No-weld cages for Jeeps
Why should safety only be for those with the capacity to weld? After all, everyone's head is equally crushable. Whether you're scaling an off-camber ledge with a slinky suspension or tooling down the highway at 65 mph, there's a chance something bad can happen and your Jeep will wind up on its roof. Your best safety bet is on a fully welded and gusseted rollcage that is tied into the frame or chassis structure. However, you can't discount the increased protection from a good, quality bolt-in cage. And depending on who is building your custom-welded cage, the bolt-in deal may even be stronger. Here are some of the cages on the market for Jeeps ranging from flatfenders to ZJs.
Rock Hard 4x4 Sports Cage
Vehicles Covered: All CJ-5, CJ-7, CJ-8, YJ, TJ, Unlimited, and XJ
Special Options:
Center spreader bars, seatbelt harness bars, extra bracing bars,frame bracket mounts to tie cage to frame (where applicable)
Tubing Specs: 1 3/4-inch, 0.120-wall welded seam tubing, 3/16-inch plate
Standard features: MIG welded, 5/16 clamp hardware, and all mounting hardware
Contact: Rock Hard 4x4 Parts, 308/750-4690, www.rockhard4x4parts.com
Toys by Troy Sport Bar
Vehicles Covered: YJ, TJ, Unlimited
Special Options: Front spreader bar, seatbelt bar, dash bar, rear spreader bar (weld-in)
Tubing Specs: 1 3/4-inch, 0.120-wall welded seam, 3/16-inch plate
Standard Features: Grab handles, mounts to cowl/dash ares, not floor so no legroom impediments, and mounting hardware
Contact: Toys by Troy, 800/787-1951, www.toysbytroy.com
M.O.R.E. Sport Cage
Vehicles Covered: '79-'86 CJ-7, YJ, TJ
Special Options: Bolt-in center bar, padding kit, frame tie-in kit
Tubing Specs: 1 3/4-inch, 0.120-wall welded seam
Standard Features: "L" bracket windshield mount, mounting hardware, no drilling required, and shipped bare steel
Contact: M.O.R.E., 970/625-0500, www.mountainoffroad.com
Collins Bros. Jeep Factory Take-Outs
Vehicles Covered: All CJ, YJ, TJ, Unlimited
Special Options: Rollbar padding, sandblasting, repainting, reconditioning
Tubing Specs: Factory - varies from 2-inch to 2 5/8-inch
Standard Features: Rollbar take-outs and conversions using factory Jeep parts
Contact: Collins Bros. Jeep, 800/699-5337, www.collinsbrosjeep.com
Warrior Products Cab Cage
Vehicles Covered: TJ
Special Options: N/A
Tubing Specs: 1 3/4-inch, 0.120-wall welded seam, 3/16-inch plate
Standard Features: Mounts to cowl/dash areas, not floor so no legroomimpediments, black powdercoating, and mounting hardware
Contact: Warrior Products, 888/220-6861, www.warriorproducts.com
Smittybilt Interior Tube Bar
Vehicles Covered: CJ-2, CJ-3, CJ-5, CJ-6, CJ-7
Special Options: Rear hoop bars available in several configurations, optional weld-in front hoop and spreader bar kit
Tubing Specs: 2-inch, 0.120-wall welded seam
Standard Features: Black paint
Contact: 4Wheel Parts Wholesalers, 800/284-9427, www.4wheelparts.com
Poison Spyder Customs Helldorado Cage
Vehicles Covered: YJ, TJ, Unlimited
Special Options: Dash bar, upper-rear T-bar for rear passenger protection, upper-front T-bar for front passenger protection
Tubing Specs: 1 3/4-inch, 0.120-wall DOM tubing, 3/16-inch plate
Standard features: TIG welded, grab handles, black powdercoating, and 5/16 clamp hardware
Contact: Poison Spyder Customs, 303/777-4820, www.poisonspydercustoms.com
Rusty's Off Road In-Cab Rollbar
Vehicles Covered: XJ, Wagoneer, fullsize Cherokee, ZJ
Special Options: N/A
Tubing Specs: 2-inch, 0.120-wall welded seam
Standard Features: XJ bolts to seatbelt mount and floor with backing plate. Wagoneer/Cherokee version for two- or four-door, but rear kicker bar will block entry of rear doors in four-door applications.
Contact: Rusty's Off Road Products, 256/442-0607, www.rustysoffroad.com
For the welding enabled
We didn't want to totally discount the enthusiast who has the ability to weld, but may not have the skills or time to cut, notch, and bend his or her own cage. Here are just a few companies that offer weld-in cages.
J&L 4-Wheel Drive Center: Combination weld and bolt-in YJ cage kit.
Contact: J&L Off Road, 608/244-9146.
OR-Fab: Weld in 2-inch, 0.120-wall CJ cage kit. Contact: OR-Fab, 928/636-7080, www.orfab.com.
Poison Spyder Customs: Weld-in trail cage (retains factory rear) or full cage (replaces factory rear) for CJ, YJ, TJ, Unlimited.Contact: Poison Spyder Customs, 303/777-4820, www.poisonspydercustoms.com.
T&J Performance: Weld in partial, full, and race XJ cages.Contact: T&J Performance Center, 714/633-0991, www.tandjperformance.com.
Tennessee Off Road: Weld-in CJ, YJ, TJ cage.
Contact: Tennessee Off Road, 866/248-8638, www.tennesseeoffroad.com.
OR-Fab Sport Cage
Vehicles Covered: YJ, TJ
Special Options: Floor mount reinforcement kit, overhead streamer bars, padding kit
Tubing Specs: 1 3/4-inch, 0.120-wall welded seam, 3/16-inch plate
Standard Features: Total bolt-in. No loss of legroom. Don't have to remove top to install. Standard kit mounts to Jeep cowl/dash area, not floor so no legroom impediments, and mounting hardware
Contact: OR-Fab, 928/636-7080, www.orfab.com