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

 

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.

 

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

 

but u will neaver learn untill you try it just take your time and make it fit right

 

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.

 

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

 

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...nsions-132492/

start here and search a little on google for exo cage pipe bends

 

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.

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/bendin_tube/ this will be useful to you

 

haha well said

 

I'm not bashing, i'm just saying that he probably doesnt even need an exo cage..

 

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.

 

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.

 

on average how much tubing would you say would do an average exo cage, lets say just the cab.