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TJ Rollcage - Installation

 

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TJ Rollcage

 

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Rock Hard 4x4 Parts TJ Rollcage

Being that I am an average driver on the trail and still learning (i.e.: don't do anything too radical or extreme), I wanted to find some more protection in the event of a rollover.  I went looking for a rollcage.  What I found on the market varied quite a bit. 

Option one.  A custom welded-in cage.  This is the best all around that you can get.  The problem with a custom cage is cost.  On the average I found that they range around $900.00.  I personally didn't have that much to spend on a cage at the time and for the type of trails that I run I don't need that much protection, yet.

Option two.  A weld-in kit.  These are roll bars that are pre-bent for your model jeep.  Most of these kits require some cutting of the bars for a custom fit, and you must weld-in the cage.  This is a good option if you are set-up to do this type of work on your jeep.  If not, you will have to find a shop that can do the work for you, and the cost for the kit and labor together are so close to a custom cage, so my thought...why bother.

Option three.  A bolt-in kit.    There are a few kits out there that don't require cutting or welding.  I'm sure we will see more in the near future.  I checked into three. 

The ORF Sport Cage for Jeep® Wrangler TJ.  What I found lacking with this cage was the front bar across the top of the dash, handles (for ease of getting in the jeep) and I'm not impressed with the mounting of the optional "streamer bars".  Price for this kit including 2 "streamer bars" is $438.98.

Challenger Performance Sport Bar Kit.  This is very much like the ORF Sport Cage with the addition of handles.  Spreader bars are an option as with the ORF cage, mounting is the same.  The price for the cage with 2 spreader bars is $462.85.

Rock Hard 4x4 Parts Ultimate Sport Cage.   The name alone says it all!  I finally found the cage that suited my needs perfectly!  This cage is very unlike any of the other cages on the market.  All connections to the factory bars are with 1/2" thick CNC machined clamping collars that are tightened using six 5/16 x1" socket head cap screws.  This kit comes with a crossbar above the dash for extra strength, handles and two center bars (spreader bars) with a 14 gauge plate welded between them.  The price for the front cage is $499.95.  The cage comes unpainted.

I ordered my Rock Hard 4x4 Parts Ultimate Sport Cage from Lewis after asking questions concerning the handles and how they effected the view out the windshield.  The cage was shipped via Overnite Truck Lines to my place of employment.  (Funny thing happened with this, a group of us went out to lunch that day and when driving back to work, I passed an Overnite Truck Lines truck making a drop-off a street over.  Oh man...I knew my cage was in that truck, and sure enough it was!)  We loaded the box into the back of a CR-V and took it home.  Started the install that night.

Unpacking

The cage came packed in a large box.  Wrapped and protected for shipping.  It comes with all the required hardware to install the cage in a handy ziplock bag and a sheet of instructions for installing the cage. cagehardware.jpg (12694 bytes)
Inspection of the machined clamps proved to me the pride of workmanship that went into Lewis' design.  The CNC machined clamps were thick and solid. cncclamp.jpg (10393 bytes)
All welds were complete without gaps. centerclamp.jpg (7408 bytes)
This is the front section of the cage that mounts with clamps to the existing stock bar down to the firewall.  It comes shipped as one completely welded piece for strength. frontcage.jpg (9362 bytes)
Here's a close-up of the crossbar joint.  Very solid.   Notice the angle iron that mounts to the firewall. weldfront.jpg (9262 bytes)
The top clamp and handle. handle.jpg (7892 bytes)
This is the second section of the cage.  Which includes the two spreader bars with the plate welded between them.  As you can see, Lewis has left a small gap between the top straight across bar and the front of the plate. centerbot.jpg (8090 bytes)
Here's a top view of the same section.  Here you can see the two clamps at the ends of the spreader bars that mount to the existing stock roll bar, the straight across bar and the topside of the plate. centertop.jpg (9088 bytes)

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Last modified: November 17, 2001