Cross Member....???

[recycledxj]

Ok here we go, the stock cross member was easily destroyed, so I bought a Rusty's Offroad cross member. It held up for about 3 trips until one hard hit bent it in towards the enderneth the Jeep. I have looked around at others and didnt like there design, so Im going to do what everybody else does when they get tired of killing stuff. I plan on making my own out of 2x6 box tubing w/ 1/4 thickness any other ideals are pictures we will be good...

 

[Steve F]

I just cut the bottom off mine to raise it and then plated it with 8mm (1/3") steel. Had no problems with it since.

Cheers
Steve

 

[ren]

I think that Steve F has a good idea. In fact, I think that tomorrow, I am going to do something likewise with one of my extra X-members, only with some 3/16", maybe doubled up, on the remains of a hacked down X-member. I think that if it is actually strong enough to lift the XJ with, then this weekend should be a good time to go and "test" it in the real world.

 

[VegasAnthony]

trying not to hijack here

is a recess like this

neccesary?

i asked a couple of folks and they said no......... a 2x6 across the bottom of the "frame rail " would sit flush with the tranny mounts

mind you thats not the setup ........hyprothetical situation

 

[xj92]

I just cut the bottom off mine to raise it and then plated it with 8mm (1/3") steel. Had no problems with it since.

I did this but plated it with 1/4" and added some very small angle and square tubing above to add strength. I had one spot where I added the angle & square that I cut into the square to provide clearance for the exhaust. After years of good use, it finally bent just a tiny bit on my last trip to the terminator trails and some big hits.

I'm considering making one out of tube this time, and it seems like 1.5" x 6" tubing would give the same ground clearance as my cut-down stock one. I would use 1/4" wall and build a slight recess into it. I don't want to lose any clearance, but even after cutting the stock one down, it hung down approximately 1.5".

 

[Steve F]

Here's a quick pic of mine, stock and plated side by side. Its now strong enough to jack the jeep up with if I had too.

Cheers
Steve

 

[recycledxj]

I think to quik and easy I am going to use a piece of 2x6 box tubing and just just run it flat under my frame rails with my tranny mount...

 

[barillms]

Oh, cool. I gotta do this same thing soon! So you sliced and diced the old one down, making it not so deep.... then put a plate on the bottom. Good, simple enough for me! Did you use 1/4"?

 

[Steve F]

I used 8mm which is a touch under 1/3" but I would think 1/4" would be thick enough.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Rev Den]

I used 8mm which is a touch under 1/3" but I would think 1/4" would be thick enough.

Unless I am spotting you.



Rev

 

[Ronbo]

is a recess like this neccesary?

i asked a couple of folks and they said no......... a 2x6 across the bottom of the "frame rail " would sit flush with the tranny mounts

mind you thats not the setup ........hyprothetical situation

My crossmember is basically 2x6 as you described. It pushes everything up tight, but has been working fine for a while, with my AX15.
Some things to consider; the exhaust goes up with it, driveline angles may suffer, the bigger Rock-Trac transfercase I run, is really close to the floor. I went with a custom motor mount to keep the driveline from rotating into the floor.

 

[kunaji]

Unless I am spotting you.



Rev

Agreed. I'm trying to make my rig Rev spotting proof for next year.

 

[Rev Den]

Agreed. I'm trying to make my rig Rev spotting proof for next year.

Is that a challange?




Rev

 

[kunaji]

I can think of no greater challenge for myself than to try and make my rig Rev proof!!!

 

[barillms]

I just chopped and modded my stock crosmember, also... .while I had it off I decided to integrate my rear long arm mounts into the crossmember.

It turned out really nice and pretty beefcake too.

 

[xj92]

Would it be stronger if you used two pieces of 1.5" x 3" and put them together to make them 1.5" x 6", so you'd have an additional vertical support in the middle? I'm working on a rough design sketch that is not finalized yet, so please check it out and give feedback. http://community.webshots.com/album/558152161PuRzHJ

 

[barillms]

Dude, it's just a crossmember... you're thinking about it too much.

 

[xj92]

Yep. I like to be creative and design whatever my next project is in my head when I don't have anything else going on.

 

[Andy in Pa.]

I just chopped and modded my stock crosmember, also... .while I had it off I decided to integrate my rear long arm mounts into the crossmember.

It turned out really nice and pretty beefcake too.

I need to see pics of this....I can't imagine using a STOCK (or modded stock) crossmember for anything besides supporting the tranny.

 

[Andy in Pa.]

Would it be stronger if you used two pieces of 1.5" x 3" and put them together to make them 1.5" x 6", so you'd have an additional vertical support in the middle? I'm working on a rough design sketch that is not finalized yet, so please check it out and give feedback. http://community.webshots.com/album/558152161PuRzHJ

Go right ahead, overbuilt is way better than underbuilt any day. It would certainly be strong. I built a crossmember out 2x6x1/4 Wall, and it supported the entire weight of my XJ a few times. Only took me about 1.5 hours to build it too. I was going to modify a stock one, but I decided it was a waste of time when it was so easy to build something else so much stronger.