Even easier without a roof.
CK5
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Roll Cage Talk
- Thread starter swettysblazer
- Start date
Can't believe I'm the only one to mention cutting the hump out in the floor sense he is tall. Is it not that good of a idea?
Eric had mentioned that a while back. I am going to be building seat mounts, so I am going to get them as low as possible but still be comfortable.
That’s badd ass!
What seats did you end up going with?
Corbeau Ultra SS's. In the fat man version lol
Swetty, I had the S&W cage in my trazer. You and I are almost the same height. It was in front of the dash. It was a real pain to get in and out. I had the seat back as far as possible so that wasn't too bad. But the a-pillar was too close to the steering wheel, hit my hand a few times. Nothing could be done about it minus re making the a-pillar tube. So I would not get a kit from them. I would definitely recommend putting it through the dash. But honestly, an exo can be done so that it isn't ugly and you will have plenty of room inside. But it is nice to have something to attach 5-point harnesses to
I think I have set my sights on the DIY cage. It looks simple, I can add to it easily, and I feel pretty comfortable installing it.
After reading through this...I'm really glad I'm only 5'8" tall 
I went in front of the dash, and for me, it's really not that bad getting in and out, but once again, I'm shorter. I've had 6'+ tall people sit in my passenger seat, and it is pretty comical watching them get in and out of my truck, haha. So if I was taller, I would go through the dash for sure. If you're shorter like me, in front of the dash is easier and it's not that bad getting in and out.
I mentioned this to @skunked in the other cage thread going on, about bracing the halo above your head. IMO, when you're working with a cab over you, there is some structural integrity built into that already, so I didn't find it necessary to cross brace more over the head of the driver/passenger. I just have one straight brace from the B pillar to the front of the halo (see pic below). If I had a full vert or no roof, I would for sure do all the bracing on the halo, cause in that case you can "raise" the whole cage up that much higher to stay away from your head and the bracing would be very beneficial then.
And when I first built my cage, I also had the feeling as most others that exo's were ugly, but to be honest, I kinda wish I would have done an exo now. I have seen many done that look real good, and I feel it's a bit more functional as you could have a roll over and likely not crush the cab up as much. I think if (or rather when) I destroy my blazer enough, I will pull all the parts off and swap them over to another truck and do an exo the next go around. Food for thought I guess
I went in front of the dash, and for me, it's really not that bad getting in and out, but once again, I'm shorter. I've had 6'+ tall people sit in my passenger seat, and it is pretty comical watching them get in and out of my truck, haha. So if I was taller, I would go through the dash for sure. If you're shorter like me, in front of the dash is easier and it's not that bad getting in and out.
I mentioned this to @skunked in the other cage thread going on, about bracing the halo above your head. IMO, when you're working with a cab over you, there is some structural integrity built into that already, so I didn't find it necessary to cross brace more over the head of the driver/passenger. I just have one straight brace from the B pillar to the front of the halo (see pic below). If I had a full vert or no roof, I would for sure do all the bracing on the halo, cause in that case you can "raise" the whole cage up that much higher to stay away from your head and the bracing would be very beneficial then.
And when I first built my cage, I also had the feeling as most others that exo's were ugly, but to be honest, I kinda wish I would have done an exo now. I have seen many done that look real good, and I feel it's a bit more functional as you could have a roll over and likely not crush the cab up as much. I think if (or rather when) I destroy my blazer enough, I will pull all the parts off and swap them over to another truck and do an exo the next go around. Food for thought I guess
Being tall is a problem when building a cage. I'm only 6'2" but I have a really long torso and short stubby legs. I'm as tall in a seat as someone several inches taller than me usually.
Imo, there have only been a few exo's built around square body trucks that look good and aren't so big they could hamper trail access - bboy (old member, MIA) & @jt512 come to mind. It really depends on where you wheel but here in the Southeast where the trails run thru wooded areas most exo's would be like wheeling a bulldozer, out west where the land is wide open it probably wouldn't matter.
No matter where you wheel, when working with a full-size, it means you will rub on both sides . There's no getting around that. That's why to me, I feel like if you are going to rub, why not have it be on a tube of the exo instead of sheet metal? Just as @blazinzuk said, even an exo, to do it right, will have its challenges (keeping it as tight to the body as you can). But it's no different than interior cage issues discussed already (keeping head and leg room to a maximum or being able to weld all the seams).
I have only wheeled in the west, and I can tell you I still rub on everything (just look at the driver side of my truck, haha).
. There's no getting around that. That's why to me, I feel like if you are going to rub, why not have it be on a tube of the exo instead of sheet metal? Just as @blazinzuk said, even an exo, to do it right, will have its challenges (keeping it as tight to the body as you can). But it's no different than interior cage issues discussed already (keeping head and leg room to a maximum or being able to weld all the seams).I have only wheeled in the west, and I can tell you I still rub on everything (just look at the driver side of my truck, haha).
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Unless you suck at building cages your exo shouldn't be much wider than your tires.
Every exo I've done the A pillar bar is stupid hard. 4 or 5 bends on usually 3 or 4 different planes. But it keeps it tight. The rest is pretty cake except for the b pillar bracing.
I usually make the sliders the same width as the outer most tube. Or just barely narrower. Also a tube roller on the windshield frame sure makes an exotic look better.
I have seriously thought about using the roller on the a pillar too just haven't had the opportunity to try
Every exo I've done the A pillar bar is stupid hard. 4 or 5 bends on usually 3 or 4 different planes. But it keeps it tight. The rest is pretty cake except for the b pillar bracing.
I usually make the sliders the same width as the outer most tube. Or just barely narrower. Also a tube roller on the windshield frame sure makes an exotic look better.
I have seriously thought about using the roller on the a pillar too just haven't had the opportunity to try
Pics attached are just a few exo's I could think of that I have liked on square bodies (yes I know the second is not technically a square...sue me). I will say, I think it would be harder to do on a blazer platform while keeping it full width (though I think it could still be done and look good too). To me, getting a pickup truck platform and tube the bed out, and then just skin the bed to make it still look like a truck, is the way to go with exo cages on a square body 
...but to each their own
...but to each their own
My tires are inside the fenders. Hence the massive body damage now. Exo cages are OK on small trucks.
With my bad knees, there is no way I could wheel Steve's cage. Getting in the JK's are work on are bad enough. That's why mine went through the dash.
With my bad knees, there is no way I could wheel Steve's cage. Getting in the JK's are work on are bad enough. That's why mine went through the dash.
Totally agree...that's why I always say build it to fit your needs. Me being young and short, my cage works just fine. Like I said before, taller guys hate my cage and getting in and out. Even my dad being a bit older hates getting in and out of my blazer (Wade, you probably remember seeing that, haha)
Here's a question- what's the rule on mixing DOM and HREW? I want to add to the DIY4X cage which is going to be all DOM, but for things like a harness bar, X on the halo etc is it ok to use HREW or should I stick with DOM?
Nothing on a cage should be HREW. IMO. The seam can split. Saw it on a lemons car. Had been hit during a race. He had me build a DOM cage.
If you are building a cage for safety, (why else would you build one?) Do not cheap out on material.
If you are building a cage for safety, (why else would you build one?) Do not cheap out on material.
