I'm looking into frame and cage design and am wondering how large of tubing can one get. I know there is 2" tubes that most people use and is strong, but is there larger tubes, 3", 4", 5", 6"?
What do people use who make completely custome frames use? Square or round. I've searches through this site and throughout the web and have hard finding sites that have details. Is there design software out there that you use? I really like to learn and am a hands on person. I would rather do the work for myself and learn something new, then pay someone. Any help would be appreciated, sites, pictures, ideas.

Thanks Mick

bigdude should be able to help you out:D

Ive had the best results with 1inch emt conduit

why go larger than 2 inch? you triangulate everything to make it stronger as opposed to using bigger tube.
I dunno what size dom is available up to but a local steel shop should be able to tell you. biggest I have seen in a frame is three inch, that was a shelby cobra replica.

I prefer 1" copper pipe...Bends great in the Harbor Freight bender, and sweat fitting's are a heck of a lot easier (and cheaper) than welding. The best part is that you can get almost everything to do a full cage at Home Depot...90's, 45's and even the occasional 22.5deg L's can be had CHEAP! Just make sure not to get too much flux on the pipe...Doesn?t look as good once you?re done.

So in a related question about this copper tubing. I should probably use my propane torch to heat the flux into the joints, right? Or can I just use my mom's soldering iron and solder the connections/fittings together? Please hurry with all replies to this because there is a Home Depot where I live and it's always cheap.

Thanks for the help. Anyone know what Baja trucks races use on their frames. Is there such a thing as a cross between a rock crawler and a baja racer?

Mick

you dont even need a torch or a soldering iron. check out jb weld

7/8" PVC. Lightweight with an amazing selection of joints at your local Lowes. Who woulda thought it would be so easy?

you guys are just who I need for help building my lifelong dream, the baja-crawler.

Just imagine two doublers, ~400:1, 383 SBC, 7000RPM, 1000miles in the sun - yeah! I'll order two sets of truck nuts(tm) for this one...

now imagining adding a lusty 6" rollcage

Originally posted by lizard


now imagining adding a lusty 6" rollcage

6" cage?! I think you'd have what would effectively look like...A TANK!

The only thing I think that would be cage would be lusty too is a Juarez donkey show girl...

--D

The guy that did my cage used 1 3/4" tubing and I think that is pretty much a norm for him. He and his brother built a tube buggy that looked like one of the 2 seater Baja racers that ran Dana 44s, 37" Boggers and a 350. It can be done.

Thanks for the help from those of you who decided to be helpful. I am definately new to all of this, hence the "Newbie" status. I am trying to learn more about the sport/s I am interested in. I do have some automotive knowledge,, but none where it comes to building cages and frame and this is why I asked the question. All I wanted to know is how "beefy" can one get with out going beyond the balance of weight/power/stability. I have always followed the motto "Go big or go home". Go a little over what is needed just in case one day it may be needed. So, if I was to build up a truck to both Rock Crawl and run Baja if I wanted I would build it to withstand just a roll and also to survive a roll doing 80 down some distant dirt road. But here is what I don't know. How strong would the frame/cage need to be to survive that 80 mph roll over?

Mick

Nobody's being helpful because this has been gone over extensivley in the past couple of weeks. There's this button that you can click on called "Search". Find it, use it, love it.

I'm using 1.75" .120 wall for my cage and my frame rails will be 3"x5" .120 wall

Easy

Originally posted by EasyXJ
Nobody's being helpful because this has been gone over extensivley in the past couple of weeks. There's this button that you can click on called "Search". Find it, use it, love it.

I'm using 1.75" .120 wall for my cage and my frame rails will be 3"x5" .120 wall

Easy

Yep! And just to make it clear: 3"x5" is SQUARE.

:D :D

Originally posted by rkcrawl


Yep! And just to make it clear: 3"x5" is SQUARE.

:D :D

Yep and just to make it even more clear: 3"x5" is RECTANGULAR:flipoff2:

Originally posted by FatCity


Yep and just to make it even more clear: 3"x5" is RECTANGULAR:flipoff2:

Hahahahaha.....SMACK!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by FatCity


Yep and just to make it even more clear: 3"x5" is RECTANGULAR:flipoff2:

:D :D SMACK! :D

Well I have done a search and found nothing on building a frame or a cage for a Ford F350 Crew Cab Long Bed truck. If you can give me a helpful search string that would bring up such information on the board that would be helpful.

Mick

Originally posted by TheMick
...Ford F350 Crew Cab Long Bed truck...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Deep breath

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You want to make a rockcrawler out of a 1 ton crew cab long bed truck?????????????

Wheelbase can be your friend but :eek: :eek:

Where's the pics of the RubiBUS when I need them...

If you want a pickup, then go with something a little smaller, if you still need a fullsize, but don't mind losing some of the bed, get a Blazer or a Bronco or......SOMETHING!!!!

1997 Ford F350
Factory Size

Length: 247 inches
Width: 79 inches
Wheel Base: 168 inches

Yes a one ton rock crawler. I see nothing wrong with it. People are using 2.5 ton Rockwell axles to crawl. I've seen the RubiBUS, but that's not what I'm looking to make. First I want to start from scratch, remove everything. Create a full tube frame and cage. Widening it from 79 inches to 96 inches. Move the engine from the front to the middle/front of the bed. Rebuild the engine (460) to produce more torque. Change the transmission from a five to a six speed. Switch from the factory axles to custom portal axles. Create all new body panel/bed/cab out of fiberglass maybe carbon fiber. These will be held into place by push pins on the inside, somewhat like how racing hoods are held on with pins. This way I could easily remove/replace the body panels if I wanted to run with out them. Use at least 44 inch tires. Created a whole new suspension system front and rear. Replace the two bench seats with four bucket seats all with five point harnesses hooked to the roll cage. Make the top half of the cab removable.

Sure it sounds a little strange and unlikely, but it is my idea and I like it. Any help?

Mick

Originally posted by TheMick
1997 Ford F350
Factory Size

Length: 247 inches
Width: 79 inches
Wheel Base: 168 inches

Yes a one ton rock crawler. I see nothing wrong with it. People are using 2.5 ton Rockwell axles to crawl.

Using a 1 ton is fine, geez, that's pretty much what I'm doing till I get MY Rockwells. What you are talking about doing is taking a 460 and building a rig. That's a little different than building an F350 Crew Cab Long Bed Rockcrawler. MY suggestion would be to get ahold of somplace like Camburg and talk to them about building a Dessert Race truck. If it will hold up to one of those spills then rockcrawling will be cake. I wouldn't do portal axles though. You are gonna want reliability and ability to take a jump. Go with something proven, 60 front and back or so.

On the frame, start with the one ton frame and beef the crap out of it, then build off of it. If you want ALL tube, then pony up the checkbook and just start making it. Use the factory frame as a go buy then build something that YOU like and beef it.

Basically I want the end truck to look pretty much how my truck looks now, shape wise. Of course the large tires will require larger fenders and such. Your right about the portal axles. I have another question, don't most dessert racers use independent front suspensions? Most of the ones I have seen are only two wheel drive. And from what I have read here and else where IFS is not good when it comes to crawling. I really don't want to use the stock frame, would rather just tube to whole deal. Any issues with having the engine in the middle?

Mick

Oh man! Post some pics when you get going on that project!:D

I guess it takes a rocket scientist to figure out that 3x5 is rectangular. Go to "gasp" off-road.com. They've been doing a suburban prerunner that would probably give you some ideas. You gonna put end loader tires on this thing so it doesn't look like a teeter totter on the trail?

Easy

Originally posted by EasyXJ
I guess it takes a rocket scientist to figure out that 3x5 is rectangular.
Easy

Ya duh! Brain fart when I originally replied...and got rightfully SMACKED for it (Eric! :D) , he asked about ridiculously large round tubing... for a frame.

Now, a F350 Crew cab long bed rockcrawler. That is an oxymoron! Could be a very cool truck, but high center city, baby.
:eek: :eek:

Been looking at Herman Motorsports dessert racer and it's dimensions. They are using a Chome-Moly tube frame and carbon fiber body. Width of their truck is at 95 inches. So 96 inches isn't out of the question. Maximum width of a vehicle here in Idaho is 102 inches, so at 96 inches I could get away with the tires sticking out two inches further than the body, total of a 100 inches wide or so depending on tire inflation. I'm thinking with the right amount of ground clearance and tires high centering it would not be that big of a problem as long as I get used to the truck when it is done and know what it is capable of.

Have been trying to go to Off-Road.com for a few days and it will not come up, anyone else had this problem?