hey spider tax sells tubing by the foot.


http://www.spidertrax.com/fabrication.htm

Me?

Thanks for the link

Next question: What is the common size of tube used in rollcages? Something like 1-3/8" tubing 1/4" thick? Or would I need something bigger?

I would guess 1/4" shoudl be fine thats pretty tough shit, hard to bend as well unless you have a good bender

i think i remember reading something about 1.5 DOM or something..not to sure

1 5/8's .120 walli s pretty common

I only need 1/8" (0.125") sidewalls? w00t! Saves me some money on the thicker stuff... not like I need a cage that'll save me at high speeds

Alright, I've been trying to figure out a way to mount the rollbar/cage that I want to build in my tracker... and I came up with this drawing:



Would it work if I were to weld a nut or another piece of threaded pipe into the end that is to be attached to the floorboards, weld a plate onto the end of the pipe with a hole in the center, and sandwich it with another piece of plate. Then it would all be secured with a bolt on each corner.

Sorry if you can't understand what I'm saying... that's why the picture was included

why not just weld the whole thing.  Be much easier than designing a bolt in plate, etc.    most cages are built for 1.5" x.120 wall DOM tubing, not pipe!!

I should've specified: This is for mounting it to the floor. The rest will be welded together. And I will be using DOM tubing, I might even order it from the link posted by the original poster.

The flange an the Underside (under the floor) should be a little bigger, Otherwise incase of RollCage usage the two pieces of flanges (being the same size) would act like a cutter and tear out the floor.
So I've read somewhere

Makes sense... I think that in addition to the plates, I'll put a bead of weld around it for a little added stability.

Makes sense... I think that in addition to the plates, I'll put a bead of weld around it for a little added stability.

No need to do that as you will only weaken the already thin sheet metal. Just do as stated above, ensure that your bottom plate is larger than the top plate. This willl keep it from shearing the floor under pressure

And if possible bring a mount off the frame to the bottom plate. I've got 6 body mounts and 2 floor mounts on my Bronco's cage. The body mounts are triangulated off the frame, shaped sort of like a stretched body mount.
Even though the cage is out off the frame, it's all tied together.

Just remember, the cage is a one-time use item. It'll save you when needed. Otherwise, it stiffens the entire truck.

typically when building a roll cage you should first be confident in the strength of ur weld. didn't u just get ur welder. well weld the top plate to the tubing and then bolt the bottom and top together. make sure to bevel the steel tubing at all weld points.

jagular7: I was thinking about making the bottom plate mount to the frame on the way to work this morning, as a matter of fact

tracker8wr: I just got a cheapo wirefeed welder... I've been welding with my stick welder for a while, which is what I'll be using for this project.