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half cab with roll cage?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Sledgehammer, Sep 16, 2006.

  1. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    Does anyone have any experience with a roll cage/bar and a half cab at the same time. I am getting ready to put my cab back on and have been wanting a roll bar/cage of some sort. I don't want an exo cage and want to be able to take the cab off for the summer and still use the roll protection. Is this too much to ask :?
     
  2. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    How was it built? Any pics?
     
  3. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    I think, in his smart@ss way, he was saying it is too much to ask...:rofl:
     
  4. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    Don't BS me like that. I almost saw light at the end of the tunnel there. :)
     
  5. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Yup, I'll bet that's what he was saying. But I don't know why a cage for just the front couldn't be built. The cab would have to be on first for fitment purposes of course.
     
  6. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    I had actually talked this over with some jeep guys around home here and we weren't sure how easy it would be to line everything up. The truck cab style would be the easiest, but I'm a little worried about room.
     
  7. CJ5_Wil

    CJ5_Wil JEEP-A-HOLIC

    I would think if you wanted a full-cage affect without cutting up your halfcab you'd have to modify a stock rollbar to fit behind the cab, and make an in cab cage such as a pickup has. It would be difficult to fab yourself, and expensive to have someone make it for you, but I'd think that it'd be possible.
     
  8. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    If you go with the fact that some well placed protection is better than none then a well secured and braced single hoop just inside the back of the half cab is worth thinking about.
     
  9. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    pipe binder would be nice huh?

    A single hoop is a very good idea though.
     
  10. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    What size, thickness, and kind of pipe does everyone recomend on cages/bars? I appreciate the input.
     
  11. Brad Rabideau

    Brad Rabideau more Jeeps than sense...

    Why not a standard roll bar, like the earlier factory ones, outside and behind the cab. With the idea that somthing is better than nothing, this, I think would be the easiest and give the most freedom to take the cab on and off.

    Or, is that what a single hoop is?
     
  12. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    Nope, someone mentioned a single hoop inside the half cab. To be honest I don't know if an old style roll bar would fit behind the cab. I have my doubts.
     
  13. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    In my experience with single hoops and rollovers, the main hazard to the passengers is the windshield hinging back into the cabin. I don't know that this is any better or worse with a hard cab, but there is more metal to bump into in a hard cab.

    For a slow sideways rollover, a single hoop or pair of hoops (front, rear) outside the half cab would certainly be better than nothing. For a front-first roll or flip (BTDT), the single hoop will prevent you from being crushed, but will not protect your head from the windshield. My experience is that Meyer-style hard tops disintegrate in a rollover, providing no protection and likely more hazard.
     
  14. scumby

    scumby New Member

    what about a single hoop in the cab with wrangler bars to the windshield(if there's room on the frame) on the interior. it could be strengthened with a diagonal cross bar to prevent folding to the side. then modify a rollbar for the exterior the same height as the interior bar.

    IMO this setup shouldn't fold to far back as the front hoop would hopefully stop folding if/when it hits the rear hoop. if it were to fold forward the old cranium should still be protected by the rear bar.

    this is what i half in my half cabbed wrangler. the inner and outer hoops are about 4" apart. i also added a shoulder height bar across the inner hoop for harnesses.

    just a thought
     
  15. atuomi

    atuomi rookie

    I have a half cab for my 66 cj5 and built my roll bar so that I would still be able to use it. I must say though, it looks kinda funny since, as mentioned, the roll bar has to be mounted farther back, and makes for quite a steep angle between the hoop and the uprights. This is the only pic i have that sort of shows what it looks like, although its somewhat hard to see with my $10 soft-top and bike in the way.

    [​IMG]
     
  16. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    Thanks for the pic Austin. That idea was mentioned to me once but I couldn't picture in my mind what it would look like. That helps a lot. Not sure what I'll do just yet. I'm sure it will become obvious sooner or later.
     
  17. Colorado_Baja

    Colorado_Baja JEEPS!!

    Ill be building a full interior cage for my Half cab CJ5 this winter. ill post about it when I get around to fabing it. :D
     
  18. shoeman

    shoeman Tune for maximum smoke

    Don't use anything called "pipe", whatever you do. Get steel tubing, mild steel like 1020 is fine, no need to spend the $$ on chromoly, and unless you stress relieve your welds when using cro-mo it's no better than the cheaper stuff is anyways.
    Most steel supply houses can supply you with more info and materials. I had to study this stuff a lot in the motorcycle racing days.
    Seen a few pix of cages and roll bars made of pipe and also of exhaust tubing by folks saving a few bucks that had been in rollovers and wrecks. Might have well used toilet paper tubes and duct tape. Ouch.
     
  19. CEEJAY5

    CEEJAY5 Jeep Addict

  20. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    Thanks, I like the look of that. It looks like a factory bar that was shortened and the back hoop and top bars added. Is that what it looks like to everyone else?