I have been looking at different cages trying to decide how I want mine. All I have figured out for sure so far is it is going to be a pain.
This is for a 2 door Cherokee that will see street and highway use (planning to drive it to Ouray [1100mi.] eventually), but not as a DD necessarily. Entry to the back seat is a consideration, and the wife and I are not getting any younger, so that limits designs some. Main thing is to keep myself and passengers safe while off-roading, most likely such things as a flop, maybe a over backward flip trying to climb something I shouldn't. It would not have to stand up to the forces of a desert racer or Nascar chassis.
A exo cage is out because of the local trails in my area. Tight trails in the woods like to grab anything that sticks out the side, and body damage is not a problem to an extent........ I do like that it would protect the roof/windshield in a flop/roll. Body damage just adds character as long as the doors work and windshield is intact, or can be replaced to keep it "street legal".
A internal cage would be fine, as long as I watch the head room, but dont protect the windshield in a flop/roll. Full X in the C hoop behind the rear seat, and probably welded wire mesh "fencing" to keep cargo in the cargo area if it should come loose (from tie-downs). Had a bad experience with that once, it wont happen again. Thinking a single diagonal behind the front seats, as a compromise to keep rear seat access easy.
Then I started seeing "hybrid" cages like the one in post #17 here..............
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/t ... ages/page2
I am liking this design idea. It protects the windshield a bit, and keeps the top of the cage away from my head. I might even add some smaller tube on top to make a roof rack out of the tube up there.
Has anybody done a Wag/Cherokee with a hybrid style cage like this?
What are your thoughts on the subject?
Jim