check out the new roll cage

[epsorenson]

just finished this past week.
considering i'm not really an off-roader i wasn't too motivated to get one at first.
truck is more of a pavement pounder but i thought of safety--well, actually my wife brought up the idea....many times
anyhoo, thought it was a good idea considering i've got my kids with me so often.
had it blasted and powder coated black and welded some tabs for 3 point belts in the front (no i didn't reinforce the floors yet).

got to check it out with the top off after i used my new hoist

[BobbyK]

Nice.

[Hoss72]

Very Nice ...do you want to build me one...Please

[BLUE THUNDER]

Great looking cage. Who fabbed it up? I'd love to get the plans if you have them. I've got two little ones myself, so safety is a priority. Got any pics of the inside mount points? Once again, great looking cage. Later, Mario.

[Southedisto]

I like it, can you get me the dimensions? Or just post some more pictures from all angles.?

[bouncytruck]

Nice, clean design.

[Hoss72]

Don't mean to jump on your Thread but I found one at Broncobob.com. But it doesn't look as good as this one.

[vtblazer]

It looks nice and clean but it needs some triangulation to be functional.

[Chevyman63]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

It looks nice and clean but it needs some triangulation to be functional.

I think it looks sweet, but if you were to weld an X from side to side on the angeled section, it would look cool and be much safer for your rear seat passengers.

[LUV2XCLR8]

I thought the same thing VT, very sweet but not enough cross braces.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

I thought the same thing VT, very sweet but not enough cross braces.

Uhm...no cross bracing.
(that can be seen in the pics anyway)
A little more bracing will go a long way at this point.

Liking the shoulder harness mount though.

[72BlckButy]

That looks killer!

[Chevyman63]

I forgot to mention on my previous post...That is one sweet looking Blazer!!!

[epsorenson]

thanks for the structural input, advice and compliments everyone.

was made by a local off road shop here in town (dependable off road).

hoss 72--i actually did check out those cages from broncobob. seem like nice cages. as i recall they were $300-$400 raw steel but then the shipping was going to add a lot of $ to the order.

as to taking more pics...the top is back on so it may make the pics a little dark. i'll remember to take some more photos when the top is off again.

[epsorenson]

hey guys...maybe a stupid question but here goes:
do you think i can fit 35" tires on my ride?
can you tell from the photos if i'll have enough room?
i've got a 4" lift currently and 33's.

[bouncytruck]

I had 35's on my first K5 with a 4" lift. My second Blazer had a 6" lift and my current has a 4" lift. One of the previous owners (a board member) had 35's on it with my current lift. The guy I bought it from (also a board member) put the stock wheels/tires back on because of the gearing. One of your biggest issues is going to be your gearing. My '72 has 3.07, which isn't quite enough for 35's.

Keep in mind, not all 35's are 35" tall. You may also be limited on the amount of off-roading you do with a 4" lift.

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Keep in mind, not all 35's are 35" tall. You may also be limited on the amount of off-roading you do with a 4" lift.

yeah that's kinda why i was thinking maybe i could get away with it.
my rig is more of a street machine, pounding pavement.

[Slick71]

Sweet Blazer! I'd really love to see more photos of your seats. Where did you get them??

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by Slick71

Sweet Blazer! I'd really love to see more photos of your seats. Where did you get them??

from a limo company here in so cal. they take them out when doing stretch conversions of escalades. got the rear and captains. check out the install thread for all info
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=260518

[72meanmachine]

Nice blazer!
i need one for my k5, anybody know where i can get one?

[myraley]

That roll bar looks great, and I am in So Cal too, so Dependable Off Road may have just gotten another custodmer (when mine finally gets done in the shop...). I was just wondering if it was mounted to the frame or just to the body. I wanted to mount mine to the body-to-frame mounts, but that puts it in the way of the passengers. What approach did you take?
Thanks!

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by myraley

That roll bar looks great, and I am in So Cal too, so Dependable Off Road may have just gotten another custodmer (when mine finally gets done in the shop...). I was just wondering if it was mounted to the frame or just to the body. I wanted to mount mine to the body-to-frame mounts, but that puts it in the way of the passengers. What approach did you take?
Thanks!

Okay, I'm just gonna say it...

That is not functional roll bar, yet.
In it's current configuration it will not stay intact in a roll over.

To be a valid roll bar it needs more triangulation/cross bracing.

No intent to flame the builder or the buyer but it is, what it is.

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Okay, I'm just gonna say it...

That is not functional roll bar, yet.
In it's current configuration it will not stay intact in a roll over.

To be a valid roll bar it needs more triangulation/cross bracing.

No intent to flame the builder or the buyer but it is, what it is.

yeah you've said that a few times now. i'm not sure what to make of it. i'm certainly not an engineer nor do i have an understanding of roll cages potential to withstand forces in roll over. the guy who built the cage and a few mechanic friends of mine whom i trust told me this thing is strong enough. your concerns obviously make me contemplate my kids safety. again, my main driving is surface streets at reasonable speeds just cruising around. i don't want to "over-engineer" something for the sake of doing so but you seem pretty convinced that this thing is not "functional" and it's not going to stay "intact" with a roll over...yikes

anyone else have any opinions on this?

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by epsorenson

yeah you've said that a few times now. i'm not sure what to make of it. i'm certainly not an engineer nor do i have an understanding of roll cages potential to withstand forces in roll over. the guy who built the cage and a few mechanic friends of mine whom i trust told me this thing is strong enough. your concerns obviously make me contemplate my kids safety. again, my main driving is surface streets at reasonable speeds just cruising around. i don't want to "over-engineer" something for the sake of doing so but you seem pretty convinced that this thing is not "functional" and it's not going to stay "intact" with a roll over...yikes

Yeah, I know I do.
The reason I keep bringing it up is that with each new person who reads this thread and includes "roll cage" with their response makes me nervous thinking that they might have the same design installed in their blazer all the while believing that their safe from a roll over, when it just isn't the case here.

Whoever is telling that it'll be "strong enough" needs to go back to physics class or cage building 101 or at least rethink the answer.
The cage has zero integrity to combat a sideways impact and during an actual roll and where will the highest forces being applied come from?
Think about it...

What could happen in anything more than a very light roll over is potentially:
1)The front hoop will push sideways, being there's nothing to prevent it from going sideways.
2)The rear legs will push inward and collapse, again because there is nothing structural to prevent them from doing so.

If nothing else a set of gussets would go a long way to building a better/safer cage.

[Bishops Trucks]

That looks great. I hope you never have to find out if it works.