Here is my cage design

[justin'sbig7]

well, i finally calibrated my dies and took measurements of my jeep. heres what i designed in bendtech

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/jeepcage1.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/jeepcage2.jpg

grey is 1.75" red is 1.5"

[limegreentj]

go for it man! if you dont like it it'll make an excellent jungle gym for the kids at the park..haha

[jeepxj3]

go for it man! if you dont like it it'll make an excellent jungle gym for the kids at the park..haha

agreed, I wouldnt put all those tubes in there just yet, remember you can always build upon it, it just seems a bit excessive.

[john00TJ]

looks good ,quite similar to one i designed but i have no clue how you posted them up

[limegreentj]

after reading my reply, it came off kind of asshole-y for that i apologize, i dig the design, but i i'd just go with the grey tubes. and the ones in the floor to start with

[justin'sbig7]

i may run it in the rc rocks race series, thats why its so complex. i didnt take it as an assholey comment lol! i may hold off on all the bars at first and add them in later. the straight stuff i will cut to fit as opposed to using the bt file, theyre just there to visualize. definitely need the seat bars and i need the belt bar behind the seat for my 5 point harnesses. i guess i could lose the x bracing, but it does add side to side structure. the rear could be knocked back a hair and done like a cj style bar, but my kids will be riding on trails with me, so i need them covered well too.

theres 114 feet of tube total in this.

i will probably add in rear seat mounts as well so we are all tied to the cage.

[mudforblood]

Looks good. I like the extra tubes. Once you think about kids riding in there ya tend to add a little extra.

Here's my opinion(we all know what those are like:042: ) Maybe lower the harness bar and lose the x bracing for now, the three cross bars on the b pillar should make it pretty stout. Just looks a lil too pissed off, maybe by an inch or two.

If you like it that way then go for it. It does look safe and that's the main idea.

[ridgerunner97]

Looks good, I love the triangulation, that is your friend for strength in that design :) That 7 is gonna be one crazy lookin machine.

[justin'sbig7]

i have the harness bar at 4" above my shoulder line for the 5 points. i am thinking about losing the upper x bracing in the b hoop.

[dan58]

I think it's just a bit too much tube. Strong, but not overkill is the key. All that weight is at the highest point of your rig. ;) I'd look at the KOH rulebook for specs, not the RC specs. RC's is a bit more lax, but I would suspect you'll see the full KOH cage specs in 2011.
Check out the site for mounting height on your shoulder harness, as I think that's too high. Also remember that you need a REAR firewall if you have a fuel cell. I'm not sure what specs there will be if you have a stock location tank. You'll also need window nets, which you can account for when designing.

Here's a site about harness installs:
http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/crow-restraint-instalinstruct.html

[justin'sbig7]

thanks dan! very interesting on the belts, will take that info and adjust it when i install.... any particular tube(s) you would suggest removing? i actually thinned it out from what i originally had. i do understand about the weight factor.

i am gonna build a buggy eventually for rock racing, but id like to get into some type of off road racing soon, so i figured id set my cj up for a dual purpose rig so i can participate at least lol!

[dan58]

Here are the RC rules for this year: http://www.rc4x4.org/rcforum/index.php/topic,8132.0.html It has a better description of how to properly mount the harnesses.

They aren't especially rough, but the KOH ones are a PITA. The fuel cell thing is a beotch. The ones that I'd pull are the two B-> C bars. You'll also need to add an additional bar on the A-B lower pillar for suspension seats. You pretty much have to run suspension seats for the races (stock-style aren't allowed).

My rig is getting a total overhaul for the series. I'm going from SOA and a 24" belly skid to links, coilovers, and a 20" belly height (shooting to be that low). I'm hooked on it after last year. It's an absolute BLAST!

[justin'sbig7]

cool. i have PRP's in it now, actually the seat structure in the design is pretty much whats in it now. i am gonna add the door bars with tube clamps so i can remove them.

heres what i got now, i put it together when i was around 19 or so? PRP's are already in it and fit well, so i didnt change the floor structure much.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/004-Copy7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/2007_0302Image0062.jpg
i am also thinkin about goin straight to a buggy too... low COG and well skidplated. i want to do a pair of steering 14 bolts, links and coilovers, 350 efi. i just cant come up with a plan for a chassis. i like the 321 buggy, but i would change a few things. i know as soon as i start racing i am gonna be addicted :082:

[guy]

I'd go straight to a buggy or cut the cj up in to one. the racin bug bites hard and is expnsive.I haven't even raced one yet and its all i think about:icon_eyes:. i guess the woods racin bug never go's away (woods raced quads). like dan said koh rules are more detailed then rc's rules. you know when u run the rc series you'll want to do the rcq. i,m biuldin mine to koh specs. the safty thats coming out of that series is worth it even on a hardcore trail rig imo. I'm keep mine simple and strong. cool to hear more people in this area are lookin to do this style of racin. we'll have to get together and do some go fast wheelin before the rc series.

[justin'sbig7]

out with the old!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/016-1.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/017-1.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/022.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/020.jpg

stay tuned!

[limegreentj]

**** it man...just drive it like that...

[justin'sbig7]

**** it man...just drive it like that...

yup, i did. v8+ no seats = :021:. J/K

[jeepxj3]

yup, i did. v8+ no seats = DEATH

fixed it for ya! :flipoff2:

[Sycotik Skier]

how much for the old cage? I mean that should drop right into mine right?

[justin'sbig7]

sorry brent, the old one is tweaked and i have the family bar sold.

heres the mains. this program is awesome http://www.hrja.org/forums/images/smilies/applaudit.gif

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/001-6.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/002-5.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/003-6.jpg

[tjblair]

looking goooooood!

[limegreentj]

horny man!!! awesome shit!

[Sycotik Skier]

alright. get all the bugs worked out bending a cage for your jeep then in a couple months (before spring) we can bend one up for mine.

[ridgerunner97]

Those mains turned out sick Justin :) its gonna be awesome when she's done

[Jeepin'Jones]

Looking cool.

[justin'sbig7]

I friggin HATE fiberglass bodies there is absolutely no consistency with them whatsoever (at least with mine, its an early AJ's). there is a .875" difference in the front floor that i wrestled with half the night.... cage is square now, but the jeep body is not :075: . theres a few things that i cant quite get right off of the body dimensions, but it is probably so minute that i'll be the only one who notices.... anyway, heres pics from tonight. i am tired :icon_toilet:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/001-2.jpg


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/003-2.jpg



http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/005-2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/007-2.jpg

[Leady]

Where did your bender come from?

[justin'sbig7]

jd squared. its a model 3, i just went straight to the mfgr. to get it.

[justin'sbig7]

heres the progress from thursday and friday night

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/003-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/004-6.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/005-6.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/006-6.jpg

[limegreentj]

its lookin damn good....



but it is probably so minute that i'll be the only one who notices


this sounds like me...i ****in hate that man....i'll always know shit like that, and it'll bug me forever...i cant get pass that

[justin'sbig7]

latest from this weekend, i have to wait till i get the tabs and floorplates before i can do much more.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/001-8.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/002-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/004-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/007-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/006-7.jpg

[village_idiot]

im lovin it man, if i get the cj8 top im lookin at ill have to ring you up to have a cage built.

[justin'sbig7]

well, got held up with the tj axle last week and the snow, but i got a good bit done tonight. all the seat mounts are in, and the seatbelt mounts are complete as well. i used double shear brackets for the belts.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/001-9.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/002-8.jpg


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/004-8.jpg

[Deadman 94 xj]

Looks damn good Justin. I like the design a lot.

[Barillms]

I would use the old cage as the perfect start for a tube buggy chassis !!
You're 1/4 way there! Add a front & a back and some link mounts and
you've got a buggy chassis!

[justin'sbig7]

it was tweaked a good bit, and the good parts i sold. i am gonna do a tube buggy in the next few years, but it is gonna be a totally different route.... v8 powered 2 seater similar to a 321 buggy, but fully tube and as lightweight as i can make it.

[CESCO]

it was tweaked a good bit, and the good parts i sold. i am gonna do a tube buggy in the next few years, but it is gonna be a totally different route.... v8 powered 2 seater similar to a 321 buggy, but fully tube and as lightweight as i can make it.

save yourself the aggravation and buy one already together.. there are a lot good deals out there on buggies. I was looking at them everyday last week. I almost was going to try to figure out how to bring one home....

[dan58]

it was tweaked a good bit, and the good parts i sold. i am gonna do a tube buggy in the next few years, but it is gonna be a totally different route.... v8 powered 2 seater similar to a 321 buggy, but fully tube and as lightweight as i can make it.

I wouldn't worry about weight. I'd worry about HD parts and horsepower.

The problem with buying a used buggy is that there is a reason why it's being sold. Most of them are BEAT, and the ones that aren't are a helluva lot of money.

[CESCO]

I wouldn't worry about weight. I'd worry about HD parts and horsepower.

The problem with buying a used buggy is that there is a reason why it's being sold. Most of them are BEAT, and the ones that aren't are a helluva lot of money.

did you go to KOH? I was hoping to see you there.

[dan58]

did you go to KOH? I was hoping to see you there.

Yup. I wore a MD Creepers sweatshirt the whole time. I was in Lou's tent after the race too. I slept in Melchner's trailer the whole time too.

[CESCO]

so you had some of Lou's wings??? I know we had deep fried something almost every night. one of the guys had it planned out what we were going to eat each night, but Lou and I decided we should have wings for more than just one night.... bet that was cold sleeping in the trailer, we had the furnace on in the RV every night.

[justin'sbig7]

well, i think i am about finished for now. i need to get the kids' seating figured out before i do the rear halo and supports. i am not sure if i am gonna get a prp bench seat, or a preemie/preteen individuals.

i also eliminated the rear window bar as i am worried that, if need be it would inhibit getting in to the kids, thus why the "X" is gone behind the seats.... however, i am still trying to figure out how to give it front to back support, if it needs it.

heres the pics from tonight, i'll be pulling it out soon to finish welds and paint it.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/007-8.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/008-5.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/009-4.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/010-4.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/011-2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/012-2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/013-1.jpg

[limegreentj]

it would be nice to put 2 racing style bucket seats in the back with harness'

im not sure how old your kids are, but that would be a perfect set up...something to cradle them in and strap them in tight

[steveg0690]

Bad A** cage. Looking real good. Nice work Justin.

[justin'sbig7]

it would be nice to put 2 racing style bucket seats in the back with harness'

im not sure how old your kids are, but that would be a perfect set up...something to cradle them in and strap them in tight

yeah, thinkin a pair of these
http://www.prpseats.com/kids-seats.html

or one of these

http://www.prpseats.com/images/bench-seats.jpg

[limegreentj]

i'd do the preemy seats...then after they out grow them, pull em out and put a full size set in there...bench seats are nice, but i think it wouldnt offer as much support when you are bouncing around in the woods

[justin'sbig7]

room is the biggest factor.... i dont really want to get into chopping the wheel wells out yet

[limegreentj]

you could mount those preemy seats close together like a bench, but they would support the kids on both sides

[dan58]

Go for PRP. They make some fantastic seats.

[Deadman 94 xj]

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=863888

[justin'sbig7]

The thing that's nice about prp is I can get the rear seat made to match my existing front ones... I saw the add on pirate, not a bad deal.

[CESCO]

I just put a 36" twisted stitch bench seat in the back of mine. I had 2 adults riding in it with me and they side it was confy.. it's hard to fit 2 individual seats in the back without doing some cutting. I only have about 8" between my front seats.. If you don't mind if the front and back are matching brands, I can get you a price on twisted stitch.

[dan58]

The thing that's nice about prp is I can get the rear seat made to match my existing front ones... I saw the add on pirate, not a bad deal.

Give Mike Bosley a ring at Appalachian Offroad. He's a big vendor for them and can probably beat anyone's price on PRP.

[justin'sbig7]

added some door bars to the cage to meet RCROCS race series guidelines, will be adding in a few other pieces too

http://forums.hrja.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5023&d=1289862374

http://forums.hrja.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5024&d=1289862391

[justin'sbig7]

added in some more, gonna have to get some tube, i used the last of my cut pieces lol!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/003-17.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/002-16.jpg

[2002wranglerX]

lookin good man

[Deadman 94 xj]

Hell yeah, amazing.

[highlandercj-7]

Justin, Did you try and see of the hardtop would clear the cage? YJ soft top?

[justin'sbig7]

my supertop fits, never tried a hardtop... but i am pretty sure it will fit.

[SirFuego]

added some door bars to the cage to meet RCROCS race series guidelines, will be adding in a few other pieces too

I'll be the first to say it, needs more triangulation! Seriously, though, I assume the pieces you need to add will complete the "X" in the B pillar?

[dan58]

Window nets are a pain in the ass! Been there, done that. Keep in mind that the whole door area has to be covered in some fashion. ;)

[justin'sbig7]

Window nets are a pain in the ass! Been there, done that. Keep in mind that the whole door area has to be covered in some fashion. ;)

i am planning on making a straight bar with tube clamps to run horizontally from the shoulder bar to the top of the dash area, that way i can remove it easilly when in trailride mode

[justin'sbig7]

lol! gotta love the triangles... i am not sure how many more i can fit lol! yes, the "X" will be finished i just need to get another tube order together to make it worthwhile buying

[justin'sbig7]

here is the masking tape layout while i was planning
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/justinsbig7/fabrication/DSCF2058-1.jpg

[dan58]

i am planning on making a straight bar with tube clamps to run horizontally from the shoulder bar to the top of the dash area, that way i can remove it easilly when in trailride mode

Good idea. But you won't take it out. I had good intentions, and it's been there since we put the nets in. :lol: We ended up having to put padding on the inside because of the hellish bruises on our arms.

http://l13.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-snc4/hs946.snc4/73959_1561000782811_1169057046_31315021_4922067_n. jpg

[justin'sbig7]

We ended up having to put padding on the inside because of the hellish bruises on our arms.



i can see that, i was thinking about how many times i was gonna whack my elbo on the dang thing lol!

[CESCO]

[INDENT]added some door bars to the cage to meet RCROCS race series guidelines,

I guess this means that you are planning on running a few of the races this year? the first one is April 16th

[justin'sbig7]

yeah, not gonna make that one... maybe the later ones, but i have A LOT to do till i am ready for races