Roll Cage

While I'm in the process of painting, I want to install a new roll cage instead of the crappy fender-well mounted pos.

My fabrication skills (especially with pipe) are pretty good as far as welding, bending, etc. Being a pipe-fitter and all.

Should I take the extra time to do a full frame-mounted cage, or just bolt it to the floor? I can get my hands on pretty much any size steel pipe at work. What size would be the best to use, or does it even matter?

I don't plan on flipping my jeep over, but i'm sure it's bound to happen one day. :twisted:

 

I had the local speedshop build mine for me. I wanted a sprint-car style cage. 2" od roll cage tubing was used. Not sure of the thickness, but it is a legal racing cage if that helps.

You'll find lots of opinions on whether to tie it into the frame. If you are hard-core rock crawling, then I'd do it. Otherwise, bolt it to the floor and you'll be fine. Just my humble opinion...

 

not really a "Hard core" rock crawler, but friends and I hit some pretty intense trails every now and then.. I've had the jeep almost rolled twice. luckily there were enough strong and willing onlookers to hold it from completely falling over into ditches, etc. I would like to tie it into the frame, but I'm just not sure on how exactly I would need to go about it, and how much extra work it's going to be. I'm up for the challenge, I just want to know what I'mg etting myself into.

If anyone has any pictures of either floor moutned or frame mounted it would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

If you are into high-speed running, or extreme rock-climbing, I'd tie it into the frame. For average wheeling, a floor-mounted cage with large-area backing plates to limit stress at the mounting points will probably be fine. 1 1/2 inch .120 wall DOM tubing should be fine for most applications. If you wish, you can go to 2 inch, but I perdonally find that the 2 inch tubes take up too much space near the knees, and force an overly large bend radius.

 

Check the link in my signature for some cage pics.

 

The main thing to think of in the frame tie/no frame tie in, is whether the sheetmetal you attach the cage to will support nearly double the weight of your Jeep.

Take the time to fully consider your mounting locations...

 

Mike, a singular sample doesn't really help the argument either way.

While I believe that a floor mounted cage can and will be strong enough when properly executed, not all ECJs have the structural integrety to have their floors and rear inners hold up in a hard roll. I have seen many CJs completly rip their cage from the body on light rolls, and I have also seen exhaust tubing cages hold up on seemingly hard rolls. (Of course, the cage came apart just trying to winch the CJ back on its wheels)

What I'm saying is, it's your life, and the lives of your passengers- take the time to fully consider your cage mounts.

 

I notice Boyink wrote: “heavily rusted under the rollcage plate”. This implies that the cage tie points were reinforced with plates at tiepoints, and is probably one reason why the cage wasn’t torn off by the rollover. The impact of a rollover (call it 3g, or 3x the Jeep weight, just for argument’s sake) will cause less damage, if it is spread out over a wider area. The cages I’ve seen torn free in rollovers were either welded right to the fenderwells, or bolted on using only washers underneath (This doesn’t include high-speed crashes with equipment not prepped for racing). The idea of a muffler-tube rollcage doesn’t even bear discussion. Might as well make one from PVC pipe, and paint it to look like steel.

 

Actually the muffler tubing cage is perfectly acceptable in this instance- If we are considering any and all "Data Points".

The point is that it held up in a hard roll (bolted to a 'glass body with only washers, no less) and the owner decided to put another one in his rebuild of the rig because "the last one held up just fine".

Would I ever build an exhaust tubing cage? No.

Would I suggest someone use one?? Never.

But the fact remains that someone used a singular sample to convince himself that his exhaust tubing rollcage was more than strong enough. I say he was very lucky.

Let's look at it this way- say you were in a very bad roll on the trail, and were thrown clear of your jeep because you weren't wearing a seat belt.
Does that mean not wearing your selt belt is perfectly safe?

Also- 1 1/4 turns is actually easier on a cage in most instances than a full turn onto the lid, as usually the greatest force is when the rig first hits and when it stops.


-Cooter
(Just giving a little perspective from someone who has been in 3 rolls, including a 3 turn barrellroll, and has seen over 10 others in person.)

 

Boyink - That ain't metal, that's Swiss Cheese! Someone hand me a roll of duct tape!

 

I can not agree more with the "its your life, and sometimes more importantly, its your passengers life"
I had a well designed rollcage welded by a certified welder, and attatched to a solid tub with large plates on top and bottom of the mounting points.
Went back end over front end one night on a washed out trail, and completely destroyed the roll cage and tub. Spent 8 hours in ER, spent months rebuilding tub to fit back on frame. Have since had Kentrol Industries build an entire 6pt cage with frame tie ins. I put a good friends life in jeapardy, made my brother come over a ledge to see my flatfender laying upside down in a creek with the cage and windshield frame flattened to the top of the cowl, just thinking the worst. Not a good experience on any level except that we are both ok, and now I have a cage that will withstand multiple rollovers. I built the jeep originally for some easy trails and riding in the woods. Wheeling an old jeep is a slippery slope and those tougher trails become more appealing every time you see them. I would recommend spending the extra couple dollars and hours, and tie any cage you run into the frame. Even a factory 4pt properly tied into the frame will save you and your passengers head in a serious roll.

You only get one head, and they are kindof tough to repair.