crazy roll bar question

[bakerboys]

Was wondering if any one ever used 3 " exhaust.pipe to make a roll bar for truck bed I am not worried about rolling my truck just for looks and to add lights on it. What do you guys think
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[Mike Bradbury]

The problem is the exhaust tubing is thin wall and cannot take a regular bend like a thicker walled tube. The exhaust tubing will be depressed by the die as it is being bent. It will look kind of funky with the corners compressed. The really trick exhaust systems use a mandrel bender which maintains the wall shape throughout the radius. Finding a shop with a mandrel bender is tough. I live in San Diego and my muffler shop had to order in sections from L.A. Then we had to weld the sections together. Welding on such thin tubing and making it look nice is difficult. I think you would have an easier time with the thicker walled tube just because the benders are more comon. Are you planning on chroming it or painting?
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[special-K]

You can get mandrel bent pieces and make a roll bar. You can also get mandrel bent roll bar piece and make a real roll bar. Personally,I'd never bother and put my money and effort where it counts. I've always seen roll bars with hi-power lights as an expensive bolt-on diversion from real world improvements to a 4wd. I think that's how others in the know see it,too. But,it's your truck to do what you want with. I like interior cages. Nothing says serious business like one of those. Again,,backing up the look is the main focus.

[bakerboys]

To answer first guy I will paint it black
Second guy my truck will never see off road. Mayby alittle mud but a little. I got the truck cause it is cool and I love the.way it looks I don't want to tear it up. I guess you would say I am a poser. But I really am a hotrodder love fast cars and drag racing just got truck cause it looks cool
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[Mike Bradbury]

If you are going to paint it black it might be a little easier to weld it since the weld will not show as much. I look at the issue in a couple of different ways. I explained the first last night, where I just think it would be a little easier to bend the thicker walled tube, but the second and maybe more important is if you ever sell the truck and some schmuck thinks he has a 3" roll bare to protect him them it might be a bad day for him.

Here is a shot of a MIG weld I needed to do for my side pipes that were 3" mandrel bent pieces. I had it on a positioner and it came out well I would not want to try to position a whole roll bar, so the welds would not be as clean as these. unless you are doing TIG, speed of travel is a huge factor in welding thin gage steel.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Yea i vote no on the exhaust pipe roll bar. It's your truck if you want one you should go ahead and put one on there. Having thicker pipe to do it with will just make it so much simpilier and easyier to do!
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[Zoomad75]

Call it a light bar and you'll get less flack. Personally I'd keep an eye on craigslist for a used light bar. It's still not going to protect the truck in a roll, but it will not look like somebody cobbled it together from 3" exhaust pipe either.

[bakerboys]

Yeah. Good idea
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[rayfinseats]

Most guys don't plan on rolling their vehicle. If you're gonna use muffler pipe you may as well just use PCV pipe. AND that's a bad ass lookin truck. I like it.

[maskale]

do what u want with ur truck, if its just for looks and lights then thin gauge will work, be sure to go with mandel bends, the welding will be tricky if ur picky and u dont want them to look like welds, ie: good welds that are ground smooth.

Seems all the light bars u see these days are several pieces. LIke was mentioned go with CL and look for an older 1 peice and recondition it.

[travmanzz]

I am wanting a nice triple double roll bar LIGHT BAR chrome, they were fawkin sweet looking in the day on lifted up trucks. I grew up working in a parts store and I remember them coming in and some of the sweet trucks they went on. i have searched and searched for one and cant find any new. I would find a painted one on CL and restore it if its not rusted to hell. but anyways just thought I would throw in my opinion its the Classic 80s look.

[a2tripp]

Originally Posted by bakerboys

Second guy my truck will never see off road. Posted via Mobile Device

[andrewmp6]

If your not going off road then why extra lights?

[bakerboys]

Because thats what I want
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[bakerboys]

haha your funny what the hell does MY truck and what I want on MY truck have to do with your truck .So people are going to see my truck and say man that truck here in N.C. makes those trucks in Elkhart Lake, WI look cheap... Really

[bakerboys]

I bought this truck because I like the way it looks
I spent alot of time on dragstrips and hotrodding spend lots of money and break things
I am out of that .I wanted something different and Love the look of these old trucks
I do not have to be a hardcore off roader to own a big truck I just spent $1000.00 in rear gears ,driveshaft,and u Joints because of previous owner.I am about to put in a new 350 engine SO I will drive my big truck and enjoy my big truck and If I want lights and never use them so what.Its my truck...

Thanks for your opinions but in no way am I cheapining your trucks

IS cheapining even a word lol

[travmanzz]

I agree its your truck, so whats the difference. Some people like to spend countless hours working on derby cars just to smash, I like to spend time and money on my vehicles to impress people I dont know. Different strokes for different folks. I say put a roll bar in with KC's and covers you never see hardly anymore and they would look sweet,RETRO. Oh I found a place that makes close to you too CHECK THEM OUT!!!

http://www.truckrollbar.com/3barphot..._WSPACERS.html

[travmanzz]

Some roll bar pics

[bakerboys]

Thanks
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