The Fab Shop Tube buggies, armor protection and anything else that requires cutting, welding, or custom fab work

First exo cage

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-18-2010, 04:44 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
utjoe09z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
First exo cage

hi there, I've never made an exo cage before but would love to fabricate one for my truck. I found a picture of an exo that I would like to fabricate (Note the attached thumbnail) but this is a first gen and I drive a tacoma so It wont be the same. Any advise on making my first exo? or where to start. I know I want to use BOM pipe but just not sure how to plan it out with out it turning out crapy.
Thanks
-Joe
Attached Thumbnails First exo cage-truck.jpg  

Last edited by utjoe09z; 01-18-2010 at 04:48 PM.
Old 01-18-2010, 05:24 PM
  #2  
tc
Contributing Member
 
tc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 8,875
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Not a good first project, work on some sliders or even bumpers first.

Any cage (inside or outside) is a life saving device - not the time to find out your fab skills weren't up to snuff.

As for your question, fit up is critical. You need to truly master your bender and notcher so everything fits up tight so you can make nice strong welds.
Old 01-18-2010, 05:36 PM
  #3  
Registered User
 
ibeamtaco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: san diego ca - tucson az
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
and its dom not bom
and its tubing not pipe. pipe is what u smoke out of
exo cage would be sick but i wouldnt do it unless ur wheeling a lot if not just build a simple cab cage

Last edited by ibeamtaco; 01-18-2010 at 05:37 PM.
Old 01-18-2010, 06:07 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
ibeamtaco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: san diego ca - tucson az
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
but u will neaver learn untill you try it just take your time and make it fit right
Old 01-18-2010, 11:48 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
peow130's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,887
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 15 Posts
Also, from the looks of your avatar, your truck doesnt even need an exo cage..
It all depends on the kind of wheeling your going to be doing.
that truck is bone stock.
Old 01-18-2010, 11:58 PM
  #6  
Banned
 
DC Hoerunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Yucaipa CA
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hey hey there's no need for bashing
we all had a first big project that we weren't to sure whether or not we would be capable of doing it right. he's just asking for suggestions

i would start by taking a front back and side pic of your truck print it out and draw on where you would want your cage

next measure and remeasure and remeasure the lengths of every line and angle
then buy your tubing and plan for errors

work slow and double check everything as you go
Old 01-19-2010, 03:54 AM
  #7  
Registered User
 
toyotabull's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Natchitoches, La
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...nsions-132492/

start here and search a little on google for exo cage pipe bends
Old 01-19-2010, 11:43 AM
  #8  
Registered User
 
4rnr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Plainfield, IL
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you can do what i did....

1. looked at exo cages for years to determine my design.
2. draw out what you want
3. buy tubing.
4. grab some shirt hangers out of the closet to get the bends somewhere close.
5. then just sort of eyeball everything til its right.
6. wheel it hard enough that everytime you put it back in the garage there is no paint left on the outside of the cage.
7. repeat step 6 a few hundred times for a few years.

I find that the best exo cages are made by the people who HATE the looks of exo's....it sort of puts you in the right state of mind.
Old 01-19-2010, 08:10 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
toyotabull's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Natchitoches, La
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/bendin_tube/ this will be useful to you
Old 01-19-2010, 08:17 PM
  #10  
Banned
 
DC Hoerunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Yucaipa CA
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 4rnr
you can do what i did....

6. wheel it hard enough that everytime you put it back in the garage there is no paint left on the outside of the cage.
7. repeat step 6 a few hundred times for a few years.

I find that the best exo cages are made by the people who HATE the looks of exo's....it sort of puts you in the right state of mind.
haha well said
Old 01-19-2010, 09:23 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
peow130's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,887
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 15 Posts
Originally Posted by DC Hoerunner
hey hey there's no need for bashing
we all had a first big project that we weren't to sure whether or not we would be capable of doing it right. he's just asking for suggestions

i would start by taking a front back and side pic of your truck print it out and draw on where you would want your cage

next measure and remeasure and remeasure the lengths of every line and angle
then buy your tubing and plan for errors

work slow and double check everything as you go
I'm not bashing, i'm just saying that he probably doesnt even need an exo cage..
Old 01-20-2010, 08:42 AM
  #12  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
utjoe09z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll let you know how it goes =)
Oh and the truck isn't all stock, my avatar is from when i first got the truck.
Old 01-20-2010, 09:02 AM
  #13  
Contributing Member
 
nc994run's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: raleigh, nc for school chapel hill, nc for home
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are you a good welder?

If not, I would avoid an exo as a 1st project. You don't want something that might (hopefully won't have to) support the weight of the truck held together with bad welds.
Old 06-01-2013, 09:44 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
marcyorbust's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
on average how much tubing would you say would do an average exo cage, lets say just the cab.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
I8URSVT
Vehicles - Parting Out
10
01-15-2016 07:25 PM
83yotastockR
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
11
11-10-2015 06:54 AM
1965chevy
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
1
09-20-2015 07:33 PM
DrZero
General Vehicle Related Topics (Non Year Related)
18
07-24-2015 11:31 PM
Steezy96yota
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
1
07-06-2015 10:00 AM



Quick Reply: First exo cage



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:53 AM.