[Lucky13]

ok so im taking Chassie fab next semester at Wyotech, and i want to build a cage for my XJ. my question is how many points should i make for the cage? it will be used for moderate wheeling for a while then may get more serious so i want to build a cage good enough for some serious wheeling.

thanx
Lucky

[xjj33p3r]

Here are 3 companies that will be good to model off of
http://www.rockhard4x4parts.com/cherokeexj.htm
http://www.dandcextreme.com/product_template.asp?pkID=126
http://www.asshogger.com/html/roll_cages.html

The last one is much more extreme, but the best one out of the bunch

[XJeepNick]

dude go for an exo cage....so much more useful, and by usefull i mean awsome. an exo cage gives u the option to chop ur top and make her a sweet open top too...just make sure u have good tie in points for the cage or its worthless in the event of a flip.

[silverxj2001]

id say go for an internal cage

build it 6 or 8 points

use 1.75" DOM, not mild steel

and xjj33p3r, you forgot the T&J cages:

http://tandjperformance.com/products-bpp-xj-cage.htm

[IntrepidXJ]

Originally Posted by XJeepNick

dude go for an exo cage....so much more useful, and by usefull i mean awsome. an exo cage gives u the option to chop ur top and make her a sweet open top too....

...and what exactly will stop you from chopping the top if you have an internal cage?

[xjj33p3r]

Originally Posted by XJeepNick

dude go for an exo cage....so much more useful, and by usefull i mean awsome. an exo cage gives u the option to chop ur top and make her a sweet open top too...just make sure u have good tie in points for the cage or its worthless in the event of a flip.

Ok, please don't listen to this guy. Yes an exo cage is useful, but it would only work better with an internal cage. The function of a cage is to save your life, not make you look cool. Buying an internal cage, then an external cage is the best option if you want to go all out, but most guys don't need all that. If you get an internal cage that you can then tie into your frame through the floor, then you've got one nice setup

[XJeepNick]

Originally Posted by xjj33p3r

Ok, please don't listen to this guy. Yes an exo cage is useful, but it would only work better with an internal cage. The function of a cage is to save your life, not make you look cool. Buying an internal cage, then an external cage is the best option if you want to go all out, but most guys don't need all that. If you get an internal cage that you can then tie into your frame through the floor, then you've got one nice setup

hey man he can listen to whoever he wants to.

if you get rock rails and a well built exo cage that ties into them it will be more directly connected to the unibody and will further stiffen the chassis. a well built exo and internal cage can serve their own purposes well. tying a frame into the floor doesnt make is as safe as tying it directly into the unibody through integrated rails and a properly angled exocage will be just as safe if not safer than a floor bolt on kit

[JoeHo]

I don't think xjj33p3r meant a floor bolt on kit, he meant an internal cage that goes through the floor and is welded directly to the unibody. Personally I don't have any idea which is better or why, but an internal cage seems like it would be safer in a roll over because of the angles at which an exo-cage would have to connect... but like I said, I don't really know.

[silverxj2001]

plus... exocages are hillbilly

id rather have a CLEAN looking DD/weekend warrior with a simple yet effective internal cage then some lame looking exocage

no matter what you do... be sure to reinforce your frame then tie it in to the most secure place

[verrive]

If I was to go after any, I would try and "copy" D&C's cage or Tennessee Off Roads. I'm not a big fan of bolt on kits but thats just me. Asshoggers doesn't look to be the greatest, from my pov it looks alright but it takes up wayyyyyy to much interior space and if you still DD it, thats out. As for Rock Hards, I'm no engineer but the a-pillars of the cage look kinda iffy. T&J's Rock Crawler cage looks pretty dang good. The only bad thing would be the front bars look like a little bit of a trick if you get in and out alot.

As for exos, if they're properly done they can withstand a roll without an internal cage. C-Rok's cage faired really well imo for the roll that he took in Moab. Dan Starc(sp?)'s exo did great in his roll that I think was also in Moab and from what I've seen he just has two internal braces going from the ceiling to the floor, nothing bad at all

[BACKROAD]

The biggest trouble with an exocage is trying to get people to go four wheel'n with you and be seen.........LOL

[xjj33p3r]

Originally Posted by XJeepNick

hey man he can listen to whoever he wants to.

if you get rock rails and a well built exo cage that ties into them it will be more directly connected to the unibody and will further stiffen the chassis. a well built exo and internal cage can serve their own purposes well. tying a frame into the floor doesnt make is as safe as tying it directly into the unibody through integrated rails and a properly angled exocage will be just as safe if not safer than a floor bolt on kit

As stated by someone else, I was talking about running the tubing through the floor and to the frame rails, maybe by even attaching them to some rock rails. I've studied this a bunch, and I know what would work the best.

And hey man, you can listen to whoever you want to, so let me have my opinion about you and wanting to look cool over saving your own life.

[verrive]

An exo will save your life if you don't have some dumb *** build it for you. Exos have been around for a long time, just newish to the XJ world. I doubt if they're just to look cool, people that thrash their yotas wouldn't have them

[Jason, aka: Jeepin.com]

Originally Posted by verrive

An exo will save your life if you don't have some dumb *** build it for you. Exos have been around for a long time, just newish to the XJ world. I doubt if they're just to look cool, people that thrash their yotas wouldn't have them

Exactly. Exo's are quite common among the Toy pickup crowd.

Anyway, regarding designing/building an internal cage, I'd go with an 8-pt design for a 4-dr since the XJ's body has A, B, C, and D-pillars on a 4-dr. For a 2-dr, go with 6-pt since you've only got A, B, and C pillars. Basically just follow the natural design of the XJ's body.

[Lucky13]

thanx for all the replies guys, i'm gonna go with a nice 10 point setup that i designed. i'll take pics as the cage is installed.