I have come into the possession of a beater xj. im thinking about taking the doors off, and chopping it for a summer beater, however i wanna put a roll cage in it, to regain any lost strength in the unibody.

my question is could i use square tubing? i think it would look better and with some sheet metal could be made to look like it is part of the vehicle.
so my question is could it be done or would i have to use DOM?

 

Im pretty sure you could use square tubing. Just make sure its at least 3/16 of an inch think. It wont look as good in my own opinion but ive never seen one done either.

 

Of course you can use square tubing. The only real reason everybody uses round tubing is so they can put it through a bender and have it look cool. Square tubing is actually stronger than round tube of the same size and wall thickness.

 

I dissagree.2 1/2" schedule 80 pipe is stronger
Than 21/2x21/2x3/16 square tube. It will look better
But harder to fabricate. Pipe still looks bad *** coped
Instead of bent, if u don't have access to a bender.
But if its just a bearer who cares? Jump it off a cliff and build
Another one.

 

you can still bend square tubing but not much,i do it all the time in shop. I havent seen a rig with square tubing give it a shot!

 

3/16" will make it one expensive heavy cage.

i would never do a square cage

looks hideous
can't really bend it (well ya can, but it will kink easily and you will lose a decent amount of strength)

 

I can see the benefits of using square if:
A. you don't have a bender.
B. you dont have the skills/tools to notch pipe
C. you are planning on spending a **** load of time on your head

I have to go with KTM on this one. I disaprove unless you meet 2/3 of the afformentioned points.

 

If you really want to go square and have a lot of strength look for ROPS grade tubing. This is what John Deere and others use in the frames and cages. I work for a tubing manufacturer and know first hand that ROPS (roll over protective structure) is extremely strong and will surpass the normal round tubing of similar size/gauge.

 

this guy is wrong , u should definitely not use pipe, pipe is used for internal pressure not like tubing, tubing is for external pressure because when u roll over, you dont fall on the inside of the tubing, and there is a reason nhra, etc use round tubing because round tubing doesnt have a shear point (edge) and its infinite

 

is this the kind of suff your learning in Wyotech?

 

Well if u think I am wrong. Explain to me y u used
2" pipe on ur bumber of that 88 xj? Pipe is designed
For internal pressure. But it has many uses. And less
Surface area. I would know. It's my profession.

 

Not to be picky, but hardly anyone uses pipe for any roll cages. Pipe is measured by ID. NHRA etc use round tubing (measured by OD), not pipe.

My two cents about the strength debate. If Nascar and NHRA use round tubing to protect their drivers if they roll at 100+ mph multiple times, then I think it is strong enough for a less than 5 mph roll.

 

There is no 2'' pipe on any thing of mine. It's 1.5 inch chrome moly, this is my profession( fabrication), so if you wanna challenge me on this go ahead and I'll shoot u down, go ahead and challenge me

 

Pipe : a long tube or hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas. You stick to your profession and ill stick to mine. the last time i checked more surface area is a good thing, DA

 

U were right about the square tubing. It dose have more ridgetity than pipe. And I was only a half inch off on your bumper. But the bottom line is. That pipe or tube will look.better that square tuning and will be more than strong enough for a 5000 pound jeep. IN MY OPINION.