NOTNSUV
You Guys ROCK!
- Location
- Spring Creek, NV
This is a duplicate post from the Sierra Chapter.. asked the guys close to home first since they run the Rubicon frequently and figured they might have more 'cage time'. But why not toss it out to the whole gang..
I've done the search and can't seem to pin down a thread on exo-cage kits. I'll keep looking around the forums and Google tho'. Meanwhile, I thought you guys might have some insight for me. Any kits out there that you know of?
Eric's book says C-Rok has a good kit but it's not popping up on their website. I emailed them just now to inquire whether they still build them so will wait to hear back. Just looking for a weld together pre-bent kit to weigh my options for cost and time.
Me and my son-in-law (the fabricator/welder, and he has a bender) have done preliminary brainstorming on how to build a cage by using the JCR base roof rack without the side rails (http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/RCK/XJ-RCK-B.html) as a foundation, and building the cage incorporated into my AJ's front winch bumper and JCR tire carrier bumper and/or JCR lower panel guards and JCR Stage 3 sliders. I just finished installing the new Rusty's body panels/fender flares (http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-ex...es-xj.html),(I love them BTW - look good powder coated black to match my black paint and are very stout, but yes, they're expensive) and it seems perfectly reasonable that we could tie into these as well to cinch everything together. We would probably add horizontal pieces on top as a 'tree slider' as well and a low profile light bar for a 40" dual row LED bar, some tabs for lights in back, shovel/axe rack, and a mount for a couple Roto-Pac water jugs.
I guess I'm answering my own questions but it's experienced advice I'm looking for. Pros & Cons, ya know. What do you have, what do you like, what might you do differently and what haven't I thought about? Is it just dumb to think about 'pinning' the cage so it could be removed easily with the overhead hoist? Would that defeat the integrity of the cage?
For a rig I bought to tow my boat around Montana on vacation I've sure turned it into an addiction. Every time I add something (like the Rusty's Flares) it sparks a burning desire to do something more. Was not intended as a crawler and still isn't, but will be capable - I'm sort of 'hybridizing' it for Overland/hunting rig, crawler when needed or to try to hang with the bigger dogs when the opportunity arises .. it all started really when I bought Eric's beefed up diffs.. thanks man! Once I trimmed the fenders and added the flares it's screaming for 33s which I'll probably order tomorrow (I'm convinced I want 33 x 10.5" for more clearance than 12.5" and I'm leaning toward BFG KM2 over the Toyo MT - the only 10.5 options) then will end up with ACOS front and a 1" shackle kit for another inch lift, bringing the total to about 4.5 - 5.0. Then it'll probably require a longer shock to maximize flex.. blah, blah, blah. It's a flippin' disease as you guys already know. If it functions as good as it looks it'll be bad-ass. It's probably way prettier than most would like. Might as well try to keep it that way. Only need to bang it hard once to make it look like a beater - not that there's anything wrong with a beater if it performs. Seems like everyone who builds an XJ goes through various stages of changes/improvements.. again, an incurable disease.. but fun and satisfying, eh?
All this is in hopes of making the 4th Annual Reno Run so I can say it's not just a mall-crawler. Looking forward to the pucker factor.
Anyway, I appreciate any feedback.
Gary
__________________
1999 XJ Sport 4.0L Black
Mods: $$$$ Cash $$$$ :twak:
I've done the search and can't seem to pin down a thread on exo-cage kits. I'll keep looking around the forums and Google tho'. Meanwhile, I thought you guys might have some insight for me. Any kits out there that you know of?
Eric's book says C-Rok has a good kit but it's not popping up on their website. I emailed them just now to inquire whether they still build them so will wait to hear back. Just looking for a weld together pre-bent kit to weigh my options for cost and time.
Me and my son-in-law (the fabricator/welder, and he has a bender) have done preliminary brainstorming on how to build a cage by using the JCR base roof rack without the side rails (http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/RCK/XJ-RCK-B.html) as a foundation, and building the cage incorporated into my AJ's front winch bumper and JCR tire carrier bumper and/or JCR lower panel guards and JCR Stage 3 sliders. I just finished installing the new Rusty's body panels/fender flares (http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-ex...es-xj.html),(I love them BTW - look good powder coated black to match my black paint and are very stout, but yes, they're expensive) and it seems perfectly reasonable that we could tie into these as well to cinch everything together. We would probably add horizontal pieces on top as a 'tree slider' as well and a low profile light bar for a 40" dual row LED bar, some tabs for lights in back, shovel/axe rack, and a mount for a couple Roto-Pac water jugs.
I guess I'm answering my own questions but it's experienced advice I'm looking for. Pros & Cons, ya know. What do you have, what do you like, what might you do differently and what haven't I thought about? Is it just dumb to think about 'pinning' the cage so it could be removed easily with the overhead hoist? Would that defeat the integrity of the cage?
For a rig I bought to tow my boat around Montana on vacation I've sure turned it into an addiction. Every time I add something (like the Rusty's Flares) it sparks a burning desire to do something more. Was not intended as a crawler and still isn't, but will be capable - I'm sort of 'hybridizing' it for Overland/hunting rig, crawler when needed or to try to hang with the bigger dogs when the opportunity arises .. it all started really when I bought Eric's beefed up diffs.. thanks man! Once I trimmed the fenders and added the flares it's screaming for 33s which I'll probably order tomorrow (I'm convinced I want 33 x 10.5" for more clearance than 12.5" and I'm leaning toward BFG KM2 over the Toyo MT - the only 10.5 options) then will end up with ACOS front and a 1" shackle kit for another inch lift, bringing the total to about 4.5 - 5.0. Then it'll probably require a longer shock to maximize flex.. blah, blah, blah. It's a flippin' disease as you guys already know. If it functions as good as it looks it'll be bad-ass. It's probably way prettier than most would like. Might as well try to keep it that way. Only need to bang it hard once to make it look like a beater - not that there's anything wrong with a beater if it performs. Seems like everyone who builds an XJ goes through various stages of changes/improvements.. again, an incurable disease.. but fun and satisfying, eh?
All this is in hopes of making the 4th Annual Reno Run so I can say it's not just a mall-crawler. Looking forward to the pucker factor.
Anyway, I appreciate any feedback.
Gary
__________________
1999 XJ Sport 4.0L Black
Mods: $$$$ Cash $$$$ :twak: