Cherokee exo..

[ExpoMike]

I thought that, too, but I think Chris is talking about adding that type of connection, especially at the B-pillar, to the existing idea with A,C, D bars.

Speaking of roof racks. I've been pricing out Bajaracks, etc. and came to the decision that a rack on my truck is going to have to work overtime. I don't want an empty rack sitting on my roof doing nothing. If I go the exo route, I'm going to have some amount of roll protection, a low-profile roof rack, and the ability to integrate some vehicle security into the rear load area and possibly the rear doors.

Seems like a good deal, depending on the costs involved.

And no matter what, roof rack or exo, I'm going to be losing mpgs...If I end up going the "lightweight" route with my build, the rack's going to stay up there full time. I'm too lazy to take it on and off all the time...haha!

If this adds 200-300lbs, I may just have to give in, and go to a small cargo trailer, or small tent trailer for our camping gear on longer trips...

thanks for the input, Mike...

Having just finished up a cab dolly (so I can roll my truck cab around), I used a 20' piece of .120 1.5" tubing and three cross pieces, 3' of 1.5" square tube and this thing weighs about 75 lbs. I think any cage setup, you are looking at least 200 lbs or more. Do some measuring of how much tube you think you need, add 10% and then multiply that by the weight per foot of tube. That should give you a good idea of what you are looking at. Don't forget the slider, rear armor, etc. in your math.

As for picture of the flop, yep the exo did it's job but looking at where his pass. front wheel was going over, this could easily been avoided had he picked a better line. From the pic, it looks like someone was trying to prove their manhood in the "see how big of a rock I can climb over" test. Sorry but I don't need to prove that type of stuff and hence minimize my risk of rolling/flopping over.

Your best modification is your brain and by using that, you put your risk down to close to zero. 25 years of offroading and have never been close to flopping/rolling but I think before I do.

In your case Brian, I think a small trailer is really a good idea and will give you the added room/space without the drawbacks for your daily driver. Just my .02 worth.

 

[SWbySWesty]

As for picture of the flop, yep the exo did it's job but looking at where his pass. front wheel was going over, this could easily been avoided had he picked a better line. From the pic, it looks like someone was trying to prove their manhood in the "see how big of a rock I can climb over" test. Sorry but I don't need to prove that type of stuff and hence minimize my risk of rolling/flopping over.

now now - before you get into the debate of: Was he wrong or right, let's not go there. He did what he did because we were there. He even said that if we weren't there, he wouldn't have even gone up that way, let alone come down.

back to your regularly schedule programming...

 

[ExpoMike]

now now - before you get into the debate of: Was he wrong or right, let's not go there. He did what he did because we were there. He even said that if we weren't there, he wouldn't have even gone up that way, let alone come down.

back to your regularly schedule programming...

Not to debate this but that is exactly what I am referring to. I never others pressure me into doing something I don't think I would do normally. He chose to think with something other than his brain and paid the price. Luckily he had prepared for this and minimized the damage but to me, it was unneeded damage.

Unlike what the ads try to convince you of, think with your brain, not your dipstick... :snorkel:

 

[Root Moose]

Just to get on track a bit...

Brian, if you aren't 100% committed to the idea of an exo then I'd suggest focusing elsewhere for now.

You know I'm a big fan of trailers.

I'm not a big fan of exos. There are some hybrid ones here that look good but as a general rule...

Do all the other mods you have in mind first.

I'm not terribly worried about you rolling your rig.

Still go ahead and kick this around as a mental exercise. Just make sure you really need/want to do this before commissioning anything.

$0.02

 

[BIGdaddy]

Just to get on track a bit...

Brian, if you aren't 100% committed to the idea of an exo then I'd suggest focusing elsewhere for now.

You know I'm a big fan of trailers.

I'm not a big fan of exos. There are some hybrid ones here that look good but as a general rule...

Do all the other mods you have in mind first.

I'm not terribly worried about you rolling your rig.

Still go ahead and kick this around as a mental exercise. Just make sure you really need/want to do this before commissioning anything.

$0.02

Good stuff, Chris.

I think you're right, that there are other things that take priority, but I also definitely think this is where I'll end up as far as adding a cage, since I just can't swallow having tube steel in the passenger area...

I've already decided that the mpg loss is worth it, and if I'm going to a trailer of some fashion anyways, a couple hundred lbs isn't going to make a big difference.

:victory:

 

[FishPOET]

As for picture of the flop, yep the exo did it's job but looking at where his pass. front wheel was going over, this could easily been avoided had he picked a better line. From the pic, it looks like someone was trying to prove their manhood in the "see how big of a rock I can climb over" test. Sorry but I don't need to prove that type of stuff and hence minimize my risk of rolling/flopping over.

Your best modification is your brain and by using that, you put your risk down to close to zero. 25 years of offroading and have never been close to flopping/rolling but I think before I do.

Not to debate this but that is exactly what I am referring to. I never others pressure me into doing something I don't think I would do normally. He chose to think with something other than his brain and paid the price. Luckily he had prepared for this and minimized the damage but to me, it was unneeded damage.

Unlike what the ads try to convince you of, think with your brain, not your dipstick... :snorkel:

In 25 years you have never picked a bad line? Never been close to flopping?

There are multiple times every year I test the limits of my driving ability along with my rigs ability. I have never flopped or rolled. A lot of experience along with some luck is the reason. I would never assume from a single picture on the internet what was going through a driver's mind as he chose the line he did.

A cage will be my next mod. IMO I don't line exos, but I do like tube fenders and halos/racks. I will probably cut out my rocker panels and raise the rock rails into the place where the rockers came from gaining 3" of clearance. I will tie the tube fenders into the bumpers and rock rails. The rest of the cage will be inside the vehicle pushing through the roof into a halo.

I like this guys cage
http://www.nagca.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36535&page=2

 

[Root Moose]

I think you're right, that there are other things that take priority, but I also definitely think this is where I'll end up as far as adding a cage, since I just can't swallow having tube steel in the passenger area...

I've already decided that the mpg loss is worth it, and if I'm going to a trailer of some fashion anyways, a couple hundred lbs isn't going to make a big difference.

What about doing the C/D pillar structure under the roof as a start? If you roll the little ones are protected and you do buy some extra space compared to a flattened OEM XJ.

If you decide to do an exo later you can use the C/D structure as a starting point.

Lots of nice details in the red ZJ cage. However, I would never construct the B-pillar structure the way shown in a vehicle that will have rear passengers. In a head-on collision the rear seat passengers will have serious head trauma.

It is important to make a distinction between a daily driver / overlander / truggy. Some types of structure make sense in some scenarios but not necessarily all of them.

$0.02