Blackdiamond (Gup-C build-up)

[blackdiamond]

The hydraulic ram for the bender arrived late afternoon. The main hoop has been bent and fitted. Sounds like pictures should start tomorrow.

[blackdiamond]

No updates from today so I assume that patience will be required.

[blackdiamond]

I got the first few pictures via email and will resize and post them later tonight when I'm home.  I was promised more pictures later today.  So far the main hoop is fit and the driver's side bar to the front.  It looks to be a very tight fit which should maximize the room in the cab.

[blackdiamond]

Here are the pictures that I have received so far.  I was hopeful that I'd get another batch later in the day since I expect quite a bit more work was done today, but patience will payoff on they project.

I'm really happy with what I'm seeing so far.  The cage appears to have a tight fit to maximize room and the height of the main hoop is maximized which not only provides headroom but would also keep things from crushing to a minimum the event that it ever gets tested.  I just noticed looking at the pictures for this post that the driver's side bar angles out just a bit at the bottom to provide some clearance for the window crank.  So far so good.  I'm excited to see how this project progresses.

[Willard]

How tall are you?


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[blackdiamond]

How tall are you?


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6'-0"

[Willard]

By the looks of the picture the a pillar bar looks like it will end up grabbing your foot on exit and entry. I don't know if there is a big difference between my 2nd gen door size and the first gen, but mine bends with the dash and kick panel very tightly and it looks like yours just has a minor bend and drops. Just an observation. Mine has a considerable amount of more bend for foot space.


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[blackdiamond]

By the looks of the picture the a pillar bar looks like it will end up grabbing your foot on exit and entry. I don't know if there is a big difference between my 2nd gen door size and the first gen, but mine bends with the dash and kick panel very tightly and it looks like yours just has a minor bend and drops. Just an observation. Mine has a considerable amount of more bend for foot space.


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I have seen 1st Gen cages with a tighter fit with the dash, but I don't anticipate it being a major issue with how I normally climb in and out.

[Willard]

Only pointing it out because mine still grabs my foot and it is annoying as hell on the trail lol. It looks good so far tho. If it were me I would get them to bend it tighter. Or at least go down and get in and out like 10 times in a row lol.


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[blackdiamond]

Only pointing it out because mine still grabs my foot and it is annoying as hell on the trail lol. It looks good so far tho. If it were me I would get them to bend it tighter. Or at least go down and get in and out like 10 times in a row lol.


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Only pointing it out because mine still grabs my foot and it is annoying as hell on the trail lol. It looks good so far tho. If it were me I would get them to bend it tighter. Or at least go down and get in and out like 10 times in a row lol.


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I picked this guy because I like the work they have done and am planning to trust his judgement. The floor plate looks to be welded down already and a more vertical angle will be stronger so like all things there's a balance.  I often in and out over my tube doors so this won't be an issue. I expect the cage to be somewhat user-unfriendly which is why I have not had one before now.

[blackdiamond]

Not getting an update at the end of the progress on Friday has me looking forward to tomorrow.

[Gnarly4X]

A cage is a necessity in my opinion. ...

Absolutely agree!!  I've rolled my truck twice.  I would NOT go serious wheeling on trail again without a professionally installed rolled cage!!

There is no such thing as too much safety.

Gnarls.

[blackdiamond]

Absolutely agree!!  I've rolled my truck twice.  I would NOT go serious wheeling on trail again without a professionally installed rolled cage!!

There is no such thing as too much safety.

Gnarls.

Without this thread going off topic into the safety abyss, you clearly don't work where I do.  We literally have a crane that says "Stop Work is Good Progress" in big letters with "If an unsafe condition exists" under it in small print. We have conditioned people to stop work over the most ridiculous things.

[Gnarly4X]

Most threads spider, so no abyss intended.  You posted the roll cage and THAT is a very safety oriented feature, is it not?

I was referring to 4-wheeling when I mentioned no such thing as too much safety.  If  you work in any government related environment, safety is a biggy, and yes obsurdity is common in the government.  Safety issues are very often emphesized for stupidity.

I've seen many very dangerous and potentially very serious injuries on the trail because basic common sense safety practices were completey ignored.

Just my  opinion on safety.

Gnarls.

[blackdiamond]

I called Patrick yesterday on my way home from work and it sounded like they were hard at work bending and fitting the back part of the cage.  He confirmed that they "peak" the front bar in the cab to maximize functionality rear view mirror.  Unfortunately, the visors are pretty much going to be non-functional which is what I expected.  I'm wondering if I'll want to get the upper part of the windshield tinted really dark.  Any thoughts on this idea?

I was promised more photo updates yesterday, but so far I have not received anything.

[SqWADoosh]

Only one thought

[Gnarly4X]

Hey blackdiamond,

Just curious....

I did any of the tubing in the cage get welded to a frame rail?

What size tubing is being used?... sorry if I didn't see that in your post.

Thanks,

Gnarls.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

rock one of them lol

[joeyf]

Stop at a shop that sells side by side's.  They should have something like this that would work.

[blackdiamond]

Hey blackdiamond,

Just curious....

I did any of the tubing in the cage get welded to a frame rail?

What size tubing is being used?... sorry if I didn't see that in your post.

Thanks,

Gnarls.

The main tubing is 1.75" x 0.120" DOM with 1.50" x 0.120" DOM spreaders.  The cage is not being tied into the frame.  From the initial pictures it appears that the pads are getting welded to the floorboards rather than having plates and bolts sandwiching the floorboard.  The backside of my rear wheel wells is not accessible due to the way that the fender trimming was done so it had to be welded at that location.  I think 4x Innovation sells a frame tie-in kit for their cages, but I'm not planning to take things to that level.  I am confident that what's being done is way more than adequate to keep everyone safe for my intended use.

[blackdiamond]

Here's another picture showing more in the front.

[blackdiamond]

Only one thought

I almost always wear sunglasses and have a hat with me, but use my visors often...especially on the cross country trips to Moab.

[Willard]

Good luck wearing a hat with the a bar lol. With my 4x cage I was able to keep my rear view mirror and I welded my plates to my floor. I did not like the sandwich aspect of the floor to the cage. I also got a large tint strip on my windshield made a big difference.


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[blackdiamond]

The last picture that I have received.  The floor bar on the driver's side seems to have more of an angle in this picture that it appeared in the previous picture.  I think it'll be great.

[H8PVMNT]

Man I just took my dash apart and had to remove the front of my old all pro cage.  I had forgotten how tight it was with the upper dash.  I don't know if you will ever be able to get into the main part of your dash with that thing.  Might never be a problem but if you need to swap a heater core or something...

[blackdiamond]

Good luck wearing a hat with the a bar lol. With my 4x cage I was able to keep my rear view mirror and I welded my plates to my floor. I did not like the sandwich aspect of the floor to the cage. I also got a large tint strip on my windshield made a big difference.


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I like the idea of a tint strip but I will obviously have to drive it a bit to see how things go/fit.

[Willard]

Every time I would turn with my hat on it would smack on the a bar lol, oh well the sacrifices we make for safety lol. Looks good so far tho.


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[blackdiamond]

Every time I would turn with my hat on it would smack on the a bar lol, oh well the sacrifices we make for safety lol. Looks good so far tho.


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I'm really happy with how it's turning out so far.  I'm more curious to see what he come up with in the back.  At this point I'm just planning to wait until I get a call that it's done.

[H8PVMNT]

You should get them to take the visors off before they make it impossible.  Then if you end up using those ATV visors you won't have redundant visors.

[blackdiamond]

You should get them to take the visors off before they make it impossible.  Then if you end up using those ATV visors you won't have redundant visors.

I did email him and requested that they remove them.