Then maybe your best bet is to ask his advice on what he'd prefer?

 

Been reading on Pirate for a while. Lots of different opinions. Some say bolts suck, some say they are stronger than welds. Some say HREW sucks, some say it's just as good as DOM.

I just want to not die if I roll. And if it helps keep my Jeep from crumpling and being destroyed that would be nice too.

 

Good idea

Just called him and showed him the kit. His opinion was to buy this thing and we will reinforce it as we build if there are weak spots. We will modify to attach to the frame stiffeners underneath. He said it would cost more than $450 for him to put this same thing together.

And his opinion is that for low speed stuff like I'll be doing, HREW is fine. He uses DOM for race cars and sandrails, but HREW for Jeeps.

 

Look at the strength ratings between HREW and DOM and it's very clear that DOM is significantly stronger for not much more per foot. Like I said before, there's a reason pretty much every sanctioning body for anything that requires a cage in a vehicle requires at least DOM if not chromoly.

It's all in how you build it, but a cage bolted to stamped sheet metal floors will NEVER be anywhere near as strong as a the same cage welded and tied into the frame rails.

They do say it's long and doesn't come with foot ends. Might as well extend it through the floors and weld it to square tube to the frame/stiffeners underneath. That alone is a huge improvement to it. Add in some triangulation and you've got a pretty solid cage. That being said, I'd personally go DOM. Like I said before, the price difference isn't big (for raw stock at least, might not be the case buying it from them) and the strength ratings speak for themselves.

HREW is fine for low speed flops, but it's not the flops you need to worry about. A flop can easily turn into a roll and HREW gets weaker every time it get impacted. Last thing you want is to take a hard roll off a cliff, waterfall, ect and have gone cheap on something that's meant to save your life. If you want to save money I'd suggest getting the kit in DOM and whatever you add to it in HREW. That way what's taking the brunt of impacts is a stronger material.

 

the kit is actually a pretty nice kit for the money, and you couldnt have that built for that price.

i would for sure run through the floorboards to the frame rails with it, and add some extra bracing and triangulation. but all said and done maybe another $100 in tubing and steel and that cage can be made pretty strong and reliable. you woudlnt even need a bender to finish it off.

as for the HREW vs DOM debate, im split when it comes to interior cages. a braced HREW interior cage will likely survive more than the body will be able to handle.

 

the T&J cage is regarded as the best pre-fab cage for XJs. regardless of what cage you have, it should tie in to the uniframe AND the body/pillars for it to be most effective.

 

T&J still sell the XJ cage? i cant find it anymore.

 

Gotcha, thanks for the info. I'll go with DOM.

 

pretty sure they do. i couldnt get their storefront website to load.

 

anyone know why S&W Race cars suggest NOT using DOM for drag cars?

 

Link to what you're talking about?

Only thing I can think of is they're advocating only using Chromoly, which for racing isn't a bad idea, especially high speed stuff like drag racing.

 

http://www.swracecars.com/store/Jeep...5=11-2587.aspx

 

There's a chromoly option, I'm assuming they're suggesting that for drag and it's worded poorly.

Trying to picture how that even fits in and what that rear part is supposed to attach to. Looks way too high to mount to the rear wheel wells.

$600 shipped for DOM on that isn't bad at all. Granted it still needs some added triangulation and modifying to attach to the frame rails, but still.

 

NHRA cert is normally chromoly isn't it?

 

Consider your application for any rollbar kit.
For most wheelers a highspeed rollover isn't the primary concern, it's a relatively low-speed roll/flop.

Keep in mind that the cage only needs to protect you once, it's not a "Re-Useable" product.

The kit in the OP has been around quite a while and I know a lot of local guys that have purchased and installed it. It is a great entry level interior kit that can be added to to suit your individual needs.

If you're building a JeepSpeed rig or comp. rig.....this ain't the kit for you.