TJ Cage
 

I want to get the ball rolling on this job so I can have lots of time to research and ponder.
I thought I would start this thread not only to get your ideas and input but also to try and sort out all the options available as far as putting a cage in the Jeep goes.
There are literally thousands of ways to do it. Some look sh*t hot but dont work , others look ever better and work but are serious overkill.
My criteria is this.
Has to be 6 point
Has to accomidate factory soft top fittings
Still be able to run hard top
Still use factory seat belts
Still be able to run back seat with passengers
protect occupants in a rollover
be approved for comps (ccda)
Engineered for street use also.
Not much to ask is it?

I have thought about a few problems I might have. Most stem from the rear seat inclusion.
I will need to run harnesses for comps. To do this you need to have a bar running across the back of the front seats to anchor the belts or give them something to loop over and onto the floor. If I have passengers this will not be a very good option as it places a solid object in front of them and in case of an accident it would not be pretty. So I hope to have this bar as an optional bolt in.
For similiar reasons the rear side window area cannot have any barwork cause of the head injury that would be suffered from a side impact collision. That rules out a "fast back” style rear section.
I hope to be able to run rear "lateral" bars along the tub just under the fold where the hard top sits (ontop of the wheel tub)I dont think this will conflict with any road regulations at all. I like the idea of having a bar across the floor at the base of the main hoop too.
I understand you cant drill into the cage so all seatbelt mounts will need to be mounted onto brackets welded onto the cage. I am hoping this is the case.
I would also like to run some "lateral" bars across the door ways. As long as they are not higher than the seat this shouldnt be a problem.
I also need to know if I have to have it padded or can I leave it naked?

Lots of ideas floating around here is some pics for inspiration.
All these pics are from these threads.
http://abendig.com/gallery/cagesandbuggies?page=5

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums...ht=favorite+tj

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...ight=roll+cage

Feel free to post up any other links you think might be usefull.
I copied all the “four seater” rig pics for my reference but there are so many its not funny.

I like this one. Axcept for the rear section. That rounded bit could go. A horizontal across the back of the back seatrs could replace it.
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gall...39-2/cage1.jpg

It has the “lateral” bars across the wheel tubs that I like too.
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gall...ge10inside.jpg

I do prefer these “lateral” bars though. Just don’t know if they would work with the soft top.
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gall...ter+cage+8.jpg

This one is not a bad allrounder.
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gall...er+cage+12.jpg

Rest of the pics.
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gall...eep/roll+cage/

Think I had a thread on this topic somewhere ...
But basically sounds like you are on the right path.
For the comps you will need a harness bar - which you'll have to remove for non-comp use.
Also depending on the class you might need 1 or 2 diagonal braces - and these are more difficult to have as removeable - for this reason we ended up building a seperate removable cage which cage us the harness bars and 2 diagonals.
In terms of design - don't get suckered into the really fancy stuff as it often odesn't provide any additional strength, but can add a LOT of weight up high and give loads of head clearance issues.
Every internal bar above shoulder height must be padded.
Also there is an acceptable distance that bar work must clear heads. This is measured from the seatout & around using a peice of measured string/rope - I just can't recall the required lengh.
Poison Spider style gussets look really cool - BUT you don't want them anywhere that you might smal yourself against and also if it's above shoulder height offically it should be covered in padding - sorta defeating the cool look then ;)

I have a design in my mind of how I want a few our our cages I am planning to look - but those projects are a while away....

hey wooders, do you have a pic of the tj's barwork in comp mode?

I reckon I have read every thread on ajor with the word CAGE in it.:wall:
There were some very useful advise . TJPete had a great one in '05. ZAc posted pics of Fire Truck there was NorthCoastWrangler aswell then Maddog. The reason I thought to start a new thread was cause I wanted all the stock bits to still work. Front screen, soft top, Hard top, seatbelts bla bla bla.....Collectively these trucks didnt have the design I need. Dorzun had one done too didnt he. I havnt had a close look at his. I will do A SEARCH..:shock:

Dorzun's isnt bad The bars going to the back could come up a bit to allow for rear seat and passangers. But why are the two bars ontop of the wheel tubs so far inside the car. Is there a reason why they couldnt be angled out to be really close to the rear quater? Dorzun if you could answer these q's I would really appreciate it mate.:wink: cheers
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gall.../DSCF1762.JPG?
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gall...2/DSCF1729.JPG
From your thread Dorzun.
Great looking but need to lose the side bars in the rear.
http://www.spydercustoms.com/tjparts...it/9422_lg.jpg

Mate there are some nice looking cages there but all seem to lack good lateral trianglulation perhas Wooders is on to something with a removable harness mounts & triangulation bar in the back I have a couple of ideas

Wooders!
Have you any pics of the removable section incorporating the crossbracing and harness bar? This seems to be my hurdle. Does this cage also have a cross brace fitted low behind the front seats at the floor?