challenge truck re build

Though Id do a thread on a challenge truck re build I started today.
It originally had a really bad cage, badly fitted.
There is lots to do like making alloy fuel and hydraulic tanks though Im not touching the suspension as he has been winning with the set up.
First job today was to refit the x member which the owner had fitted himself with pigeon **** and chemical metal.
I repaired the rot, moved the xmem back 200mm and up 40mm

It's a matter of one before someone gets hurt doing these winch
Comps and as soon as the msa put down regs for cages ect the better IMO. There are so
Many abortions out there not even following a proper cage design just some home made guess work that's got to be better than nothing when just another few hours work and
Money and it would have Been a legal safe cage. Ebay prices reflect the real cpmp
Motors compared to the Home abortions real cage circa 5k up bull**** ones 500 quid up!

Im not prepared to say who did the cage, it was shocking.
All I will say is his firm is now well known.
Dont worry I stress calc everything

If you follow the designs as per msa specs blue book you can't go far wrong. Many a "professionsl" cage is erm not great especially if its been welded at home with a new little 100a mig.

No need to worry Clive's mig is not your average DIY home jobby. Neither is his welding!

Shifty1962 said:

No need to worry Clive's mig is not your average DIY home jobby. Neither is his welding!

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Thanks shifty. The cage will be tig welded which gives a perfect weld, no sparks which means I wont hurt glass etc

pressbrake said:

Thanks shifty. The cage will be tig welded which gives a perfect weld, no sparks which means I wont hurt glass etc

Click to expand...

It might do when you do it but all that happens to me is I end up sticking the torch to the job I cant get the hang of working a pedal while feeding filler and moving the arc all at the same time.

BTW me new xmember has not fell off yet so I'm just masking everything up to spray it at the weekend.

little update

lookin gd

Coming along nicely

Thanks,the owner sent me some money last night so the build will speed up,trust can only keep you going for so long

pressbrake said:

little update

Click to expand...

lovely work

looking very nice indeed, bet Jai still has something to say though

you know you won't be able to help yourself Jai :rofl:

Nice work

Actually I do it's very nice!!

It's a proper rebuild and a proper cage to spec not the usual look how fantastic my bull cage is isnt my old wrecked motor looking fantastic now it's got cut n shut scaffolding in some home made shape resembling a real cage but doesn't do owt but make it look to be built poor

Even tho scaf can be legal usually the
Design shape fails


Press brake has done a good job!!

We pressbrake and I have debated before about cage material and we go different routes but neither is right or wrong just different!! both meet spec!

Thanks jl, what I will say about material is that I use 3.2 mm wall cds which is the same as blue band sch 40 whereas most builders using cds use 2.6mm wall which as we both agreed before really isnt good enough and for the sake of saving £1per metre false economy

As you see I'm hard to please but it must be saiid it's nice!

A well made cage is art as above

I like blue band red band for toughness swings n roundabouts
most use thinner walled cds and I believe for challenge trials it's just of tough enough

But press brake is using thicker walled that's over and above min spec

How many off the shelf north Offroad protection and performance and safety devices cages deform after a slight knock to a tree?? Anyone who knows challenge or trials knows bouncing off trees could be every single section so toughness is key to these events comp safari then thinner walled tubing has it's place for weight saving but again me personally would take the weight penalty and run a tougher cage knowing that is should not deform even in a big off

Swings and roundabouts but pressbrake very nice!!

does the 2.6mm blue tube meet current regs, i only ask cos ive bought a cage for my 90 pick up made from blue tube, not going to be doing trails, just p+p and laning, but it would be nice to know if its ever needed, it would be of some use

its fine ,99% of cages use 2.6 wall ,I just dont like it for challenge stuff

Had another couple of days on the truck, unfortunately the owner insisted on tube tree sliders which WILL bend , but what do I know