After rolling the xj twice in dead set on getting an exo, iv already designed and measured out the outside but i need ideas for the inside cross support that goes behind front seats

Here's how in wanting the exo to be..







And for the roof..



now all i need is to figure out how i can/will do the inside supports while still being able to open&close all 4 doors. Looking to fabricate something simple. Any ideas?!

 

Technically this isn't fab... yet. But I'm not one to ***** so.....

I've never personally built an Exo, but I plan too. There's a couple things I'd consider.

1. Is an Exo street legal where you live? I'm in Alberta, and have some pretty slack laws around here. An Exo puts me into a special class of insurance where I can only have PLPD... No comprehensive / other coverage.

2. Are you keeping doors? What do you have for rockers? What do you have for a bender / fab tools? Do you have plated frame rails yet?

When I build mine I will be:
A) Boatsiding the rockers / door area to fix some rust issues. Will run square tubing from new rocker into the frame rails which will be plated with ruff stuff stiffeners.
B) My exo will be similar to yours, using DOM tubing with a JD2 Model 32 bender
C) For interior support I'm keeping it minimal... I will have a simple hoop with a X bar behind the front seats. I will tie into the B-pillars with plate on the inside, I will cut holes in the roof and tie into the Exo cage on the roof, and I will weld plates on the bottom and tie into the boatsides / frame rails.
D) I will have more tube than that on the inside... But haven't decided how much yet.

Also remember, once you have an exo, how will you access different areas of the jeep? Welded to the bumper / rockers = no removal of anything down the side of the jeep including the bumper.

Just read build threads on EXO / interior / hybrid cage builds... Either you'll find a way to build it, or you'll realize an EXO isn't for you.


P.S. I'm basing this on the fact your avatar is a stock(ish) XJ... If you have a dedicated rig, then yea go all out and build an EXO... My rig is still a DD so I need to carefully plan everything for comfort and legalities still.

 

Yeah my buddy has the tools and welder. In sure he has the right stuff. Hes got a exod yota on 42s, doubler, trussed axles, the whole 9 yards.

This is my DD and im trying to plan specifics as well, ill be making spiders and rear bumper out of 1.5 dom tube as well as the entire experience itself. I really want to keep all 4 doors accessible so in trying to figure out what to do with the tube that runs down between the front and rear doors. I have yet to purchase frame stiffeners which im wondering if i really have to or not. It would be something that i would like to do eventually though

 

The xj has changed alot since my avatar was taken. It now sits like this














Ultimately planning on keeping it same height on 35s, trussed& sleeved axles, 4.56 gears, caged, ect. As a trail rig

 

I think the X shape is your best bet.

 

x inside tying into the roof halo and the framerails

 

Thats prob exactly what ill end up doing.

I want to run a tube between f&r doors but want both doors to open. Gotta get creative

 

not too difficult. Rear opens with a slight pivot. So you can put a tube in between and clear on the outside

 

You should talk to Lead Foot on this forum, he has a really nice exo.

 

its easy to do, just take your time w the bender.

i have pics in here somewhere...
http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1043656

 

This build if freakin sweet, i love how simple but well built it id, nice rig! But im thinking about having tube on the exterior in between the f&r doors