A Little Cage Action

[Snowman1000]

Alright im looking to do a little somthing to my 75 blazer I was pokin around and did a little thinking I have a problem I need support for my roasted rocker boxes and I was thinking why not do a little somthing for safety at the same time.
I was thinkin why not put in a simple cage nothin too fancy go around the cab area in the front and follow the contour of the floor back to the main hoop behind the seats and then two bars going down on an angle to the back. Should give ample support while adding some protection from a rollover. Then perhaps some sliders and tie those in too.
Something like this http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225436&highlight=Roll+Cage

Good Idea or not?

 

[juanblzer]

Super Idea!

I would cut out your rockers and weld in some box tubing. Have this go roughly from body mount to bodymount (boxed area). Then tie those rockers into the frame with tubing. If you have access to a bender (I'm guessing you do) you can also add some tube to your rocker sliders.

For the cage, tuck it as close to the sheet metal as possible. It sucks to hit your head when you jump in the truck. I would opt to have it go throught the dash but some people just cut out the dash altogether. That is an option but then you have lots of wiring and ducting and stuff to deal with.

There are two schools of thought on the way to mount it to the body (the cage that is).
1. Use bolts through the floor and plates on both sides (duh).
2. Use bolts through the floor and plates on boht sides and tie the bottom plate into the frame with tubing. You can use bushings to isolate some vibration etc.

Something to note:
Blazer frames flex alot. If you are doing the "flexy spring" thing then you want to stiffen up that frame. Tying your cage to the frame is a good way to do this. You can add crossmembers bumpers and engine cage later and add even more ridgidity to the frame. THis way the suspension does the twisting job instead of your frame

I'm sure there is more to add but I'm busy.

 

[Snowman1000]

Thanks for the quick reply its still in the planing stage I want to keep it fairly simple (still drive it on the road from time to time). Theres no rocks so I dont need to get too crazy but I think that the added protection would be worth it. Its not a crazy tough trail monster but im trying to get there. If I do a cage I will tie it in to the frame. Unforunatly I dont have a bender, might buy a inexpensive bender and do it, but im going to try and find someone who has one first. What Tube is everybody using I KNOW NO PIPE ha ha. ironically im an apprentice plumber

 

[Snowman1000]

Alright Ive read enough roll cage threads to make my brain and eyes hurt and still I feel clueless. Like I said I dont have a tubing bender, I know everyone says that the Harbor Freight pipe bender is garbage but does it work? I know that you need to use DOM tube preferably and not pipe even though if designed correctly it will work (dont want to start another pipe DOM battle).

Basically im thinking about a hoop over the back seats forward to the windsheild down the pillars following the edge of the door. Connecting to the frame then heading rearward followingthe contour of the floor and then tieing into the main hoop. then Two peices heading rearward on an angle to nack then attaching to the frame.

Would this be safe looking for a little peice of mind as well as added support want to be able to still put the hardtop on.

When attaching to the frame would to put a peice of tube with a square plate between the frame and the floor and then weld that to the frame and sandwich the floor between the to square flanges. Thinking of doing this in 6 points under the main hoop in the front and in the back good idea or bad.

SCHOOL ME ON CAGES.

 

[5280k5]

The sandwich plate at the floor is a good idea as long as the underside goes to the frame. It's common to use a similar plate at the frame attachment too. Here's a couple pics of the cage in my '74. I had a fab shop do it mostly b/c I don't have a bender and are in no way qualified to weld something my life might depend on someday.

 

[Snowman1000]

Maybe a pre-bent Cage would be a little better in my case then. I looked around last night and didnt find jack. Anyone know a company that prebends cages that just require fitting and welding. Might even look for someone to do my cage, any cage people in the Mid-Michigan area?

 

[Snowman1000]

Im bringin it back from the dead, just got a quote from a local 4x4 fab shop (Cooters Offroad Inc) something like that. Anybody heard of them they said

" A 6 point cage like that one, installed, would be $770. If you want it painted +$250

That would be using 1.75"x.120 wall DOM. For 2"x.120 wall DOM +$100"

Seems a little $$ but could just be me thats some coin for peace of mind this cage is like the one pictured in the link in the first post by me.

Any idea were I could save a little $$. I know penny pinching in the safety department, not good but 770 is out of my range. I know that this is expensive hobby and the tube alone probably costs upward of 375$. What do yall think

 

[Snowman1000]

TTT for am I being a cheap bastage

 

[blazindorito]

I was just quoted yesterday $365 for 100 feet of 1 3/4 x .120 DOM and about $500 for the work. I am getting a 8 point cage.

Sounds about right for a 6 point cage.