Just to see what you guys thought....I am going to fab some simple tube bumpers for my runner. I know tubing is better, but I want to use pipe. Here's why: The bender with dies (which I dont have yet) can be bought on eBay for under $100, while a tube bender with dies cannot be had for less than $300, The pipe itself is cheaper than tubing, and I think that pipe may be safer in an accident on the road because it will bend/crack/crumple, absorbing some shock, while a well made tube bumper will not budge and transfer all the force of the impact to the frame and the driver. So....what do you think? Am I nuts? In a recent Petersen's, they did a writeup on tube fabrication and suggested that while not recommended for rollbars or cages, the right pipe would be ok for sliders and bumpers.
-Marty

 

maybe for a bumper, but if you tie an exo into it and roll you will crush it. as for sliders, I would say tube. as for the bumper ive used it slide up rocks that I didnt have the aproach angle for, and I dont think pipe could stand up to that. I would say save money some were else.
BTW all my stuff is DOM.

 

If money is the concern, don't do any bends, just cut it all and have angular junctions.

 

Tube sliders are pretty cheap these days, bumpers aren't too bad either.. I wouldnt use pipe

 

Only use pipe for show, but if is only for show, you could use pvc.

 

x2 thats really all you need to know, marlin and trail gear I think use hrew (strong tubing) and allpro uses DOM (very strong tubing)

 

I've seen people on ttora use schedule 40 pipe to make front bumpers and such. I've even heard of someone on pirate4x4 make a cage with it but to me that is crazy. I'd say do it, and do it on the cheap.

 

If you have any questions on tubing vs pipe, and which is better and why and what it all means, just read this
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...nkler+exo+cage

 

Pipe isn't as bad as everyone thinks. I wheel with a guys who used it for sliders and bumpers and they are holding up just as well as my DOM sliders, but cost a hell of a lot less, and he definitely uses them.
The guy in that link to pirate made his whole cage out of pipe then went and flopped his truck and it held, it did flex some and he built it a bit close to the body, but it held and returned to its original shape after flexing. While noone has tested it in a high speed, multiple tumble type of rollover, it clearly holds up. The majority of people will not do more than flop, if that, so pipe would be just fine. I mean, if my options are to tumble down a hill with NO cage or to tumbled down a hill with a pipe exo, you can be damn sure I will take the poop-pipe all the way.

 

sliders: yes, do it

bumper: yes, if you arent mounting a winch in it and the tow points are on the frame.

why? because sliders should be considered disposable. even people with .250 wall DOM for sliders, with enough use will have to replace them because they will be beat to hell. my sch 40 sliders that i built with a cheapo bender have held up just as well as similar sliders made out of HREW and DOM.

another note: everyone always cries DOM for everything, but guess what, its not really needed. especially when you are doing sliders and bumpers. DOM gets its extra strength from being cold drawn. In a bumper or slider where you are welding to the tube every 8-12", it loses its cold drawn properties and thus its additional strength. so then you have some $4/foot DOM that has the strength of HREW that was half the cost.