more roll cage stuff

[courtney]

i have been studying all the pics on here at that route 66 site and i as just going to throw out a couple of things i am going to do to my roll cage in case others building/modding them might be interested

first i really like eogperfs stuff, cool looking machines, half tempted to cut my stock cage up and make it a lot like his
also like those tops, i haven't heard back from him yet about what that material is , if anyone knows i would like to hear about it and how heavy it is
i am going to have metal all the way around for bumping it into stuff
also going to do something similar to the front of his green one where the winch goes

a few things i havent seen

1- thinking about bringing up some metal off the front of the cage to protect the lights, not sure about that one yet, what do you guys think? don't want to make it hard to change them out, etc

2- i am definitely making the winch removable and a holder/plate to go front or back off the roll cage/bar
i have both my trucks setup with a winch that goes in a 2 inch channel front or back, you never know which way you will need to go or what will be easiest, this will be super easy with these little, light winches and the cable to extend them won't be $100 like it was for the big boys
figuring some kind of strong, removable pins for popping it in and out
hmm maybe a short piece of 1 inch channel like they use on small cars for the light trailer hitches? that is how my big ones are set up and then you weld the channel piece onto the winch plate
if i make it easy enough i could change it front to back and not even have to get out of the machine in the mud, just need to feed out the cable and pitch it to one of you guys standing on solid ground, lol
this idea is getting better and better

3- if i don't have a round bar or something similar like egoperfs green machine i will have some kind of hooks welded each corner front and back to have something to hook onto for people to yank me out if needed
not sure if any of these have something like that, hard to tell on most of these pics , too far away

4- debating on steps at least on 1 side, does anybody have those? i saw one somewhere with them, came right off the roll cage frame, just a few inches down, looked easy to do

5- maybe some of those flexible jeep handles to hang down, might be nice for getting in and out, probably bolt in and if i don't like them easy to take off


anyway those are my thoughts, if anyone has any suggestions i would love to hear them, i am dropping it off at the welders monday
cannot wait for it to be done, then to whippers for a full service so i can quit worrying about where the tranny fluid is and everything else
and no it is not "getting springed" while it is there, cannot afford it
i am really lookig forward to the next big ride so i can come see all these machines in person, i hope i don't end up liking the argo 8x8 so much i feel i have to get one those too!

[jerrynuss]

I really like your winch idea. That sounds good. I'd go with the inexpensive Harbor Freight with the wireless remote and the only wiring you would need would be the power and ground because the relay box in on the winch. Uou could set it up with a remote plug on the front and back. When not being driven the remote plug could double as a place to hook up a float charger and you would never have to mess with getting to the battery.

I saw one with a step off the frame around the body but I didn't like the design. It was a solid piece and I could see myself smashing it into a tree or rock and pressing it up against a tire. I was thinking of making it hinged so it would flip up and stow in the Max when not in use then flipped down when needed. Sort of like a boat ladder except it would go down against the lower tub and be out of the way.

I get a lot of older people interested in them but they have a hard time getting in and out of them. In fact I am picking up one next week from an older gentleman that is selling me his because he can't climb in it anymore if he is in muddy or marshy ground.

[courtney]

great idea on the remote winch, i was going to harbor frieght to get it anyway, will have to look into that

i am going to try and find that pic on the steps again, but i was thinking the same thing, or that they might pack mud there or soemthing
looking at my max pic right now i see what you mean about being able to flip it up and store it right there, should be a way to do that, looks like enough room, thanks for that idea

[artist1018]

The winch is on sale for $69.00 at Harbor Freight, a $100.00 savings!!

[Roger S]

I would keep weight in mind, and not overbuild anything. It adds up quickly and can make a top heavy machine.

[courtney]

i was worried about that, one of the reasons i might not do the light covers, added weight

everything else would be right at the center of the machine or below so i was thinking it would not matter much, am i wrong?

[Roger S]

Well, people have built all kinds of things, some really heavy and top heavy. Nothing wrong with any of it, just something to consider, which you have.

[GREASEMONKEY]

Why not just put a permanent handle in the corners of the cage. I have the removable jeep grab handles in my Jeep. They end up being a waste. The good ones with padding on the handle, the pad tears off easy. The ones without the pad, the strap is so skinny it hurts you'r hand to pull on it hard!
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about!

http://www.rockhard4x4parts.com/images/TJ97-02/085_85.jpg

[courtney]

thanks for the info on the jeep handles, i may do some permanent ones like that