jimep

Started my exocage finaly. Have the rock sliders bent and tacked on. Will get gusseted in better with the drops from the longer runs after I get the majority of it bent up. Here's some pics of what I have done so far. Hopefully I can get the main frame on this weekend and then cross brace and gusset everything when time available.
-the first bend on the rock sliders

blue_CA_yota

Nice tube bender.. thinking about looking for one of those for myself, help shave a few pounds off my midsection..

can't wait to see some pics of the cage coming together..

jimep

Rock sliders on but it's a little late for the drivers side. Ran them inside of cab mount to make a good conection point for the front horizontal bars for exo cage and to still have some tire clearance.

passenger side.

The rest of what's done so far- main frame is bent up but some pieces need cut and notched. The only thing keeping me from doing it is the weather and time. It's been raining here every day I have off and I was stuck bending in the dark (and rain off and on) again today,

blue arrows- main hoop behind cab-along with blue circled pieces and the bar to run across right above the bed and tie the pieces together (will get gusseted better later)
yellow arrow- halo around top of cab
red arrows- from rock sliders up to front of halo, runs along front of door and windshield frame with a few intricate bends and angles.
Green circle- No waste. Use the short drops to make adjustable "rod ends" longer drops for gussetts.

AZkid

sub'd

jimep

thanks- it's a friends but he lets me use it anytime cause I bought him a die for it, almost $300.. and lol about loosing some weight. Had another friend helping me out to hold the loose end of the tubing- let him try one bend then kicked him off after he got 1/2 way cause it was too painful to watch. This bender is upgradeable to hydraulic though and that would be sweet!!!!!!!!!

jimep

Was not able to get as much done as I would have liked over the weekend but did accomplish something at least.

tooslim1108

nice job so far will look good when youre done.

tooslim1108

....

1eye

Keep the pictures and updates coming. Want to see how it turns out. Looking good so far.

yoterr

looks saweeeeeet already

murdarunna19

lookin good cant wait to see it finished! good work man

-matt

shaeff

Very cool! What size tubing? DOM? And where'd you get it from? Last question for now- what welder are you using?

RMA

Man you just had to go and post a picture of the bender .. Damn!!

cody_brush

its gonna look sweet i love the way they look.... but that was kind of a tease to post just a bender.... hahaha

toyospearo

Looks great!
Can't wait to see it done!!

jimep

using 1 3/4" .125 DOM for everything done so far ant the brace across tne hood to come. will be running low on that after so will probably switch to 1 5/8" .083 4130 chromoly for the X- braces and gussets. funny thing is I picked up 12 sticks of the chromoly for alot less than the price of the 3 sticks of DOM at scrap price all because of a little surface rust that wipes off with some oil.... Bought it localy at at Aeroplane Works in Dillsburg, Pa. I think they ship Internationally even.... using my Lincoln SP135+ w/gas.Will switch over to my brothers Miller tig (small portable one) once I start using the chrommoly

jimep

Doors open the whole way with no hitting. as close as I could get it with 1/4" to 1/2" to spare



And a little side project, course thread isn't the best but it's better than no adjustment for my next project. Found the 1 3/4" DOM to be the perfect sleeve material for the Jeep Procomp lower control arm bushings I had sitting around from my young and stupid heep ownership days. Sleeves also can be used for removable x-bracing, front over the motor shock hoop brace, swing away spare tire carrier (not needed for me but it's an idea), control arms or whatever else u can think of. Anybody got other ideas?