Junkyard Dog's main focus is to take my children and I off highway in a safe and reasonable fashion. To that end, the stock 1995 "family style" sport bar installed by good old Chrysler just wasn't going to be trusted.  That meant starting a new cage from scratch. Some of you reading this would probably say, "why not just add to the family cage with some front bars, some gussets and be good to go?" When you've seen me wheel with a healthy fuel injected big block Chevy, you would be shaking your head "NO WAY!" I drive by brail and my Jeep  usually knows the "roll over" trick!

So with that in mind, it meant a full custom cage complete with seat tie-ins, full harnesses and enough head room to avoid slamming the noggin.

Many of you would say it's time to buy some DOM, break out the trusty JD2 and get to bending and burning metal. Quite frankly, I suck at bending tube. You really could call it kinking instead of bending. The last time I tried bending tube, I went through a few pieces of HREW and made some sort of really cool sculpture. I think it's rusting away someplace in my back yard... One other thing, although my welding is sturdy, it's not very pretty and I certainly didn't want to risk my family's lives with it. Someday, when I have more time I my hands, I will learn to bend tube.But for now I'd like to get out wheeling!

I searched the vendors on PBB looking around for someone with the eye to build a good solid cage that could take a hit and still allow my kids to get in the back seat with the top on. Yes, we will be running a top, doors and a dashboard. It needed to have seat and harness mounts, but have full door access. Safety was the primary criteria, but operability needed to have a say as well.

Considering how much searching I did checking out previous work, weld quality and bend symmetry, I really was quite happy when I found that Zach at A to Z Fabrication had some time in his schedule to put together a little something for me instead of building bumpers for Quadratec.

These are really awesome!!

Now I had to trailer the rig down there for him to work on it. Just another 8-10 hours each way to get something for done for the 'ole JunkYard DogÉ This seems to be a pattern! I made it safely down there, backed my trailer into his shop and started unloading the Dog. Zach's kind enough to hook the winch of his YJ to the back of the Dog to yank it off the trailerÉ Keep in mind that the Dog just got the axles swapped under it and it's sitting on rollers. No brakes, no parasitic drag to slow it downÉ I did ask Zach if he wanted to hook something to the front to work as brakesÉ SLAM goes the Dog into the YJ behind it. I think my question was a little late!

That really was a nice tailgateÉ also bent the heck out of my tub.

My poor tailgate! However, the stinger on the other rig was nice and solid stillÉ So considering his work took that hit, I had to have one. Zach agreed he had time to get Ôer done. He also talked himself into a set of shock hoops, as he didn't like the YJ ones that were in front.

He's a solid family man without fear to wear pink!

As you can see from the pictures, the work is top notch with great tube work and sturdy bends.

 He had another YJ in his shop that has seen its fair share of rolls in various competitions, so I have faith in this cage to hold a hit or three. I have yet to try it out; quite frankly I hope to never have to!

I am thoroughly pleased with my decision to use A to Z for my cage, and look forward to many years of wheeling this cage and front stinger.

That's Zach, next to his completed masterpiece all loaded up on my trailer, ready to go home. The stinger's not outlandish but functional, the radiator hoop is tight to the hood-line and the cage is stout as heck. Time to head home and install more goodies!

AtoZ Fabrication
58 South 2nd Street
Cressona, PA 17929

Phone: 570-385-3931
Fax: 570-385-3932