YotaDave85's Exo Cage and Bumper Build (& Wheelin pics)

[jrock]

way cool it turned out great!

[MisfitDave]

Thanks guys, it definately turned out the way I was hoping!

[Rainer]

Looking good, I have a question, what size shackles ae you running in the front and the back? Thanks

Mark

[MisfitDave]

They are the 6" shackles front and rear.

[Rainer]

How much lift do you get from those? I saw somewhere that a 5" will give you about 1 inch of lift. Thanks

Mark

[MisfitDave]

I'm not too sure, I never had them on stock springs.  So by the time they were on front and rear the 5" springs were on too, and with the 35" tires I'm running i have to hang on the steering wheel and hop a little to get in the beast. Stock shackles are 3.5" so I would assume that 5" shackles would give you approx. and inch and the 6" shackles almost 2".  Are you thinking about just throwing on the shackles for a cheap lift? From what I've been reading it might be better to build a spring pack out of chevy springs instead of worrying about the shackles.  Just a thought,

[Rainer]

I was thinking of getting them when I get a toyota and get the 5 inch lift springs with the 6 inch shackles to give enough room for 38s. I Dont want just those for a cheep lift. The toyota I am looking at right now has a 3 inch suspension lift and a 2inch body lift. Thanks YotaDave

Mark

[Yota87Truck]

I like ur truck, it looks good.  It reminds me of mine cause it is the same color.  I wish i had a solid front axle though.

[cronic 4x4]

Super sweet truck you would be surprised how much you learn on a buildup.

[98taco4x]

Nice looking build up. Truck looks great.

[Volcom]

Super sweet truck you would be surprised how much you learn on a buildup.

That is soooooo true.  I have learned a ton on my buildup!  There's a reason for Built Not Bought!

[MisfitDave]

Ok fellas I'm back!!! Alot has happened since I posted anything last, moves, job jumping and a fair number of really late nights on the truck!  I started this post intending to throw an exocage on it as well and i don't feel right about starting another post until I finish this one. So after some serious problems with the Holley 350 carb I had (couldn't even make it up a hill without trouble) I commited to getting my rig ready for anything and converted to propane! GotPropane.com seemed like the best place and Carey was great to deal with, especially when I ran into some problems with the conversion.  Some of the best money I've spent!  I love the propane, 200+ miles on an 8gal tank, never cuts out, more power, more torque, and half the price of gas!!! Plus everyone catches sight of the tanks in the back and immediatly loves them.
After the conversion, I started on the exobuild and with only about 3 1/2 weeks till the first trip to moab.  So take a look at the pics and I'll explain as i go.  I should be on here more regular now that I'm settled a bit, and I am also gonna start another post for another build!  THats right I picked up an 88 pickup for $950 and I'm going to build it into a metal fab/ work rig.  Mild lift, flat bed, bumper, and then maybe a portable welder and cutting torch setup!  So keep and eye out for that, cuz I want some opinions on lifts for IFS, or maybe a SAS!  Here's to you guys, its good to be back!
Here she is after the conversion, and all ready for some tube steel!!!

[MisfitDave]

Keep in mind everything was homemade fab!  I bought a bender and notcher and with a little brain work me and my buddy were able to get both our trucks  covered in steel! and in time for the memorial day trip to Moab!  Rocksliders were first.


Winch Mounts and the start of the front bumper.

[MisfitDave]

Main hoop and halo tacked into place.

After tacking all the peices where they would end up we broke the tacks at the rock slider and removed the whole cage so i could get into the tighter places and weld, also to try and keep the blue paint blue!

Double main hoops on the extended cab! that was tricky

[MisfitDave]

Too bad the rest of the exo build was a blur of welding and fabbing so I didn't really get too many pictures after that.  Here's what she looked like all ready to go and finished.  Stinger on the bumper, winch mounted and wired, cage welded and bed bars running back to protect the propane tanks, and everything with a good coat of rustoleum!!

MOAB!!! It was everything everyone said it would be, and all the hard work paid off when I whooped on every jeep around! They may have more in numbers, but Toyotas make the better crawlers!!!

Got throttle happy and almost put it over the side, this was at 12lbs in the tires, i learned how much of a difference 4lbs can make.  8 is the magic number!!!!

[MisfitDave]

Here's a rear shot so you can get a look at the propane tank mounted, only one i could find.

[Duffil]

nice approach angle. 35s?

[MisfitDave]

Here's some links to video on youtube.com.
Kane Creek Step-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTwiYzazQmQ
Cliff Hanger Step-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp-kFO5QjKA
Cliff Hanger Trail Clips-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r71W_kTWyfE
Potato Salad Easy Line-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFomxQZhlpw
I'll Post the video of me burning out the clutch on the hard line at Potato Salad Hill, would have made it with a ceramic clutch and HD pressure plate from Marlin.  Thats the next purchase!

[MisfitDave]

Yep, 35" Goodyear MTRs, love em!

[DTB]

the fab work itself looks nice but the exo doesnt really follow the body lines at all 

[DTB]

im jealous of the wheeling pics...one day i will make it out there....one day 

[MisfitDave]

I think we did a pretty good job for first timers, I love it and I figure I'm going for function over form.
Let me know if you do, I'll make a run down there and meet ya.  Its so worth it!

[Gittinit]

"function over form" words to live by right there. Nice rig by the way, and nice work with that bender.

[jimbo74]

ah you built 2 cages, i was looking, and saw the white one and was liek wait, its blue and shorter now?


is the white one finished with jsut hte overhead? or is it going to be built liek the blue one? i like the white one....

[Yota4life]

Dont worry about the clutch kit, You need lower gears, get dual cases!

[MisfitDave]

Jimbo the white truck got the same cage as my blue one, minus the bed bars.  The black bars on white look really cool too.

Yota4life i would love a dual case setup but right now my clutch is so shot I tried to get a tire up on a concrete barrier the other day and couldn't even do that, it was sad! So clutch now, Dual cases later.... $ probably much later! The 5.29s in it do fine for now.

[yotamckimboy4x4]

is that supposed to be a light bar on top or wat is that thing??

[MisfitDave]

Its a light bar, didn't have time to wire the  lights before the trip.  We worked on the trucks late into the night right before we were supposed to leave.  It was luxury not a necessity!

[gtoyonrocks]

Nice truck, I am just about done with my exo and flat bed. I will have to post some pics.

[snaKemaN]

I like what I see ,and yer right :turtle2:is mo' bettah :best:than sittin' :toilet:and waitin' on parts and green .but you STILL gotta git duals and 4.70s ASAP! Keep up the good werk  <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZK%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F6%255F2%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_6_2/image.gif"></a>