Just dropped off my Rock Hard cage at the powdercoaters!
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 2
From: Gilbert, Arizona
Here are some updated pics of the cage after I buttoned up all the loose ends (no pun intended) this past weekend.
At first I thought I was going to have to trim the Freedom Top panels to make the upper bar's collars fit but once I tightened the 6 bolts up on each side, they squeezed in enough for the top to just slide right down. You litteraly have to work each side bolt by bolt to ensure it tightens uniformally and that the bar doesn't move on you, blocking that pin hole towards the front of the OEM bar.
Another problem I faced was remounting the speaker bar since the bolts that hold the center Rock Hard bar to the b-pillar center roll bar stick down a few inches. With some moving & shaking I was able to get it to fit along with installing my Rugged Ridge rear grab handles.
I also flipped my rear view mirror since it's useless anyway and I de-badged my sun visors of those warning stickers which in my opinion, makes it look better and doesn't make your eyes wander upwards when driving.
At first I thought I was going to have to trim the Freedom Top panels to make the upper bar's collars fit but once I tightened the 6 bolts up on each side, they squeezed in enough for the top to just slide right down. You litteraly have to work each side bolt by bolt to ensure it tightens uniformally and that the bar doesn't move on you, blocking that pin hole towards the front of the OEM bar.
Another problem I faced was remounting the speaker bar since the bolts that hold the center Rock Hard bar to the b-pillar center roll bar stick down a few inches. With some moving & shaking I was able to get it to fit along with installing my Rugged Ridge rear grab handles.
I also flipped my rear view mirror since it's useless anyway and I de-badged my sun visors of those warning stickers which in my opinion, makes it look better and doesn't make your eyes wander upwards when driving.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 1
From: Texas
I really like your Rock Hard cage. I was in a wreck recently with my JK and I came out with just scratches. However, if my wife or anyone had been in the passenger seat the outcome would have been life ending. I just got lucky and it wasn't my time. God just wanted me to go down some more trails. I am serious about doing something to strengthen the sport bar upfront. If someone thinks their winshield will take care of a rollover show them a coulple of these pics. Your improvement could be lifesaving. By the way I talked about doing this last February when someone else installed this cage. On June the 3rd I tested the limits and found out that I need this kind of mod not just for pretty. I hope that no one here at the Forum goes through this kind of wreck. It stopped upside down on the highway with my head on the pavement with no top on it and the passenger side crushed. Here are some pics of what's left of my JK.
Last edited by Geeper4x4; Jun 22, 2009 at 05:57 PM.