bigdaddy13

    Bigdaddy13 Member

    So.Cal
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    This is the best way to do things, IMO. I don’t personally approve of frame tie-ins on older jeeps since i have seen them exacerbate frame cracks.

    really like the dash-tie in idea too, btw. I’m stealing that aspect on my cage build from another builder who’s rig i saw a couple months ago.
     

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    Last edited: May 14, 2020
  17. May 12, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I like that front cage attachment. Thinking about ingress and egress, and it might actually be easier - giving a place to grab instead of the steering wheel. Makes me wonder what I'd do with my parking brake pedal.

    Glad that Steve and four-footed pal are ok. BTDT, but I had ice and a ditch in the mix.
     
    Iandavidh likes this.
  18. May 12, 2020
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    ummm....re-read that sentence....ok, now reread that last word......we can always hope....
     
  19. May 12, 2020
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I am sure you will come up with a better way than me - or at least do it with way better fab skills - but I completely welded in and closed off the front seat mounts on the lower frame and drilled new holes with through going bolts. I then cut off the little studs on the upper frame and drilled through those as well. It still tips forward when needed, but at least it can't come flying out without breaking a bolt or ripping through the frame. I'd like to improve the rear latch so its even more secure - wouldn't take much to break that off - but the seatbelt helps keep it from tipping forward. Ideally I'd like to modify the seat frame so that the mounts are fit into one and bolt together as opposed to just being side by side and bolting together.
     
  20. May 13, 2020
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    Yea, having the windshield fold back would have probably ended me in ways that I hate to think about. I love the dash tie in. I will incorporate it into mine for sure!
     
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