My first cage attempt

I locked the jeep up over summer and decided that it was time to build a cage now that I am getting into more precarious situations. It was a good thing I never needed to use the stock bar because the tub was completely rusted out where it mounted and it probably would have just pushed right through.
This was my first experience with bending tube and it was definitely a learning one. I figure it took me 40 to50 hours to complete and I do have a small pile of oops pieces. I will be painting the cage the same color as the jeep and hopefully soon I will get some better seats.
Here is the link to my photobucket acct where there are more pictures. http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o214/myyellowcj5/

 

Good show! Will that protect someone in the back that well though?

 

looks good but will your top still fit over the rear hoop?

 

Might want to add some padded tubing to the cross bars behind the front seats. Looks like the will be head ache makers. Why is the rear seat mounted so high?

 

Looks like it's sitting on top of the spare tire.

 

Its high so that you can reach the .30cal MG while sitting, right?

 

Hmmm... a machine gun... I hadn't thought of that. If I leave the rear seat on the ground the dogs will eat it so right now it is sitting on the spare tire. When the seat is sitting on the bed there is plenty of room. Eventually I will build a tire holder and install the seat. I will definitely be adding some foam to the cross bars. I don't have a top and don't plan on ever having one (sunny so. cal.) so I didn't consider that when I built the cage but no a top would definitely not fit. I think the bikini top will still fit but I havn't tried it yet.

 

Personally I would add some gussets on the center hoop facing the rear, they could double for grab handles for the rear passengers, probably do the same in the front if it were me.

Any other angles?

 

workmanship looks good....and definitely looks like you put a lot of time into it....

not a fan of the layout, but whatever works for you

keep up the good work!

 

I agree with jeepfreak on adding some gussets, they make a huge difference in the strength of the cage. Padding to those bars behind your head would be a good idea, but if you go with a good high back seat when you upgrade those you might not need it as much.

 

How much tube is you use?

 

I used right around 100' of tubing, including the approximately 10' of scrap I have left over. It is 1 3/4 .120 DOM.
I had initially intended on putting a gusset behind the center hoop but decided not too. You guys changed my mind so now I have to figure out how I am going to do it.