98+ Ranger cage

[2000sprerunner]

anybody have any experience with the Solo or T.E designs precut cages? I'm sure they are both good products, just looking for any first-hand experience if anybody has put one together.

 

[59sled]

anybody have any experience with the Solo or T.E designs precut cages? I'm sure they are both good products, just looking for any first-hand experience if anybody has put one together.

Don't have any feed back now. But my kid ordered the Solo cage kit for his Ranger and is having @the_fablab_ install it in a month or so.
But there should be some fabricators on here that have put them in.
There is a kid on Instagram (BOBBYDRICE) that had someone put in the T.E. Design cage back in 2021. He mentioned "Having to redo plenty of tubes and improvise here and there". But that was back in 2021 so made things have improved since then.

 

[the bodj]

Don't have any feed back now. But my kid ordered the Solo cage kit for his Ranger and is having @the_fablab_ install it in a month or so.
But there should be some fabricators on here that have put them in.
There is a kid on Instagram (BOBBYDRICE) that had someone put in the T.E. Design cage back in 2021. He mentioned "Having to redo plenty of tubes and improvise here and there". But that was back in 2021 so made things have improved since then.

I built the backhalf on Bobby's truck and asked him about the cage. He said BTF did the install, and I think he said it was an early cage that needed some work to get fitting properly. I'm not sure if they've since made adjustments, but it was a few years ago when I talked to him about it.

That said, I have installed a Solo cage in a bronco years ago and the instructions were terrible. I didn't do a great job (basically working alone for the whole thing) getting it fit in and squared up, so I ended up having to grind stuff to make fit and redo a couple small tubes. However, I welded a Solo cage that @the_fablab_ fit and tacked in place, and it was much better.

 

[59sled]

I built the backhalf on Bobby's truck and asked him about the cage. He said BTF did the install, and I think he said it was an early cage that needed some work to get fitting properly. I'm not sure if they've since made adjustments, but it was a few years ago when I talked to him about it.

That said, I have installed a Solo cage in a bronco years ago and the instructions were terrible. I didn't do a great job (basically working alone for the whole thing) getting it fit in and squared up, so I ended up having to grind stuff to make fit and redo a couple small tubes. However, I welded a Solo cage that @the_fablab_ fit and tacked in place, and it was much better.

Bobby's truck rules. I remember seeing that you did the back half with the Link Killer kit. Wasn't sure about the interior cage though.

 

[NODNARB]

I’ve installed a couple solo kits. They’re pretty good. Definitely do require cutting a lot of the inner sheet metal out, not sure about the TE designs cage.

 

[RW81]

Friend installed a solo cage, came out pretty good actually. Like said above you do have to cut out sheet metal bracing in the cab, but that makes for a better fit.

 

[Hi-Desert Motorsports]

Have installed the TE designs cage in a 97 ranger earlier this year. Tube fitment and install was relatively smooth, I think we had maybe 1-2 tubes that need the notch cleaned up for a tighter fitment. Cutting out all the inner sheet metal in the roof is a must! But overall The cages we receive are pretty good. Cant go wrong with either.

 

[BFAB]

I have done several TE cages. Probably in the ball park now of 10-12 of them

They have all had their hiccups and pros & cons.


Currently doing the 98-11 cage right now.

Did my 93-97 ranger cage in my personal truck as well



The customer service at TE is awesome and they really do what they can to help with anyone.

They aren’t 100% perfect but I will tell you this if you and 4 friends wanted to you could cage a truck in a weekend with their stuff

 

[the bodj]

View attachment 33215View attachment 33217I have done several TE cages. Probably in the ball park now of 10-12 of them

They have all had their hiccups and pros & cons.


Currently doing the 98-11 cage right now.

Did my 93-97 ranger cage in my personal truck as well



The customer service at TE is awesome and they really do what they can to help with anyone.

They aren’t 100% perfect but I will tell you this if you and 4 friends wanted to you could cage a truck in a weekend with their stuff

View attachment 33220View attachment 33221

Aside from cutting the sheet metal first, what is your preferred order of operations when installing these cab cages? I'm probably going to be installing one in a few weeks. I'm guessing set the A Pillars in place first, held up by B and C pillars, then a plethora of ratchet straps to keep things tight while the rest get added?

 

[BFAB]

Aside from cutting the sheet metal first, what is your preferred order of operations when installing these cab cages? I'm probably going to be installing one in a few weeks. I'm guessing set the A Pillars in place first, held up by B and C pillars, then a plethora of ratchet straps to keep things tight while the rest get added?

Pretty much


Steps I take..

1. Regretfully cut and trim all interior sheet metal/frame work.
2. Measure and cut holes above rear window for mains to stub out the rear.
3. Assemble upper roof section and dash bar and intrusion bars.
4. Lower upper structure to weld 360 and paint. Line up in cab square to A pillars.
5. I like to start from the C pillar/Rear wall section and move forward since the lacing will kind of start to just lay everything in place. The door bars typically get the distance from B to A Lined up.
6. You can typically get 95% located into the truck with pretty minimal work. I do small tacks that can be cut easily just incase you have to move things around to keep it square.


Rachet straps and 2-3 people will be your saving grace. It can be done by yourself but i would wear a hard hat when the tubes start to fall down lol

The cage kits are all etched with landing and junction marks to locate the cage together. I use a Sharpie and go mark all tubes numbers, and etched marks. These kits are not perfect but they take away 80% of the time it would take to make a cage from a tubing rack..

 

[the bodj]

That's good info! Thanks!

 

[the_fablab_]

My two cents as someone who has done a few TE cages and a lot of Solo cages.

The TE cages aren't well though out as far as where tubes land. They were clearly drawn on a computer from a 3d rendering of a completely gutted sheet metal cab with 100% of extra sheet metal already removed with no concern for things like factory body mounts, structural sheet metal for door, firewall and floor areas. Once drawn, they cut the cage out and verify it fits in the test truck and that, IMO is backwards to how a cage should be designed. I also personally feel like the TE cages have an excessive amount of unnecessary tubes and gussets too.

The solo cages are superior as far as ease of install, design, and the right amount and sizing of tubing. They prototype the cage by building the cage manually, then rendering it into a drawing, taking into account stuff like body mounts and structural sheet metal in and on the cage that will help the cab structure last longer. The Solo cage comes with access a dropbox folder(s) full of hundreds of reference photos. They are also local to SoCal (which is a benefit to a majority of us) and very helpful over the phone, if you end up with any an additional questions the dropbox photos are unable to answer.

First time to first time, you can bang out a Solo cage in under half the time it'll take you to do a TE cage.

 

[59sled]

I was waiting to see if Mikey from the fablab would chime in. He's currently putting in the Solo cage into my kids 2004 Ranger.
What I didn't realize but Mikey pointed out to us. Is that Solo markets these prefab cages for the years 1986 to 2012 Ford Rangers.
That's 3 different generations of Rangers that these are supposed to fit. So there is definitely going to be some adjustments needed.

 

[the bodj]

My two cents as someone who has done a few TE cages and a lot of Solo cages.

The TE cages aren't well though out as far as where tubes land. They were clearly drawn on a computer from a 3d rendering of a completely gutted sheet metal cab with 100% of extra sheet metal already removed with no concern for things like factory body mounts, structural sheet metal for door, firewall and floor areas. Once drawn, they cut the cage out and verify it fits in the test truck and that, IMO is backwards to how a cage should be designed. I also personally feel like the TE cages have an excessive amount of unnecessary tubes and gussets too.

The solo cages are superior as far as ease of install, design, and the right amount and sizing of tubing. They prototype the cage by building the cage manually, then rendering it into a drawing, taking into account stuff like body mounts and structural sheet metal in and on the cage that will help the cab structure last longer. The Solo cage comes with access a dropbox folder(s) full of hundreds of reference photos. They are also local to SoCal (which is a benefit to a majority of us) and very helpful over the phone, if you end up with any an additional questions the dropbox photos are unable to answer.

First time to first time, you can bang out a Solo cage in under half the time it'll take you to do a TE cage.

This is good info, too! I remember talking to you about fitting the dash in the newer cab. What else did you find is needed when putting it in a newer cab?

 

[the_fablab_]

That’s it. Just the way the column and dash mount to the body.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

I was waiting to see if Mikey from the fablab would chime in. He's currently putting in the Solo cage into my kids 2004 Ranger.
What I didn't realize but Mikey pointed out to us. Is that Solo markets these prefab cages for the years 1986 to 2012 Ford Rangers.
That's 3 different generations of Rangers that these are supposed to fit. So there is definitely going to be some adjustments needed.

View attachment 33234

this thing is coming out so rad!