• Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.

Internal Cage Guys

SeanP

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Rocklin, CA
How is everybody attaching the cage to the floor of their XJs? I am starting to put together ideas for the next project that will keep me off the trail for 6 months ;)

Diapers are your friend.

SeanP
 
they are called "load spreading plates" most of the time people use a 6"x 6" 3/16 flat square plate. weld the cage tube on top. drill the 4 corners of the plate and bolt it to the floor. some people go as far as welding the plate in, IMO thats a better way to attach but depends on the person.
 
there are ten points in my cage.

six of them tie into that hat section "uber frame" and spreads the load over an apprx. 36"x42" area, and the other ones that are at the a and b pillar locations go to the floor, but are supported/bolted underneath by frame tie ins....

I suggest building framerail "standoffs" to tie into your a b and c pillars......you will only need a 12" long stand-off to go from the area the tube meets the floor to the frame rail.
 
Beezil said:
there are ten points in my cage.

six of them tie into that hat section "uber frame" and spreads the load over an apprx. 36"x42" area, and the other ones that are at the a and b pillar locations go to the floor, but are supported/bolted underneath by frame tie ins....

I suggest building framerail "standoffs" to tie into your a b and c pillars......you will only need a 12" long stand-off to go from the area the tube meets the floor to the frame rail.


BJ, you got pics of this for a better reference.

Billy, I don't think we will make it to Maob this year unless we rent a pimped RV that can tow the heep. Emma and Marni need some creature comforts.

thanks

SeanP
 
Beez:

What are stand offs? I'm guessing an "L" bracket w. diagonal tube (? :dunce: ) to reinforce from the underside and sandwich the floor. Sounds like a great idea, is this right?
 
Here's a couple shot of how I tied mine to the floor.

site1047.JPG


site1032.JPG


-Jon
 
Thanks, Jon. Did you weld the plate footers on the A & B pillers or are they just bolted to the floor? Is there another plate underneath that sandwiches the floor? Have you driven it yet? How is it getting in and out with the diagonal brace between the A & B?

thnks

SeanP
 
I've thought about mine a bit since install and have come up with a plan for next time (???).

Start out with an 1/8" plate, 6"X6", and radius each corner to 1/2" round and drill appropriate holes for mounting bolts. Also relieve the sharp edge all the way around the lower edges of the plate with a grinder. Clean up with a flat file.

Then take another 1/8" plate, 4"X4", and after radiusing the corners, sandwich it on top of the larger plate at a 45° diagonal. Weld the tube to this assembly and add a couple of small gussets to increase weld area.

This creates a base plate that is strong (1/4" thick), but gives a little around the perimeter and will lessen the chance of cutting through the floor panel. A further enhancement would be to change the 6"x6" plate to 6"X8" and bend a 2", 90° flap to butt against the rocker panel channel section (with additional fasteners).

My current B hoop ties into rock rails underneath. Any future build would have 1/8" plate brackets underneath angling to the frame rail. These could be attachment points for rock rails as well.

I prefer bolting to and thru the floor vs welding. I think the welded area adjacent to the plate would be prone to failure.
 
just throwin out an opinion here....

I like 3/16" for foot plates, wether or not the feet are sandwiched.....

I think 1/8th is a bit too thin......

an untested opinion.........
 
I tied mine into the rock rails, which are permanently attached. I just added 1X2 1/4 inch channel between the legs of the rails, and bolted through. Really stiffened the chassis well.

Dan
 
Beezil said:
just throwin out an opinion here....

I like 3/16" for foot plates, wether or not the feet are sandwiched.....

I think 1/8th is a bit too thin......

an untested opinion.........

1/8" + 1/8" = 1/4" > 3/16"

Test it :D
 
The plates are bolted through the floor to a 1/4" backing plate. I will be tying the backing plate into the subframe, I just haven't gotten to the underside yet. However, the seat mounts are tied to the cage and the floor at the tranny hump (welded) and original seat belt mounts (bolted). I doubt I'll run into metal fatigue/stress issues in the future, but we'll see....

I don't mind the diagonals at the doors, but my 5'-0" wife isn't too impressed. I think she'll change her mind when she realizes it will keep the rocks out of the cab.:D

-Jon
 
My rear plates extend across the shackle mounts & frame sections & are 3/16" thick. I used 4" wide plate. My other rear leg plate extends across the frame rail & up the side of the fender well. The B pillar is the same 3/16 plate & extends across the frame rail out close to the pinch seem. I used a hole saw to punch through the floor board under that floor plate & welded a support from the frame rail to the bottom of that plate. The A pillar is much the same as the B pillar except I used an existing hole in the floor board to weld the frame / cage gusset through. All plates & tubing are welded.

Frame Tie In
 
Beezil said:
3/16 + 3/16 = 3/8 > 1/4.....

I'll win! :)

The two plate sandwich I'm talking about is above the floor pan. An additional backing plate would be below the floor pan. The whole point of the double layer above is to soften the corners (1/8") of what amounts to a 1/4" foot plate. I'll have to draw this up cause I think it's a pretty good idea if the extra effort can be justified.

P.S. Everytime Matt posts a pic, you can see why he's such a magazine pop star. I'm still wondering when you'll get your 15 minutes of fame
 
FarmerMatt said:
If his rig ever left the garage & was see actually outside wheeling it might.

Matt


Cheap shot, fawker!

My rig will leave the garage at some point in the next 12 months I swear. I keep thinking I will work on my rig at night, but by the time I help marni with emma, I am exhausted.

Thanks for the posts. Matt, do you have a link to all your cage photos? Also, does anybody have Richard's link? I am just going to steal ideas willy-nilly from y'all and claim them as my own, k?

SeanP
 
Back
Top