I have read through all the HREW vs. DOM threads and still don't have a clue on which one to build my cage out of. Once finished I would love to compete in Pro Rocks as most of the comps. are local. Are there any ARCA, Pro-Rocks, UROC, etc. rigs in the upper modified classes that use HREW for their cages?

just use DOM, the cage is not the place to save a few bucks

As much as I hate to add to his ego Camos cage on his Toyota was made of HREW. That kinda convinced me. Especially after seeing the pictures of his rig after rolling out in the dessert or whatever. Held up pretty damn well if ya ask me! Especially with all the shit he carried around.

Anyway, I think HREW is fine. On that note, I am using 1.75x.188 DOM cause my bro is buddies with a machine shop owner and this is the smallest DOM that his supplier keeps in stock and he extends his good deal to us on occasion.:D

HREW is fine for a Cage...

However, for a competition vehicle that will more than likely see multiple rollovers, I'd use DOM and possible even heavier material on the main hoops that will likely see the ground.

I have been around motorsports all of my life, and I have rarely seen anyone use dom on all but full on professional race cars(except here) that includes stock cars,and drag racing. My rock sliders are 2" hrew and have held up fine to countless repeated full-weight-of-the- vehicle poundings . DOM is a waste of money for a 4wd. It is not required by any racing sanctioning bodies that I am aware of except in a few professional classes that specify chrome-moly. I think this DOM thing is a classic case of monkey see, monkey do on this BB.

Originally posted by zags
DOM is a waste of money for a 4wd. It is not required by any racing sanctioning bodies that I am aware of except in a few professional classes that specify chrome-moly.

Ding Ding Ding! Correct answer!

DOM and ERW mild steel tube is used interchangeably for roll over protection in many racing competition specifications. The diameter of the tube required depends on vehicle weight. When these race cars roll, it is a hard one.

1 of several examples:
http://www.soloontario.com/pdf/2002Solo2Regs.pdf

I'm torn as well, and I am leaning towards HREW as well, (Camo's flops have swayed me to TyTy:D) but is there a weight issue as well? I'm going to go with an exo-cage, so there will be a fair amount of tubing. Weight not being a huge factor, but if it's a huge differance from HREW-DOM, I may sway to DOM.

FYI I called a local race shop yesterday about this. #1 they were floored when I said I wanted the cage on the OUTSIDE of my rig :D. #2 They will only use 1 5/8" x 0.083 Chromolly for their cages and they are 12 point cages and cost $1800 to start! :eek: I understand they are race cars and the lighter the better, and maybe chromo is required for whatever racing they do, but nearly 2K is far more than I can shell out :D

Not 4x related, but my bro and I are racing in NASA(North American Speed Association) American Iron class this year. With the weight of our car, they require that we use DOM, If it would've been 300lbs. lighter we could've used ERW. That being said, I'm not real big on DOM, but I'm going to use it in the main hoops for my heep.

Easy

I have no experiance with DOM cages yet..I have seen lots of HREW cages dent though...that's why I suggested using DOM or thicker material for the main parts that get landed on...:smokin:

the only reason to use dom is because it is around 20% stronger, this means you can use around 20% less material and get the same strength cage, is it worth it? I personally don't think so however if you intend on a lot of competition with the rig it might be a good idea, noone is gonna flunk your cage at tech cause its built out of dom. with hrew you never know.

Originally posted by Bones
They will only use 1 5/8" x 0.083 Chromolly for their cages

You don't want .083" wall for a cage that's gonna get slammed up against the rocks.

Jay

Originally posted by ROKTOY


You don't want .083" wall for a cage that's gonna get slammed up against the rocks.

Jay
Oh I understand that Jay ;) What are you using on that creation you are building? Keep it up...looks great and well thought out.

Whenever I can't decide on what part/material to use I ALWAYS err on the safe side. So if there is a question at all I would use the stronger material. I did, and I'm very glad I did.

Other than the two main bottom bars on toyfamily's buggy, the rest is constructed out of HREW. He runs the unlimited class in CAL ROCS and has flopped many times. Before moving to Chico, he got DOM dirt cheap and made most everything out of it, so he is partial to DOM and will build his next buggy with it.

Just a little food for thought,All IMCA modifieds are required to use is .095 HREW.
Think about how hard they roll and I think 2" 11 gauge (.120) is more than adequate for offroad purposes. :D

so couple questions,

if using HREW would it be benefitial to vary the wall thickness on critical areas of the cage?

and is there any compromise in the strength when mixing types of tube...ie welding DOM and HREW to one another?

A circle car fab guy told me that they use .065 wall, .095 in the corners cause the bends stretch it thin.

Originally posted by riksnacjnow
A circle car fab guy told me that they use .065 wall, .095 in the corners cause the bends stretch it thin.

there cages are designed to fold and buckle (while keeping the driver safe) to absorb the impact of a crash. Most people 4 wheeling are not going to want to rebuild the cage after every roll hence the thicker wall.

Originally posted by StupidTrooper
so couple questions,

if using HREW would it be benefitial to vary the wall thickness on critical areas of the cage?

No, .120 HREW is plenty strong. the weight savings from grafting different wall thickness tubing together would be lost in the sleeves requied to join them properly.

EDIT: It is a common practice to step down in diameter in some areas of a race car chassis to save a small amount of weight.


[i]and is there any compromise in the strength when mixing types of tube...ie welding DOM and HREW to one another? [/B]

No, not when the joint is made properly. i.e. sleeved, plug welded.
but again, HREW is plenty strong, so why bother?

Yes DOM of the same thickness and diameter is slightly stronger.
The point is that it is overkill. Why pay $6.00 per foot when the $2.00 per foot is more than adequate? Any cage will need close inspection and possibly replacement after a hard hit. If DOM brings you extra peace of mind, hey go for it. I guess I come from the way of thinking that cages and bumpers are disposable items that get beaten and used up.

a local race chassi builder states that the immeadiate "cage" around the driver's seat is dom .095 and the rest of tube is hrew......... thats according to local track specs...... i have a little of both in mine....... dom is cheap here though, so next time ill go all dom 3 something a foot if a recall....

i can't believe this this dicussion is happening agian... use hrew and be done with it. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Wilson
Other than the two main bottom bars on toyfamily's buggy, the rest is constructed out of HREW. He runs the unlimited class in CAL ROCS and has flopped many times. Before moving to Chico, he got DOM dirt cheap and made most everything out of it, so he is partial to DOM and will build his next buggy with it.

Yes, the buggy has now been flopped 7 times now with a few hard ones....and the buggy is fine. As long as the cage is reinforced in the right areas its no damage...DOM or HREW I will make the next buggy out of DOM BUT the HREW is holding up fine, in fact the biggest (and almost only) dent on the buggy is in the DOM

hrew is a good choice of material for a rock buggy.

fyi.

dom, cro-mo, and hrew all weight the same. the only way you save weight is to use thinner material.

just use .120 hrew and go beat the thing

Originally posted by zags



Yes DOM of the same thickness and diameter is slightly stronger.
The point is that it is overkill. Why pay $6.00 per foot when the $2.00 per foot is more than adequate? Any cage will need close inspection and possibly replacement after a hard hit. If DOM brings you extra peace of mind, hey go for it. I guess I come from the way of thinking that cages and bumpers are disposable items that get beaten and used up.

$6 a foot. You need to shop around. We got our DOM .120 wall for $2 a foot. I had sliders made from HREW .120 wall and they dented easily. The new ones made from DOM are holding up much better. Even my cooler mount is made from DOM.
If you feel safer using DOM, use it. If you want to be cheap, then be cheap. To each his own.:D

Originally posted by JackA


$6 a foot. You need to shop around. We got our DOM .120 wall for $2 a foot. I had sliders made from HREW .120 wall and they dented easily. The new ones made from DOM are holding up much better. Even my cooler mount is made from DOM.
If you feel safer using DOM, use it. If you want to be cheap, then be cheap. To each his own.:D
So you saying my sliders are cheeap? :flipoff2:

Just wait. I'm buying a JD2 Model 3 this summer. You can come up and bend till your blue in the face. Bring :beer: :D

Originally posted by Bones
FYI I called a local race shop yesterday about this. #1 they were floored when I said I wanted the cage on the OUTSIDE of my rig :D. #2 They will only use 1 5/8" x 0.083 Chromolly for their cages and they are 12 point cages and cost $1800 to start! :eek: I understand they are race cars and the lighter the better, and maybe chromo is required for whatever racing they do, but nearly 2K is far more than I can shell out :D

Originally posted by MattS
Just wait. I'm buying a JD2 Model 3 this summer. You can come up and bend till your blue in the face. Bring :beer: :D


Thanks Matt. I'm getting one more estimate from a guy in KC4WDA soon, if it's high, I might buy one as well :D Gotta learn eh? :beer:

Originally posted by Bones

Oh I understand that Jay ;) What are you using on that creation you are building? Keep it up...looks great and well thought out.

The main tubing is 1.75" x .120" HREW.
Jay