Square tube roll cage

[powers4680]

Has anyone attempted to make a square tube roll cage? I thought it would look cool and match the lines of the early bronco.

 

[mpboxer]

I like this idea too. I was thinking more like a heavy duty BC Top frame (square tubing) that could act as protection.

 

[Rustytruck]

http://mnhpva.org/tech/frame_tubes.html

This may help with some understanding. One of the big issues of using square tubing is bending it. Making a bend without distorting the square tube is essential to preserve its strength. Crushing or distorting the tube in the bend severely weakens it. Much easier to make a nice round tube bend.

 

[DirtDonk]

Yep, Wayne Hanson (of the old Hanson bumpers) made a slick rectangular tube one many years ago. It came out really nice, but he said it was a good reason to decide he'd never do it again!
It was just way too hard (read expensive) to do it with anything but round tubing.

I have pics of it on an old computer somewhere, but it ended up somewhere in the Valley on a nice red or orange EB. Visalia maybe?
Anyone on here have it?

Paul

 

[Apogee]

I've seen a few that didn't look too nice...makes me think of the ROPS (Roll Over Protection Systems) on heavy equipment.

 

[sprdv1]

Has anyone attempted to make a square tube roll cage? I thought it would look cool and match the lines of the early bronco.

Stay away if you will be wheeling.. Safer the better (round)

 

[Yeller]

I've done it but we did not bend any of the tubing, it was all mitered. IMO it looked like an equipment ROPS. It proved to be very robust but man it was ugly.

I miter a lot of tubing of all shapes. A proper mitered joint is stronger than the metal its made from. But to look right it has to be the right application.

 

[FordBronc]

Here is an idea of what square tubing looks like on top of a Dodge running gear. https://redirect.viglink.com/?forma...fortsmith.craigslist.org/cto...387015955.html

And here is how tube looks on top of a 73 chassis with a 85 Mustang 302...

 

[Jedhead]

That dodge is a sick ride! Sorry, my first 4x4 was a Trailduster. W/ a 440, full time 4x4, such a great ride! Hotel room on wheels in the back!

 

[DirtDonk]

Loved the Trailduster/Ramchargers. Lots of them around here back then, and still a few floating around. Saw a sweet looking one just last week driving around town.
What was the Dodge version's name again?

Paul

 

[sprdv1]

Pretty slick.. Won't see that set up a whole lot

Here is an idea of what square tubing looks like on top of a Dodge running gear. https://redirect.viglink.com/?forma...fortsmith.craigslist.org/cto...387015955.html

And here is how tube looks on top of a 73 chassis with a 85 Mustang 302...

 

[jonpblewis@yaho]

Yeah, I built one this year as part of my frame off build. I had the same thought that rectangular and square tube could be used and would fit in well with the the bronco style lines. It was a lot of work to do the bends. I made cuts to bend then added 1/4" plate to the inside walls of the bends then cut pie slice wedges to fill the cuts back in and ground it all back smooth. At the main bar connections I used triangle gussets on both sides of the arms then wrapped it all in 14ga. The wide rec tubes allowed me to french in the 3 point belts and have the webbing pass through some 1" x 2" to the outside and mount the belt rollers out of the way between the cage and the tub.this also reinforced the verticals of the main bar. The whole thing bolts onto the rest of the cage that has been grafted into the body as part of the door pillars, 1/4's, and floor supports. I think it really turned out nice and fits in with the boxie curves of the bronco. I don't have it back in yet to show a pic with it all cleaned up but I will soon. I really need to do a build thread.

 

[FordBronc]

Wow, lots of hard work right there.

 

[powers4680]

That looks great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk