Topic: Tips on building a exocage

[ROKTOY829]

Looking to build a exocage but have never done one and since replacing my cab due to a rollover i think know would be a good time to do one. Need pointers,tips,ideas, & opinions

[MiniSimp]

1. Triangulation, & good welds.
2. Good welds & triangulation
3. More triangulation & good welds

[Tallchevy]

Make your joints nice & tight before welding

[KYOTA]

put it on the outside of  your truck 

[unclejpl4x4]

Look at other pics of exos cages and get a Idea where and where not 2 run your pipes.

[BLACKDOG]

Make sure you've got good clearance between your cage and the sheetmetal.    so the cage deosn't beat againt the body in a flop or roll. 

[Gittinit]

Keep it tight to the body, and follow the body lines for those cosmetic cues. Be thoughtful of how the cage will give during a rollover. Keep tubing clear of windows, and allow enough room for the doors to function, while keeping tight to opening, to maximize prtection. Keep approach angles and the way your tuck will slide throuhg obstacles in consideration as well.

Remove the metal sleves from your body mounts, and tighten the bolts tight to keep the body from flexing into the cage.

Triangulatate  your cage on different planes, diagonally, horizontally, and vertically, front back, and side to side.

Tie it into the frame at as many pionts as you feel confortable.

Rember your not just protecting your trucks panels but your protecting yours, and your passengers lifes.

Take your time and cope your notches for a tight fit, to allow the best prep for your welds.

Don't cut corners! take your time! do it the best of you ability!




Good luck! 

[MiniSimp]

put it on the outside of  your truck 

That is an excellent idea!
Writing it down...

[Angler]

make it out of metal, stay away from PVC

[unclejpl4x4]

make it out of metal, stay away from PVC

what if you fill it with concrete

[DTB]

Make your joints nice & tight before welding

YES, that would be the first step......

Read this for some good bending techniques...Pirate 4x4 Tube Bending 101

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/bendin_tube/index.html

I like to think of THREE things that contribute to a quality cage....

1. Quality materials

2. Quality workmanship

3. Quality design

[ROKTOY829 [OP]]

 

put it on the outside of  your truck 

  glad you said that i was on trying to figure out how to get it to fit inside the cab after i got it built.  were right on dirtoyboy about the tube bending 101 on pirate  good info for newbies for sure i've read it a few times. a guy that lives on my street  gave me some tubing he was going to use to build a internal rollcage for a race car one time says it's nhra approved 1.5" thickness looks good   planning on buying some conduit 1st to make plans to go buy. what ya think about making it removable.

[DTB]

what ya think about making it removable.

PROS: -Obviously you can move it to another truck
         -Can be fully welded outside truck
         -Can be fully painted outside truck


CONS: -Stays in the truck (unless cut out)
          -More fabrication required (sleeves and bolts)
          -Harder to get the cage as tight to the cab as a weld in


Thats what comes to mind

[ROKTOY829 [OP]]

Do ya think 2" to 3" is ok between the body and cage to keep the cab from hitting when flexing or can get i get closer 1" to 2"?

[DTB]

Do ya think 2" to 3" is ok between the body and cage to keep the cab from hitting when flexing or can get i get closer 1" to 2"?

For what type of cage? interior (removeable or permanent?) or exo?

[MiniSimp]

Do ya think 2" to 3" is ok between the body and cage to keep the cab from hitting when flexing or can get i get closer 1" to 2"?

I would build it as close to the body as possible and then weld tabs between the body and the cage every 4 inches to make them one solid piece. But I don't drive on the street either.

[ROKTOY829 [OP]]

Exo. There ain't a piece of tubing strong enough to stand up to my head bouncing around and hitting it   either way
removable & permanted

[DTB]

I would build it as close to the body as possible and then weld tabs between the body and the cage every 4 inches to make them one solid piece. But I don't drive on the street either.

Mini, would you solid mount the cab too?

[MiniSimp]

Mini, would you solid mount the cab too?

Yep, or at least poly.

[ROKTOY829 [OP]]

I would build it as close to the body as possible and then weld tabs between the body and the cage every 4 inches to make them one solid piece. But I don't drive on the street either.

lost on that mini

[MiniSimp]

lost on that mini

I've seen it done a few times.
The tubing for the exo cage is connected to the cab so they become one piece.

[DeadlyPeace]

I would try to keep it within 1/2"-1" from the body for a welded on.
For a removable I think it would depend on the the design you come up with. Could make it a two piece (front and rear) that bolt together and still be able to keep it at about a 1" clearance.

Weld on is the way I would go for better strength

[DTB]

I would try to keep it within 1/2"-1" from the body for a welded on.
For a removable I think it would depend on the the design you come up with. Could make it a two piece (front and rear) that bolt together and still be able to keep it at about a 1" clearance.

Weld on is the way I would go for better strength

x2....if you are making an exo cage make it weld on....

[MiniSimp]

Look here for good examples of do's and don'ts: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95564

Do:


Don't:

[unclejpl4x4]

   omg

[ROKTOY829 [OP]]

  had to be in the mix somewhere

[DTB]

had to be in the mix somewhere

most important tool of all!   a tube notcher is nice too

[KDXSR5]

holy Is that for real? OMG

[91 super yoda]

dude?

[KDXSR5]

Don't: