Cage construction

[ROCKREADYXJ]

Here is part of the rear not finished yet. The antire truck is 130 inches long and the wb is 105. tires are foward of front bumper and rear

 

[Jump This]

This is what I decided to do....so far.

Built and Drivers side and a passenger side hoop that connected to a B pillar hoop.

I'm not convinced on the storage area cage yet, I'd like todo something a bit different........

Rick

 

[Jump This]

Have you ever reread a post of yours and wondered what the heck you were saying? Maybe an editor would help around here.

That is to say;
I built a driver's side and a passenger side hoop. Well, not even quite a 'hoop' more of an 'L'..



I think I know what I am going to try in the storage area. I'll have it bent up by tomarrow and I'll post a picture or two.

Rick

 

[ROCKREADYXJ]

looks good But I would put the two on the roof that are parrel in the middle different. especially since you did one piece on each side as aposeed to a halo bar.

 

[Jump This]

looks good But I would put the two on the roof that are parrel in the middle different. especially since you did one piece on each side as aposeed to a halo bar.

How different?

And why?

I DO appreciate input.

Rick

 

[Jump This]

I have changed my mind about the storage area.

Lets see how this works.

I know that the staight supports that were in the other post provide better stucture, but I need it to be more unique....this design roughly mimicks some of my dune buggy frames.

Tomarrow I will be working on gussetting and some more triangulation.

Then off to tie it into the sliders and 'frame'.....


Rick

 

[ROCKREADYXJ]

How different?

And why?

I DO appreciate input.

Rick

more like this so to give you more stability in the cage or better triangulation eventhough I think that work is way overused.

 

[Goatman]

Rick, what are you planning to do to protect the rear quater panels?

When you don't have rear windows to worry about you're not nearly as careful about the rear quaters. Plus, how will you reinforce the rear quarters, since they now have nothing to support them if you lean them into a rock. Do you plan to use any part of the cage for this?

What about protecting the C pillars?

Is this going to be a desert dirt runner, or are you going to actually get it into the rocks?

 

[Jump This]

Rick, what are you planning to do to protect the rear quater panels?

When you don't have rear windows to worry about you're not nearly as careful about the rear quaters. Plus, how will you reinforce the rear quarters, since they now have nothing to support them if you lean them into a rock. Do you plan to use any part of the cage for this?

What about protecting the C pillars?

Is this going to be a desert dirt runner, or are you going to actually get it into the rocks?

How about removable quarters? ..think dzus fasteners here....

I'm still tossing around pillar protection, I have an idea or two.
I am aware of these problems. I am also enjoying the 'solving problems' part of this build.

Rocks? I HATE rocks!

See you in JV in November.

:sunshine:

 

[Jump This]

Here is the build thread.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=918088

 

[Goatman]

Have you figured out how to protect the pillars yet?

If you want that thing to live for awhile with the existing sheetmetal..................

:wave1:

 

[Rawbrown]

Rick, I'm more curious as to how you tied that B-hoop into the fram rails.
And johnson Valley isn't in your backyard you dumbarse.... Ya got that big damn pool in the way. that stinky overly saltwatery pool you named the salton sea.
oh and, You bend tube like a desert racer...

 

[Jump This]

Have you figured out how to protect the pillars yet?

If you want that thing to live for awhile with the existing sheetmetal..................

:wave1:

I have...
I will be using removable tube doors. But what will be different is that they will not be pivoting on the factory hinge plates. Let me try to draw a visual for you.

I will be using 1 1/2" tube that will be mounted (using pins) to the front side of the factory frame side hinges. That is what will be doing most of the protecting. The tube doors will be mounted to these tubes with thier own hinges. The doors also won't close as tight as most tubes doors do. They will close about 1" out from the pillars, providing a bit more protection.
I don't think the build up will be all that difficult, the latch mechanism might be a bear, but I don't know yet. They won't be ulta-lite, but still much lighter than the stock doors.

I know that it won't provide 100% protection, but I will be able to lean heavily on them without taking out a pillar. Wrecking Ball shouldn't cause me any grief (well, as far as tearing up pillars goes.)

And Ryan;
The Salton Sea is not between me and JV. Its a bit to the right.
As far as bending like a desert guy.....:dunno:
The cage will be tied into (onto?) the slider. That should provide me with enough frame 'assistance'......
I'm still looking into the 'forward of the windshield' support.....



Rick

 

[Goatman]

The rocks that get you are the ones that are above the door.............


BTW, tube doors suck. :gee:

 

[Jump This]

The rocks that get you are the ones that are above the door.............


BTW, tube doors suck. :gee:

If its above the door.....why would I give a crap?



But yeah, I know what you mean. I'm looking at the C pillar and noting that it has been beat up a few inches up the window line. But whats a 'beat the crap out of it wheeler' gona' do? :dunno:

BTW...tube doors don't suck, crappy tube doors do!

Tossing around the high impact foam idea now (my Dad is an adhesives engineer and has some unique perspectives on this.)

The bottom line is...If I don't want to deal with it getting beat up, I just won't wheel it.

:cheers:

Rick

 

[Goatman]

I guess I don't get the concept of cutting the crap out of it and then leaving all that sheetmetal exposed. If you run connectors from the internal cage to the original B and C pillars, then when you beat on the outside of them it won't damage the structure.

You ARE going to beat the sh!t out of that thing now.........

 

[Jump This]

I don't beat things up!

The ROCKS do it..

The pillars will be supported and braced to the cage, but that won't do any protecting of the pillars, and realy, the only reason to protect the pillars is to allow for the use of the stock doors, not tube doors...

Ya' know?



Rick

 

[Jump This]

I have been getting some back channel guff about this project.
Nothing out of line, but maybe there is some missunderstanding of the 'why' of this project.

The above pict illustrates the kind of damage this rig has dealt with. I wanted to take the next step in the learning curve of fabbing a crawler.
To that end, I decided to lose some weight, make some clearance, add some stuctural integrity, and add some safty.
Thats it.
There was no intent on building a JV rig. Although everyone who wheels with me knows I LOVE the place. I like trying new things. I admit my tube welding was not up to my standards, but I learned from it.

Goat mentioned that I would start to tear up the rear quarters...like I havn't already!
So to THAT end I will be taking this approach.

I will be boxing in the fender wells and maybe even fix the body lines. I know it will get torn up, but again, I want to learn how to deal with thin sheetmetal fab.

And, I'm also looking into giving it a custom paint job. I know it will get torn up, but I want to try this too....

You all getting the idea of what I'm up to now?


Rick

 

[BlackJax]

So to THAT end I will be taking this approach.

Went the same route. Moved the axle back 6" too though.

 

[Jump This]

Went the same route. Moved the axle back 6" too though.

I'm not going to move the axel now. If I upgrade to a Hi9 or go to a link set-up then maybe. When I'm do the front axel up grade (D44) it might get an extra inch or two.

Rick