external cage question

[raser13]

odd question i know but here it goes. i've got an '80 CJ5 and adding an internal cage in the front means bashing my knees off of the thing every time i get in and out. so i'm thinking of building an external cage that wraps around the passenger compartment and attaches directly to the frame.

my question is that if it's welded to the frame then tub removal become a real pita. but if i make plates at the ends and bolt it to the frame that will mean a bunch of holes in the frame which would translate to weak points right? how, or what is the best way to attach one of these to the frame??

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Have you seen the pictures in the first post of this thread?
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f7/sport-bar-modification-24593/
Real good compromise for the front loop.

Put'n a top on and taking it off would be a major PITA with an external cage.

LG

 

[PaRenegade]

I've never seen a Jeep with an "exo-cage" I don't believe, only Cherokees and some small pickups and suv types. You could weld the ends to the frame and as they come out from underneath and turn up, put a sleeve on it, welded to the tube. Then you can slide the top part of the cage down into the sleeve and drill it for 2 grade 8 bolts. So basically you end up with a two part cage where the top can be lifted off.

 

[tarry99]

odd question i know but here it goes. i've got an '80 CJ5 and adding an internal cage in the front means bashing my knees off of the thing every time i get in and out. so i'm thinking of building an external cage that wraps around the passenger compartment and attaches directly to the frame.

my question is that if it's welded to the frame then tub removal become a real pita. but if i make plates at the ends and bolt it to the frame that will mean a bunch of holes in the frame which would translate to weak points right? how, or what is the best way to attach one of these to the frame??

Odd Question it is raser13 and I mean that in a "Good Way" First off if your talking in the context of a Roll Cage.........the only real concern should be Safety. Getting in and out of it should be of no real concern! As a Race Car driver I feel pretty safe & comfortable within the confines of my cocoon and have no issue with the ingress or egress...........
Jeeps are obviously different in the since you either want some protection or you want the look! There really is no good reason hanging a bunch of tubing on your ride if in fact it will not protect you..........and don't forget that any cage requires a 5-6 point restraint system to do you any good! And I have heard all the arguments that I don't drive that fast and if it goes over it will just be a slow roll...........in either case your on the way to the hospital or pushing Daisy's !
Personally in my Jeep I would also not be a fan of the knee knockers at the dash especially that plate that hangs out..........a properly placed down tube in the left corner on both sides just inside your door opening coming from your rear hoop and then going through the floor and then attached to the frame with a form of an outrigger is a good method. It really does two good things.........one the obvious support and two it does keep your legs inside. You can do bolt together plates at all key strength locations between the floor and substructure for when you may want to take your body off......there is also some industry built disconnects that are used to bolt the tube together at that point..........Not a fan of the disconnects but they are there.

All and All think about your need and approach to your Roll Cage Project.

 

[Hedgehog]

IF you are looking for a roll cage to cocoon yourself in a race situation tarry99 certainly does have a point. But I believe that most of us don't need to follow the all or nothing approach to adding a little safety with family conveniences to your jeep.

This is the approach I'd consider taking. Weld attachment points to your frame, be they tabs or actually welding tubing directly to the frame. Make'em solid, then add a plate or some sort of arrangement to bolt the rest of the cage to making essentially a removable cage above and solid frame points underneath.

 

[raser13]

thanks for all the input thus far. right now this is a six month to a year off project. but i'm trying to dig up all the info ahead of time. that way i'm not using to thin of steel, attaching to the wrong places, and just making a pretty bar. the main reason i'm concerned is i have a six year old daughter that loves to go trailing with me and her mother. she usually rides in back. right now we go slow on the easy trails. but we would like to go on more aggressive trails eventually. as it sits the only "safty" equipment we have is the stock bar. while it's better than nothing it only attached to the tub. and my daughter siting in the seat has everything above the chest above the bar. not so good in a roll over situation.

the main reason i was thinking an external cage was better was room. CJ5 's just don't have any spare room. and one day i will upgrade to a bigger jeep. right now the funds won't let that happen. i do intend to add bars and such inside to attach 5pt harnesses to. right now i was trying to figure out how to attach it to the frame correctly so i could start on the design.


i was thinking something on the lines of this but with the back of the frame squared off.





but i really like this one





if i do more of the second one i think i would make some sort of metal frame doors to go across instead of the bar he has infront of the door opening. something like these.

 

[Torxhead]

I thought I would throw in a pic of Eddie's Cherokee. Prior to the full body cage add on He thought his rig could go anywhere and drove the thing like it could. After a near rollover and a busted axle, his driving habits changed.

 

[raser13]

i drive mine pretty carefully...... ..... until i'm the only one in the jeep then i play a little more. i don't intend to go crazy once i build a cage. i just want it there as a safety feature. kind of like a fire extinguisher or safety belts.