Jeep Roll bar... Use the stock hoop or not?

[Jay5.9L]

I have seen a few jeeps using the stock hoop for their cage. How stong is this and is it worth saving a few bucks to reuse it vs. a new hoop?

TIA,
Jason

 

[PierCed_3]

It's covered in this thread

 

[Jay5.9L]

Thanks for the link. I saw that it was coverd a bit but not in detail.

 

[chadschoon]

i have seen a few roll overs with the stock hoop built into a cage. the new cage stays in place, when the stock hoop bends and twists, if that makes any sence. just my 2 pennies

 

[DevinB]

I built off mine, I don't see any huge problems with it. If you plan on rolling frequently, I'd build the whole thing custom, but if it's just a safety precaution to save your butt the one time you roll, go for it. With my jeep, since it's a DD and still full-bodied, when I roll it, the whole thing will get trashed and likely junked. The cage will keep me from dying (its intent), but I really don't expect it to hold up to numerous rolls. My two cents. The PBB has extensive discussions on just this topic, search over there for more info.

On second thought, if you reinforced it decently and beefed up the weak links, I'm sure it'll hold up to whatever you throw at it, short of drop-offs or crazy barrel rolls down the hill. I've seen comp rigs that have built off the factory cage with no ill effects. YMMV.

 

[mbryson]

........ I've seen comp rigs that have built off the factory cage with no ill effects. YMMV.

I think they're actually OK if you take it all the way to the frame. I've seen at least one comp rig with the 'augmented' factory cage and it's done a few hard rolls.

 

[Todd Adams]

I think they're actually OK if you take it all the way to the frame. I've seen at least one comp rig with the 'augmented' factory cage and it's done a few hard rolls.

That would be ours. 15 rolls to date and still holding up but it was built to UROC standards and I am not sure if it would have saved money in the long run to start from scratch or not.
Todd

 

[mesha]

I built off mine, I don't see any huge problems with it. If you plan on rolling frequently, I'd build the whole thing custom, but if it's just a safety precaution to save your butt the one time you roll, go for it. With my jeep, since it's a DD and still full-bodied, when I roll it, the whole thing will get trashed and likely junked. The cage will keep me from dying (its intent),

I think it has saved your life, in a really cool roll. You should link video.

 

[Jay5.9L]

I want it for the "Oh Sh*t" moments. I don't plan on rolling it but want to save my ass if it ever happens.

 

[DevinB]

I think it has saved your life, in a really cool roll. You should link video.

If you have a way to get it from VHS to mpg, let me know... I want it digital too!

I want it for the "Oh Sh*t" moments. I don't plan on rolling it but want to save my ass if it ever happens.

Then just supporting your existing cage decently should be just fine. A lot of companies sell just a basic weld-in 'sport cage' for starters, then a little triangulation and frame tie-ins and you're golden. My cage is a Smitty Built CJ sport cage, works great and was only like $139. My mother-in-law welded it in for me, and it's there to do what it's designed for.

 

[Todd Adams]

I think it has saved your life, in a really cool roll. You should link video.

If you are talking about ours, my wife is the driver (Linda, AKA Giggling Grammy) and we are featured along with the rest of the 2004 Maxxis Rock Star Team in the soon to be released "Hammer Down III". The video has Linda’s roll coming off of #6 through the end gate at Super Crawl III out at RMR. It moved the body 3" but the cage stayed intact and straight. You have to remember that this cage has many reinforcing gussets and added bars that triangulate the supporting cage. It also ties to the frame at 6 points. Linda took a few hard rolls in Phoenix this year and I have found a couple of cracked welds in the OEM bars that come off the main hoop. The jeep is being restored to trail duty as we speak so the well-tested cage will only be for just in case from here on out. The Jeep is receiving a new body so no more competitions are in it’s future.
I have seen may rollovers of CJ’s, YJ’s and TJ’s that the factory cage has held up well enough to protect the drivers but the Jeeps have basically been totaled even with an added front hoop kit. If you are going to wheel hard it is not if but when you are going to roll so if you plan on driving the Jeep away afterwards, tie the cage to the frame and reinforce with gussets at the very least. I feel the factory bars are a good starting point particularly if you wish to have the option of the hard or soft-tops. The factory bars already have clearance for the tops.
Todd
Oh yea hear is one off of the "Matterhorn" this year at RMR
http://www.msnusers.com/AdamsFamilyCrawlers/Documents/lindaroll.wmv

 

[fattodog]

I want it for the "Oh Sh*t" moments. I don't plan on rolling it but want to save my ass if it ever happens.

Ahhh...the kiss of death! knock on some wood.

I too built off of my original hoop.

KENNETH !!

 

[PierCed_3]

If you are talking about ours, my wife is the driver (Linda, AKA Giggling Grammy) and we are featured along with the rest of the 2004 Maxxis Rock Star Team in the soon to be released "Hammer Down III". The video has Linda’s roll coming off of #6 through the end gate at Super Crawl III out at RMR. It moved the body 3" but the cage stayed intact and straight. You have to remember that this cage has many reinforcing gussets and added bars that triangulate the supporting cage. It also ties to the frame at 6 points. Linda took a few hard rolls in Phoenix this year and I have found a couple of cracked welds in the OEM bars that come off the main hoop. The jeep is being restored to trail duty as we speak so the well-tested cage will only be for just in case from here on out. The Jeep is receiving a new body so no more competitions are in it’s future.
I have seen may rollovers of CJ’s, YJ’s and TJ’s that the factory cage has held up well enough to protect the drivers but the Jeeps have basically been totaled even with an added front hoop kit. If you are going to wheel hard it is not if but when you are going to roll so if you plan on driving the Jeep away afterwards, tie the cage to the frame and reinforce with gussets at the very least. I feel the factory bars are a good starting point particularly if you wish to have the option of the hard or soft-tops. The factory bars already have clearance for the tops.
Todd
Oh yea hear is one off of the "Matterhorn" this year at RMR
http://www.msnusers.com/AdamsFamilyCrawlers/Documents/lindaroll.wmv

Link doesn't work....

 

[PierCed_3]

Ahhh...the kiss of death! knock on some wood.

I too built off of my original hoop.

KENNETH !!

Mine is of the original hoop as well, I just don't plan on rolling. If it happens I want to be protected though.

 

[Todd Adams]

Link doesn't work....

Sorry you may have to go to MSN and join the groups in order to view.
http://groups.msn.com/
or
http://groups.msn.com/AdamsFamilyCrawlers/adamsfamilycrawlershome.msnw

 

[Caleb]

If you have a way to get it from VHS to mpg, let me know... I want it digital too!

I can convert it for ya for a small fee...and/or put it on DVD.

 

[DevinB]

I can convert it for ya for a small fee...and/or put it on DVD.

How small a fee we talking?

If you are talking about ours...

He wasn't, he was talking about me. Before I had my sport cage in place, I went over backwards as I was trying to go up a chute that was too steep, and did a half twist in the process. Smashed up the front end and tweaked my stock cage a little. Nothing a couple hundred dollars of used body parts (thanks to guys on this board) and a 3lb sledge couldn't fix. :greg:

:edit: Okay Todd, now that I saw that video, I've met you before. I came along last summer when we filmed the Enthusiast video out on Rattlesnake. My jeep was still all smashed up from the roll.

 

[Todd Adams]

:edit: Okay Todd, now that I saw that video, I've met you before. I came along last summer when we filmed the Enthusiast video out on Rattlesnake. My jeep was still all smashed up from the roll.

I remember. Not much damage. At the time I thought you had just tipped it into a rock in the front. Sometimes you get lucky.

The front hood hoop on ours has kept some of the damage to a minimum. After all the abuse the grill is still untouched and the only sheet metal not bent. That is about to change however with the new body.
Todd

 

[Todd Adams]

He wasn't, he was talking about me. Before I had my sport cage in place, I went over backwards as I was trying to go up a chute that was too steep, and did a half twist in the process. Smashed up the front end and tweaked my stock cage a little. Nothing a couple hundred dollars of used body parts (thanks to guys on this board) and a 3lb sledge couldn't fix. :greg:
QUOTE]

I use a porta-power I bought at Harbor Freight to straighten a lot of the damage. That and a comealong.

 

[Caleb]

How small a fee we talking?

PM'd ya...