boydballer92

I understand a cage doesn't help driving ability but it would make me feel quite a bit safer if I added one just incase I have another accident... havin that extra support just would make me feel that much safer... Yes most if not all of the people on this site are really polite and helpful, and its very much appreciated, but a lil more support would be appreciated... not sayin you guys arent but right now it i'm not seeing alot of it...

But I will say thank you to everyone for posting pics of the cages and for some comments....

JeepCoMJ

I think you should go ahead and do the cage...model it off of one of these guys, and you'll need an autocad drawing.

I also think that you should go to a performance driving school or seminar. there are several that I've heard of where they teach you everything you could think of...and they teach you how to drive a fast car. there is NOTHING that will make you feel safer than confidence in your ability to handle any vehicle and any condition (that said, too much confidence usually ends in disaster).

boydballer92

Well I already did take a drivin course(part of the sentence I had for my careless drving ticket) so I'm just fine drivin now.. but I just want the cage for offroad use really...


It would be nice if I could firgure out some way to make it removeable... And I think I have an idea brewin in my head on how to...

What would be an acceptable autocad program... I have some experience with Cad programs through some classes i took in school but taht was two years ago so what would be a good one to use???

JeepCoMJ

you'll have to bark up someone else's tree on autocad....my experience is limited. I stick to graphing paper lol.

as far as removeable...you're looking at full exo then. an integrated internal/external cage that is removeable would add quite a bit of extra weight....each "mounting point" between tubes would need to be solid DOM or equal grade steel....that could potentially mean an extra couple hundred pounds of weight.

just watch out when it comes to driving....no one is ever perfect. you may have confidence but too much will result in poor judgement in the future...you've made the mistakes and I'm glad you appear to be learning from them, just keep learning.

xjbones

why would you ever need to take it off? i put mine on its side, cut out the pieces that bent and put new ones back in. putting mounting points for a removable exo just makes twice the places it can break......plus like jeecomj much more added wieght.

boydballer92

I'm not too worried about added wieght... My XJ is pretty much gutted out... but having it removable would be just a personalization thing really... I can't really describe how I would make it removable, but kinda something like how the legs on a trampoline are setup ... Crimping the end of one tube so the top half could slide on and off... I guess thats how I would do it..

JeepCoMJ

crimped is bad idea man

xjbones

very bad idea....... when those tubes come apart in a roll over and poke you and your passangers in the head you will have wished you had just welded them....or would have wished

boydballer92

well I wouldnt just do that i would put heavy duty pins through them too like you would put on a trailer hitch... I'm just lettin some ideas flow right now... I want it to be kinda multi-functional i guess... But i guess i would have to actually do it to see if i like it and if i dont i could always weld it together

xjbones

you want as little welds as possible.....and triangulation is key to a good cage. im gonna just leave it at that. pins=bad idea less stress points=good good luck on your cage build

XJSETH

x2

boydballer92

Yea I know triangulation and less stress points are key but like I said its kinda all personalization and multi-functionality is what I want... and I'm not gonna be building this cage for atleast a couple of months because I might be getting laid off soon... and I need to actually get my jeep running before I do any other work to it

warrpath4x4

you definately want DOM, dont buy pipe. not even getting into the whole pipe is fpr poop arguement, pipe is heavier than tube and you dont want that much weight, that high on an XJ. DOM will be more spendy but worth it.

as for your idea of removing the exo, just sleeve the lower mounts and add grade 8 bolts, (but i dont think its a good idea).

boydballer92

See the way I have it setup in my mind I think it will work and not even look like its removable... I know that its kinda risky just incase i do get in a roll over but with the offroadin that I do I really shouldnt be worrying about rolling over and I'm not stupid enough to go out and fishtail like i did with my truck

JeepCoMJ

if you even continue to contemplate doing it removeable the way you have in mind...dont bother doing it at all.

the only way you can make it removeable and structural is by using solid DOM or equivalent stock, having it machined to make it interlink in two pieces...that insert into each part of the tubes (kind of like legos with roll cages), and using grade 8 or better bolts.

even then, it's still questionable. and it adds alot more weight.

if you do it your way, I promise I'm gonna smack ya a good one for not listening when people tell you it's a bad idea if I ever meet ya...not safe, takes away structure and defeats the purpose of the whole thing.