What size tubing for roll cage?

[wage92]

Okay im pretty sure the most common tubing for a roll cage in a truck is like 1.75" diameter, but i know this has to vary, if built right is it okay to use 1.5"? Reason asking is i have the chance to get a good deal on a bender and it comes with a 1.5 die and i dont wanna pay 300 bucks to get a 1.75 at this time.

I will be building a fairly basic cage mostly in the driver/passenger area of my k5, with suspension seats and harnesses mounted to it. The k5 will hardly ever see offroad time and i know i will never be in a situation where i will actually need a cage, but i wanna build it right and tie it to the frame and build it like it will see offroading time, so that in the future if i change my mind it will be able to handle it. So with all that said, what do you guys think?

 

[jt512]

There are some decent sites that give you some guidelines for weight/ tube size but unfortunately their location escapes me at the moment

That being said, personally the tube size needs to "fit" the size of the rig as well, from a looks and strength standpoint. IMHO 1.75 or 2" "looks" right on big trucks such as ours. My trail bed is all 1.75 and looks good, 2" may have looked even better but like you price was a concern as well. There was a decent difference in money between 1.75 and 2" for materials, the dies were pretty close or the same IIRC.

My opinion, 1.5" will look too small I would go bigger.

 

[wage92]

yea thats what i was afraid of.

 

[jt512]

Look at Roykens k5 thread, he used 2" on the main cage in his, and check my K30 as it's all 1.75" (both round and square), even though it's only a 1/4" difference you can definitely tell.

When I get to cage time in my K5, I think I'm going to do 2" with some of the kickers/ supports in 1.75".

The bigger sizes are also nice if you are going to do any bumpers, my ORD front is 2" and I don't think smaller tube would look right for a bumper.

 

[jt512]

Here is one of the sites I was thinking of, some good info there.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/rollcage.htm

 

[wage92]

well thats good my k5 weighs less than 2k so i can use 1.5" hahah kidding.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I'm at 6555lbs. 2"-.120 wall DOM for the A, B and C hoops. The others including bracing is 1.5"-.120 wall DOM. Nobody has said it looks funny. Looks is the last thing I would be worried about for tubing size. That said, 1.75" for main hoops should be minimum. And the first time you rolled it, you will be glad you spent the $300 on the bigger die.