Bushings/sealing where cages go through body

[RatLabGuy]

I know a handful of guys here have done exo/hybrid cages where bars when through body panels to the inside.
What did you do about sealing the area around the tube so that wate etc wouldn't get in (or body/cage flexing didn't cause rubbing)
In this case it'sbe going into the side.
i'm thinking maybe something like a spring bushing where you have a flange around it. part going through the hole, outer ring covers it up, maybe puttying that sucker on there...?

 

[99ncxj]

Mine goes through the roof in 6 places and I cut the holes to where the tube was very a very tight fit. I just put some black RTV around them to keep the rain out. Seems to be holding up well after a few wheeling trips. No noise or leaks.

 

[4wheelBUM]

I know a handful of guys here have done exo/hybrid cages where bars when through body panels to the inside.
What did you do about sealing the area around the tube so that wate etc wouldn't get in (or body/cage flexing didn't cause rubbing)
In this case it'sbe going into the side.
i'm thinking maybe something like a spring bushing where you have a flange around it. part going through the hole, outer ring covers it up, maybe puttying that sucker on there...?

Good question man! I was thinking of doing the same thing to my Yota and dont want my 22 year old carpet top get wet either. Keep us posted on what you do!

 

[MarsFab]

See if you can find rubber grommets for trailer lights that fit the tube. The small ones for the orange or red corner marker lights I believe will fit 1.75.

 

[RatLabGuy]

See if you can find rubber grommets for trailer lights that fit the tube. The small ones for the orange or red corner marker lights I believe will fit 1.75.

Ah, good call on the application. I've been searching for grommets w/ a 1.5" ID, that'll probably be the tube size, but most are pretty small.

 

[catfishblues]

You can get neoprene or butyl rubber weatherstripping, c-shaped, in a strip. I can get you some if you want to try it. I've got about 500' at work we're not using. PM me your address. I'll send you a sample.

 

[91oneton]

See if you can find rubber grommets for trailer lights that fit the tube. The small ones for the orange or red corner marker lights I believe will fit 1.75.

ive used thses to go through a fiberglass hard top b4..... worked good

 

[jeepinmatt]

If it really needs to be sealed, something like a shifter boot might work with a hose clamp.

 

[Black Bear]

I would use these.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EAR-29G001ERL/

 

[RatLabGuy]

I would use these.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EAR-29G001ERL/

Hm, another interesting idea.
Although, that's a pretty big hole (3") to cut out just to pass a 1.5" tube...

 

[jeepinmatt]

Hm, another interesting idea.
Although, that's a pretty big hole (3") to cut out just to pass a 1.5" tube...

The hole only has to be as big as the tube. You put those on the outside, and screw/bolt them to the body at the flange. Here's a list of the available sizes:
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Part-Type/Firewall-Grommets/

This is exactly what I was envisioning with the shifter boot idea, only much nicer and lower profile. I'm glad to know they make such a product.

 

[Black Bear]

If your worried about its size, you could cut out the rubber, and make a new metal ring to go around it.

 

[StrokedWJ]

On last weeks episode of Extreme 4x4 they said something about this, except they didn't run the tube through the cab. They used two plates, one on the inside and one on the outside of the cab that were bolted together. He said to make one plate slightly larger than the other so the edges don't act like a metal shear.

Hopefully that made sense...I've never done anything with cages, just caught that piece of info from the show.

Edit, here's a couple of quick pics I found by googling Hybrid Exo Cage:

 

[burrellsjeep]

Mine goes through the roof in 6 places and I cut the holes to where the tube was very a very tight fit. I just put some black RTV around them to keep the rain out. Seems to be holding up well after a few wheeling trips. No noise or leaks.

This what I am going to do, on my floor pans where the cage ties to the frame

 

[99ncxj]

On last weeks episode of Extreme 4x4 they said something about this, except they didn't run the tube through the cab. They used two plates, one on the inside and one on the outside of the cab that were bolted together. He said to make one plate slightly larger than the other so the edges don't act like a metal shear.

Hopefully that made sense...I've never done anything with cages, just caught that piece of info from the show.

Edit, here's a couple of quick pics I found by googling Hybrid Exo Cage:

That was my original idea for going through the roof on mine but I ended up just drilling holes. Here is how mine turned out. This was taken before sealing them up.