Pipe tied into tube

Hey,
I have posted this elsehwere on some hardcore forums(pirate ) but will probably only get flamed. I have searched and so far have not found what I am looking for. I am building a 72 CJ5 and was considering building it as a 2 seater and building a tube bed for it. My questions is as follows. If I had someone bend a tube rollbar for me would it be ok to tie in a pipe rear cage? I am building this on a budget and building a full tube cage or buying a tubing bender is not in the budget for now. So is it ok to tie in pipe to tube as long as the pipe is used in non essential areas? Is there a major difference in strength between the two assuming the welds are ok? Will the pipe shear away from the tube in a roll over?

Mike

 

As someone who does a lot of welding and has had instruction from some of the best in our area, I would say no, I wouldn't do it. The strength and compositional properties of black pipe and mild steel tube are relatively different. Sound welds and good rigidity of the finished product made with black pipe are next to nil from a safety standpoint.

I would go as far as to offer to even bend the steel tube for you to help you out so you wouldn't have to take the cheaper, and unsafe way out.

In my opinion, any structure tied into a cage or rollbar can not be deamed nonessential. Also, is the price of ERW steel tubing that much more expensive than black pipe? I know DOM is pretty pricey, but a decent and safe cage or roll bar can be made with the less expensive ERW mild steel tube. Last time I ran piping for gas lines, I would think that the price per foot has to be pretty close in price, so why not just go with the tubing instead. Let me know if I can help you out, and I in no way meaning to flame you or anything. Thanks!

Daniel

 

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the reply. I am not talking about black iron pipe from Lowe's. I am talking about Sched 40 pipe from a steel supplier. Does this change your opinion or is it still the same? I am trying to be as sensible as I can, but will not skimp on this if the concensus is to go with tube. The issue mainly is that I have a pipe bender but will need to shell out considerablely more to either buy a tubing bender or have someone bend the tube for me. I am looking to save where possible given the cost of labor and DOM tubing.

Mike

 

There is much debat on this subject on the other board, a search there will get you a pluthra of info. I personally will only do a cage out of 1020 or better DOM. With this in mind you could use hrew or crew for your back half.

here is a link to some useful info.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PR-BV60/Materials/carbon_tube.htm

 

having rolled in my 57 willys with a pipe cage ( tied into stock ) i came out fine, and it was not just a flop it went over hard onto a pile of rocks at paragon, pipe worked fine for me in fact the factory rollcage that i welded the pipe to took less of a hit and dented and caved in a more than the SCH40.

i used black iron pipe but the HREW "pipe" ( strucual pipe ) is made form the same hot rolled matteral as the HREW "tube". i say go for it and read thru the pirate thread alot of good info there on the subject, in fact theres a few good threads on the subject so search around before you make your choice, jason.

 

Where are you getting your steel from?

These guys near raleigh are doing a group buy on 1 3/4" .120 DOM. They have the price down to 2.39 a foot. You'll have to register for the forum to read the thread. Better hurry, I know if they havnt ordered already their fixin to very soon.

http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7171&page=5

 

That is a really good price, I just paid $5.50 pr/ft and I thought that was pretty good deal considering the $12.00 pr/ft I got quoted at some other steel suppliers.

Anders

 

Yeah I wish I had some extra money right now so I could buy a couple hundred feet. Cause the price isnt gonna get any lower than that.