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thinking about a cage

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by pjstud1v, Jun 18, 2006.

  1. pjstud1v

    pjstud1v Member

    I've been thinking about how I can get a typical 6 pt cage in my CJ. The problems are the fiberglass tub and the c channel frame. How can I tie this cage in to the frame to provide some safety without screwing up the frame. Do I need to box in the frame to properly tie in a cage?

    I am in the early planning stages of this project still, but I'd like to hear from anyone with an early 'glass CJ who has a cage tied to the frame. I don't want to destroy the tub with this cage and I don't want to have a cage without any strength either. Pics would be greatly appreciated as well as any advice. Thanks.
     
    pjstud1v, Jun 18, 2006
    #1
  2. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Might read this: http://www.boyink.com/supersizedutch_comments/878_0_9_0_C/


    I'm debating on tying into the frame on mine for the same reasons Boyink didn't. I don't see fiberglass as being any inherintly less safe than steel in this case. I've hit fiberglass with a sledge, it bounced, not my Jeep tub, but you get the point. I can't see it ripping any more easily than steel considering that currently my cage sitting on the tub unmounted, has a plate in the rear on each side that covers the entire top of the wheelwell. A big plate up front in the footwell should work too no? Really, how many bumps do we go over, etc. with the body mounts, small surface area, and they don't punch through the tub. It's like politics and religion. If you don't tie into the frame everyone will tell you that you're going to die, etc. Heck, I'm driving a vehicle that's a SWB, lifted with big tires and lacking many safety devices of modern day equipment. As long as I've been wheeling, I've never been in a group with a roll over. I have seen roll overs, 90% of the were still using the factory sport bar and the occupants walked away. The factory sport bars spread the load over MUCH less area than most well built roll cages.

    With that said I'm considering something like this from nozzleram over on Jeepforum. A bushing would allow frame flex without stiffening things up too much I suspect. Much of it depends on who I can find to do the work.

    [​IMG]
     
    sparky, Jun 18, 2006
    #2
  3. jasonthomasfrance

    jasonthomasfrance New Member

    I'm thinking about putting an extra bar behind the windshield and bringing it down along the door jam. I was just going to go with a big plate welded/bolted to the floorpan. Then tie the tube to the back bar in 2 places. I think tying into the tub is fine too. My tub is metal though...

    I also thinking tying to the frame would cause vibrations, which might prove annoying. IMHO
     
    jasonthomasfrance, Jun 18, 2006
    #3
  4. pjstud1v

    pjstud1v Member

    That makes sense. I don't plan on rolling, but there are a few guys who I will be wheeling with who have rolled pretty hard in the last year. I'd rather be safe than sorry when it comes to this sort of thing. Half my problem is I know a bunch of guys with 1 ton CJ7s that keep telling me everything must be tied in to the frame.

    A standard cage would probably be fine as long as I tie the seat mounts and seat belts in to the cage. I had planned on doing that anyway.
     
    pjstud1v, Jun 18, 2006
    #4
  5. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    That bushing in the pic should eleviate that issue if you use that method. Just one more reason to think about that method. :D
     
    sparky, Jun 18, 2006
    #5
  6. jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    I see no problem with body mounting steel/fiberglass if done properly with underside mounting plates. Have looked at lots and lots of Jeeps that went over, some mutilple times, some on the freeway. Although injury and deaths may have occured, the roll bars/cages held.
    Most of the time you're injured by your unsecured junk inside the Jeep.
     
    jpflat2a, Jun 19, 2006
    #6