Cage idea

[Rockdrummer93]

So Ive been thinking about a cage, But don't want to spend a ton and really don't care for it to be a full cage. I know how weak delicate XJs are so I know even with a cage a good roll over is going to destroy the Jeep. With that in mind I really just want one to protect me and the passenger and so I can have a harness bar. I got bored in class the other day and drew something up. A TJ style cage in a XJ Ive been calling it. What do y'all guys think? would it work or would it be pissing in the wind? I have rear shock hoops and a brace bar for those and the fast back tube will tie into. I have no back seat so Im not really worried about it being in the way. A buddy of mine at the local 4x4 shop says it won't work cause it will pretty much rip the back of the Jeep apart since I won't have a brace over the rear where the shackles are. What do y'all say about that? truth? What other advice do y'all have?

 

[Lowrange2]

Anything is going to be better than nothing.

Do an A and B pillar through the floor to the unibody with a dash bar, harness bars, a couple big X's and angle back down to your shock mounts.

Looks about like what you have drawn.

 

[Rockdrummer93]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking.. I'm not looking for something to roll back over and keep going. If it survives a roll over then great if it don't that's fine too. I'll swap everything over to something else and keep on wheeling. I've seen un caged XJs roll and it scares me how weak the factory a pillar is

 

[Jbh97009]

Any reason you don't consider a hybrid?

 

[Rockdrummer93]

Any reason you don't consider a hybrid?

That was my plan originally but really just want something that will work and not cost too much.. A hybrid seems like it would be a lot of work and cost a good bit more

 

[RCman]

... so I know even with a cage a good roll over is going to destroy the Jeep.

I disagree. A well designed hybrid style cage works wonders. Sure you'll end up with some superficial sheet metal ends but the rest will be fine.

That was my plan originally but really just want something that will work and not cost too much.. A hybrid seems like it would be a lot of work and cost a good bit more

How tall are you? Have you sat in an XJ with an interior cage bar that runs A to B pillar?

I think the plan is decent but I also know you will be amazed how much work it is either way. IMO, any cage is just as easy as the rest. It is really about patience, skill and forethought. It doesn't matter if you put in little bends to follow the inside or the outside they still have to be there and are just as much work. I would rather put the work into a hybrid and have a chance of saving it after a roll than knowing it will need major work after one with an interior setup.

Is you buddy saying it will rip it apart just wheeling it? How does he explain the stock ones not tearing up? Sure it is a good idea but not necessary if all you are looking for is passenger protection.

 

[Rockdrummer93]

I see your points.. I'm 5.8 so I'm sure an interior cage will be just fine but will keep what you said in mind.. I like hybrids but also don't really want to mess with the look of the jeep how it sits now.. Plus a full hybrid would add a a lot more weight then just doing my a and b pillar cage.. Main thing is, I'm not too worried about the Jeep, just want something to protect me.

What my buddy is saying is if I cage it the way I have planned.. That with there being no support on the back over the leaf springs it will tear it apart because everything forward of that is stiffened by the cage.

 

[foxwar71]

Before I finished my hybrid cage, I wheeled it for a year with just C-pillar bars going to my shock hoop like you have drawn up. As long as there's frame plating and a decent bumper, the back end will be fine.

And as said above, if you're making the effort to make a simple cage its hardly anymore effort to just do the whole thing. I hate having an interior A-pillar, hybrid setup all the way.

 

[Rockdrummer93]

Before I finished my hybrid cage, I wheeled it for a year with just C-pillar bars going to my shock hoop like you have drawn up. As long as there's frame plating and a decent bumper, the back end will be fine.

And as said above, if you're making the effort to make a simple cage its hardly anymore effort to just do the whole thing. I hate having an interior A-pillar, hybrid setup all the way.

I do have rear frame plating but a stock bumper? Not sure what the bumper as to do with it.. And as for the A pillars I'm planning on fabbing up plates to wrap the dash a lot like the rock hard 4x4 cages

 

[RCman]

I see your points.. I'm 5.8 so I'm sure an interior cage will be just fine but will keep what you said in mind.. I like hybrids but also don't really want to mess with the look of the jeep how it sits now.. Plus a full hybrid would add a a lot more weight then just doing my a and b pillar cage.. Main thing is, I'm not too worried about the Jeep, just want something to protect me.

What my buddy is saying is if I cage it the way I have planned.. That with there being no support on the back over the leaf springs it will tear it apart because everything forward of that is stiffened by the cage.

Given what you drew out there isn't much additional tubework for a hybrid, weight would only be a few pounds. The only new tube would be an extension of the one you have coming down from the B pillar as it would probably go all the way back to the D. Then some sort of support for that.

I think you need a new 4x4 shop. :spin1:
The rear spring perches are not magically going to start tearing apart because you added stiffness to the front. They may tear apart for other reasons but if you have that much movement back there you should be plating it and fixing the root cause.

I do have rear frame plating but a stock bumper? Not sure what the bumper as to do with it.. And as for the A pillars I'm planning on fabbing up plates to wrap the dash a lot like the rock hard 4x4 cages

Have you seen those plates after a roll? Flat steel has no load bearing in that direction. It's scary.

Even if you are 5'8" go find an XJ with an interior cage. It isn't as pleasant as you may think.

Not matter which way you go, tie it into the unibody 'frame' somehow. Don't rely on the sheetmetal floor.

 

[Rockdrummer93]

That makes sense.. Idk what I'm going to do. If the plates won't work then I guess I'll have to do a hybrid.. That is if I don't roll it from now and actually getting a cage..

 

[foxwar71]

I do have rear frame plating but a stock bumper? Not sure what the bumper as to do with it.. And as for the A pillars I'm planning on fabbing up plates to wrap the dash a lot like the rock hard 4x4 cages

A good bumper is gunna tie the two rails together and act as a crossmemeber, I have 2x4 tubing that sleeve the inside 2ft of the back and it really stiffens up the back.

Flat plate has no place in a cage. Period. Do it once, do it right, never worry about it.

 

[Rockdrummer93]

A good bumper is gunna tie the two rails together and act as a crossmemeber, I have 2x4 tubing that sleeve the inside 2ft of the back and it really stiffens up the back.



Flat plate has no place in a cage. Period. Do it once, do it right, never worry about it.

Oh.. Yeah my buddy has a bumper like that.. And I get that about the plates

 

[Mpeckham22]

im planning something similar, helpful thread.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

I think a hybrid could arguably be easier than a full internal cage. I rolled my crap going down the road a few weeks back and the hybrid cage is probably the only thing keeping the jeep mostly intact. Body is tweaked somewhat. I vote hybrid. And I am tall so I would be hitting my head on the internal halo . I am positive without the hybrid cage the rig would not be salvageable at this point, or me possibly for that matter.

Side flops at slow crawling speeds have never even affected my rig, but the pavement flop at high speed was rough



this is back at home.



My B and C pillars are sandwiched to the floor with 1/4" on both sides, and a leg going to the frame stiffeners on the bottom . its not ideal by any means. the internal legs coming off the C pillar going back to the D pillar have a very wide plate to spread the load but ill pull the gas tank some day and tie in underneath to the frame. A pillar goes to 2x6 rocker replacement that ties into the frame with a bunch of legs to the stiffeners.