[reeceh]

hey guys im chasing some rough ideas on how to go about doing my semi exo cage. Ive drawn up a rough idea of what i want in paint and have included an image. Now when i say semi exo cage i mean that its mainly there to support my arb roof rack that i have as the standard gutter rack mounts are bending the gutters. I also want it there to also help protect in a lay over. I never plan on rolling the zook as i dont plan on taking it on serious hill climbs with rutts etc etc where a swb is prone to rollover, hence why i just want it if its a slow layover.

Now im thinking if i just get some pvc pipe say 50mm and actually make my sketch into a plastic cage then take the plastic cage to a steel shop they could just duplicate it in steel. Then i wll fit it to the car myself. Now im already designing some steel tube sliders as i want the cage to bolt down to either end of the slider or slip over a vertical tube sleeve thats welded on the slider then a bolt through that. Then have the horizontal bar bolt to the arb bullbar into a sleeve Then the very rear vertical bar bolt down to the rear bar. So all that i want is too just be able to lift the entire cage on and off when i want.

So my questions are should i take it to a steel fabricator and pay someone with some skill to do this for me (what should i roughly be expecting to pay) or should i buy a welder and learn how to weld steel. My mate has a pipe bender and a oxy so i could use that for my bending etc.

[Gwagensteve]

I know this sounds like I'm being a shithead, but it would be far easier to carry less junk with you and a much lighter/smaller roof rack than to add a heap of steel, make you car even more heavy (and top heavy) to carry heavy stuff on the roof.

I have a "semi exo" which is welded into my cab. For me, adding bars all the way to the sills was an unacceptable solution - they would be anchors for our driving.

Adding all that weight up there means you are more likely to need the exo when you get the car on a funny angle.


Additionally, you're going to find that the exo has to sit a fair way off the body which will add lots of bulk to the car.

Just my 2c.

If you REALLY need the roof weight, I'd run an internal 4 point cage and bolt it though the roof to the roof basket - less tube, less weight, less bulk.

Out of interest, are your A pillars cracked where the pillar transitions into the cowl? I've seen this lot on sierras that carry roof load.

If you really want to go through with it, maybe have a go at building it yourself - it would cost a heap to get it made for you. If you do go ahead with it, use 1", 1.5 & 1.75" DOM tube, not steam pipe - it's much lighter than steam pipe so you'll add the least weight. The quality of the outcome will be entirely dependent on the design. It's harder than it looks to design something that's actually buildable and follows the lines of the car.

If you want to pay someone, find a roll cage fabricator and talk to them about what you want it to do, rather than telling them how you want it built. Let them work out how to build it. I would expect a bill for over $2K though.

Steve.

[mondo]

i agree with steve, i was also considering an exo cage just to have a roof rack, but i've now decided to build a small internal frame that bolts through my fibreglass canopy. much less work, save $$$, lighter, looks better. in saying that, i don't ever plan on carrying much weight up top.

[reeceh]

The arb rack will be getting cut down to suzi size! In that photo it is still patrol/ cruise size. It will be getting cut down so it sits about 100mm in from the perimeter edges of the roof. I'll be doing custom rear draws aswell which will take most of my camping crap/ tools. However I still want the roof rack for light gear. I took it to moreton with the way it was in that picture and I could handle the vehicle quite well!. I can totally see where ur coming from though steve and cheers for your input. I also quite like the look of a caged Sierra with a well setup rack. Lol

[appsie]

i cant be bothered linking pics and puttin new ones on photobucket but if you have a look here http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... &start=180

theres a few over the pages.its just a nb cage made with a cheap bow and arrow bender with a mates help.cost aboout $150 and 3 days or so. then theres sliders,rear bar,front ugly bar etc BUT it works,ive layed it over a heap of times and never put anymore dents in it than i bought it with.the body would be buggered otherwise. I dont like the look of them but they serve a purpose. it is very close to the body to help it look a bit better and not stand out on road. it touches the roof gutters at back uprights on very rough roads or in a flop so i have a bit of hose split and slid over the gutter.

my plan is to one day get a bit of mesh and make a little basket to clip ontop for the camp chairs n table.

Hope it helps a little mate