Help building removable (breakaway?) cage?

[guido666]

Cool!

I'll just try to explain first. What I want to do is make a normal exo cage, but imagine one for a pickup (no cage over the bed, just the main hoops and down to tubes that trace the bed edges). Then from there I want to put joints on the main hoop and at the back corners and possibly along bed rail tubes where roof cage would hook in. It would basically be as if the top had it's own cage, so it would come off like the top does (but be seperate).

Also when it comes to making cages I've been thinking about using twin smaller tubes (possibly thicker wall) instead of single larger tubes. The idea would be to keep the size down to address the problems mentioned before. I saw a Land Rover with a setup like this and it seemed very tough. He said it had taken a good beating, although I unfortunately didn't get to see it in action. By smaller I think about 1.5" instead of single 2" or something.

 

[jekbrown]

Well, for the cab part anyway, I think the easiest thing to do would be to install some 4"x2"-ish rectangular tube for rocker panels and then use that foundation to attach the A and B pillar loops. Not sure how you plan on laterally bracing said loops though. Same could be done for the front/rear portions of your exo, but using the bumpers as a foundation/attachment point. I'd like to see some CAD action on those lateral support members tho... don't see how they are going to work without punching lots of holes in the body...

I like the idea of using smaller tube... only downside is it will double the amount of tube you have to buy and that junk aint cheap in 1.5 or 2.

j

 

[guido666]

How much can I expect a good exo cage (including rock sliders) to weigh? Maybe Leper can offer some idea?

 

[Chaddy]

I personally would rather an internal cage fot the simple fact that my blazer is wide enough and you would need a lot more DOM and you couldnt put cross bars and gussets where they need to be for ultimate strength.