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-   -   Bed cage out of square tubing (http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/long-travel-suspension/272977-bed-cage-out-square-tubing.html)

Mxpatriot 04-13-2013 02:13 AM

Bed cage out of square tubing
I want to incorporate a tool box, battery box, and places for fuel jugs in the bed of my truck when I build the bed cage. It would be much easier for me to build these boxes out of square tube. The boxes will share tubes with the bed cage. Design is based around fitting a dirt bike on either side of the tool box (tool box will run front to rear of the truck, rather than side to side).

I also want to have points in the bed cage where tubing can be sleeved for a bed rack, for a roof top tent.

Assuming good geometry (redundant and equalized), is there a significant reason to not build the bed cage out of square tubing?

Conman117 04-15-2013 01:47 PM

I'd say go for it if that's what you want. I think most people go with tube because you can bend it for corners instead of having to weld whenever there's an angle, and because bent tube looks cool.
I don't see an issue with strength, as long as you make it out of equivalent(ish) size square tube.

esbyota 04-15-2013 03:01 PM

The reason tubing is used is because it is stronger on a 360 degree axiswhere square tubing is only strong in 4 planes. Square will tend to fold.

However, this is just numbers and theoretical yield points of material, andinternet fabbing. If you can design it in a way that functions properly, thendo it!

Mxpatriot 04-15-2013 05:03 PM

That's my concern. I think I am just going to gussett and plate the hell out of it.

KenLyns 04-15-2013 05:12 PM

If it's easier to build out of square, use square. A bed cage will never have "optimal" geometry full of triangulated (diagonal) members, because that would eat into cargo volume.

You can also use a combination of square and round tubing.

DTFtacoma 04-18-2013 01:50 PM

I say go for it!
