My Hybrid cage build
 

Like many others have realized, a hybrid cage offers a great balance of protection and room. Being 6' 5", that was definitely the way to go! I have some previous fabrication experience. During my senior year of high school, I built a front tube bumper, and that next summer I built a rear tube bumper.

Build thread including both can be found here:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/tu...r-build-61729/

Now, I am about to start my sophomore year of college and have been plugging away at my jeep all summer.

First project was to replace my rockers with 2x6" box.

Chop chop, buzz buzz, and here's what I ended up with, although I must have gotten too excited because I forgot to take pictures of the final product.


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Then earlier this month (for my 19th birthday), my parents split the cost of the tube required for the roll cage with me. (yeah, yeah, my story is out of order. Whatever)

Mmmmm

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So I finally got around to bending tube again. I got my external halo all bent up. It has a total of 6 bends in the loop above the windshield, all of which were kept in the same plane. It looks like 4 bends, but the two bends in the middle are actually two 2* bends to make 4*. 2* wasn't enough the first time around.

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The cage is going to be super tight to the body. I wanted to weld it to the drip rails, but I cant fit the tube in the bender to bend the "tree slider" portion to the contour of the drip rails.

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The other day i got one spreader done. Herra frush (or "hella flush" as most honda rice car drivers would say). 6 bends total.

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Looks a bit crooked but thats because I tweaked the halo on accident so it isnt sitting level in the picture.

Got another one done last night and will be wrapping up the D-pillar spreader tonight.

Any comments or criticism will be greatly appreciated! Hopefully you guys can point out some of the things I am skipping over or forgetting about.

I don't know jack about cages but I will be watching this closely
and thanks for the seal flange

Maybe someone with cage experience can chime in, but if the cage is welded in place that close to the body, how do you prep and paint the back sides of the tubes to keep them from rusting?

I'll be watching this thread...

Ha, no problem man, hopefully the seal works out for ya!

Snowman, thanks for the reminder. I will have to lift the cage up (sliding all the internals up through the holes in the roof) to weld and spray paint the underside. Good thinking! Thats something I likely would have forgotten about lol.

I did a bit on the cage after work in the past few days. I was planning on having a TON more done over the weekend but decided to hit up the Sierras instead.

Heres where she sits now, with all 3 spreaders done. Don't laugh at the mess on my hood!

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There will be a nice shallow bend along the sides to follow the contour of the body as well.

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Next step is to cut some holes in the roof! :D

After work today I got both B-pillars bent, and cut one hole in the roof before the battery died in my drill. Not much to say about todays work, but I'm getting pretty excited!

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I wont get much done tomorrow due to a birthday celebration for my aunt, but hopefully I will get the other hole drilled in the roof.

And as always any comments, suggestions, or even harsh criticism are welcome.

Sub'd! Coming out good!

Looking good! I can't wait to start my hybrid cage this winter

wow that is some tight wrapped tubing. Man thats SO close, if you do ever need to use it, hopefully if doesnt tweak and start blowing out glass. That windshield tubing is almost to close but you are doing some nice work. Cant wait to see your welds and how you tie it all in.

Looks good dude. How you going to seal around the vertical tubes going threw the roof?

Looks bud.from what I can see on the app.

Sub'd! Can't wait to see how it turns out you're following by plans for mine exactly so far

I'm pretty sure that's plenty far from the glass.

Tho, changing the windshield out is going to be a *****.

Thanks for the motivation guys!

To seal up the holes in the roof I will be using silicone. The tube fits in there so tight that I'm not worried at all about it leaking.

Anyway, I got the other hole drilled and the second b pillar slid in. C and d pillars should be a breeze.

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My goal when it's all said and done is to have enough room for me to sit in the back semi-comfortably. Sounds crazy with me being 6' 5" but even with the pillars as is with the seats all the way back, I have plenty of room!

sub'd

Looking good so far!
I hope to start on mine this weekend