Exo caged dent build
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
Exo caged dent build
Not sure if too much interest would be on this but thought I'd post up some pics anyways. Needed some cab protection for the tight trails and type of wheeling I get into. So here goes
I find myself getting into some tough situations sometimes as my rig is pretty capable of some hairy stuff and I thought it was time for a cage
I started with some angle iron that bolts to my slider tubes
there are two top through bolts as well . Bolts are 5/8 diameter
bought a saw to make life easier!
Slapped on some paint and added some top gusset plate with some speed holes
I find myself getting into some tough situations sometimes as my rig is pretty capable of some hairy stuff and I thought it was time for a cage
I started with some angle iron that bolts to my slider tubes
there are two top through bolts as well . Bolts are 5/8 diameter
bought a saw to make life easier!
Slapped on some paint and added some top gusset plate with some speed holes
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
I'm not done yet. Im going to cut the roof bars and make a bolted conection so I can remove it in 2 halves
I'm also goint to have the tube that dead ends go over front at the base of windsheild. I figure with that and the sanding clean up on the mega rushed welds at midnite I got another 4-6 hours work. I had to call it good as I was in a 4x4 event this past weekend barely getting there on time
I'm also goint to have the tube that dead ends go over front at the base of windsheild. I figure with that and the sanding clean up on the mega rushed welds at midnite I got another 4-6 hours work. I had to call it good as I was in a 4x4 event this past weekend barely getting there on time
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I've never really been a fan of exo cages, but I do like fabrication of all sorts so I'll subscribe.
1 question - why miter cuts instead of bends on the tubes over the cab, etc? Looks like you have a bender (seems like the vertical tube at the "dent"/body line was bent), so why not use that?
1 question - why miter cuts instead of bends on the tubes over the cab, etc? Looks like you have a bender (seems like the vertical tube at the "dent"/body line was bent), so why not use that?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: Thornton, WV
Man, I like it. But it kills me how nice the body appears to be on that truck for tearing it up in the rough stuff. We don't see them without gobs of bondo or flatbeds here in the rust belt...
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
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From: West Virginia
if i remember right he scrapped 2 other trucks to get that truck. He rolled another one, too. I just don't see the point in an exocage on a truck that you can get cabs for $100 on. Either its a pretty truck that shouldn't get beat up or its a truck that gets used and gets dents and etc. the exocage just adds weight which makes it more likely to end up on its lid in the first place... as well as making it even bigger, though that truck wouldn't fit down any tight trails anyway. And an off road roll will usually wreck **** even on an exocage truck. Just gotta decide what you want the truck for and stick with it.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
I've never really been a fan of exo cages, but I do like fabrication of all sorts so I'll subscribe.
1 question - why miter cuts instead of bends on the tubes over the cab, etc? Looks like you have a bender (seems like the vertical tube at the "dent"/body line was bent), so why not use that?
1 question - why miter cuts instead of bends on the tubes over the cab, etc? Looks like you have a bender (seems like the vertical tube at the "dent"/body line was bent), so why not use that?
As for cuts vs all bend I tried to build with the least amount of welded joints and the verticals were bent for the most part but the angle had to be "fine tuned" some so I cut 7/8 through entire tube and tweaked it as needed. You'll notice the welded sections are re inforced with the horizontal short tubes in a few locations over the welded joints to beef that area.
Why not all bent? Well I have a bender at my shop but have limited acess so I get by with what I got!
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
if i remember right he scrapped 2 other trucks to get that truck. He rolled another one, too. I just don't see the point in an exocage on a truck that you can get cabs for $100 on. Either its a pretty truck that shouldn't get beat up or its a truck that gets used and gets dents and etc. the exocage just adds weight which makes it more likely to end up on its lid in the first place... as well as making it even bigger, though that truck wouldn't fit down any tight trails anyway. And an off road roll will usually wreck **** even on an exocage truck. Just gotta decide what you want the truck for and stick with it.
Gas prices went record high and I saved them from the crusher.
# 1 reason why I put in so much effort for exo cage is to save cab and I got a nice spare in the yard BUT my cab has many extras!
Heavy gauge sheetmetal floors
Custom 3/16 cab corners as I would crush stock and aftermarket ones like nothing
Internal cage
New molded carpet
Custom stainless gauge surround
2005 Yukon seats
Welded in mounting plate on fire wall for hydroboost brakes
Mounting rings bolted to floor for 5 point harness
So as you see time is the biggest enemy to replace all this aftermarket junk!
If I crush cab to point where doors don't open and close I won't be happy. Spare cab would be used to cut out sections and weld back in if needed
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
Like I say theres still lots left. Plate gusset with holes are meant to brace the corner 90 deg elbows and the roof bar goes over the one section there too that is on elbow. That plate isnt even welded its beside truck now as wind knocked it off as it wasnt even tacked lol. Too much going on with this truck and my other it can be overwhelming. But its my own fault I make projects