I made this a while ago (non bike related) [Archive] - SV650.org

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PoRk ChOp

01-03-10, 03:11 PM

Elmo my Chihuahua has caused a huge problem, if he is in his cat box in the car he sets the car alarm off :rolleyes:

So, as that then gave me an excuse to get a custom cage made for my Freelander I set about getting quotes. Now I'm not tight by any means and what I wanted was a little be out of the ordinary as I needed something for all three dogs, but it wasnt the Eiffel Tower, after nearly chocking to death with some of the figures that came back I thought to myself, how hard can it be to make it yourself???

So with that in mind, I went on every custom cage website I could find and stole all the best ideas :cool:

Then downloaded Google Sketchup 7 which is like a very basic free version of autocad and set about designing something.

I then bought a MIG welder :D

Then bought the materials

Then set about teaching myself how to weld having a mate give me about a 1 hour lesson.

Every single piece of metal was cut by hand and took an age to do :evil: I have no idea of the total amount of time taken to make this from start to finish, but it's in excess of 40 hours I would think. I now understand why they cost so much money.

Here is the final results and I must say, I'm pretty pleased :p Much better than my single door Barjo, it doesnt rattle a single bit either.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/smashy41/Freelander/IMG_3063.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/smashy41/Freelander/IMG_3065.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/smashy41/Freelander/IMG_3067.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/smashy41/Freelander/IMG_3071.jpg

God forbid if I have have an accident with the dogs in the car, they can 'all' escape into the main compartment of the car.

Freelanders have the smallest of boots, so I have had to really think hard about making this giving all the dogs enough room. The bottom left hand cage is a fraction larger than the right, Ollie my Spaniel always sits on the left side and Skye my Collie is always on the right. The top ones are taller at the back and shorter on the front, this was done so I could keep as much height as possible in the lower cages.

As you can see, the only way to fit them is to take the hard top off :smt103

When we are at agility shows the dogs spend a lot of time in the car so it has to be comfy and secure. I can leave the boot open and just lock all the cages so that the dogs are secure.

Not bad for a software engineer who has never welded before :cool:

Sorry it's not bike related, I just wanted to show off ;)

shifter

01-03-10, 03:19 PM

Nice job!

The Guru

01-03-10, 03:20 PM

Good effort! :cool:

the_lone_wolf

01-03-10, 03:21 PM

That looks very professional, would like to get into welding myself as there's always bits that could use it

gettin2dizzy

01-03-10, 03:43 PM

Very nice mate. Which welder did you buy?
Also, what did you use to bend the box section?

PoRk ChOp

01-03-10, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the nice comments

Very nice mate. Which welder did you buy?
Also, what did you use to bend the box section?

Clarke 160TM

It was 20mm x 20mm box. It was all cut as sections, welded and then smoothed with a grinder and flap disc.

The two long sides, I just cut out V's where I wanted the bend and bent it by hand

Speedy Claire

01-03-10, 04:51 PM

That looks fantastic and really professional. Well done :D

dizzyblonde

01-03-10, 05:18 PM

Wideboy

01-03-10, 06:12 PM

ahh wish i could weld that neat, i only weld stuff thats not seen :lol:

well done :)

PoRk ChOp

01-03-10, 06:24 PM

Is that variety freelander boot smaller, as we don't seem to think the V6 boots small...:confused:

Apart from that, thats some good work on your part, fancy making a dog grill for ours?
Don't trust ready made ones, our two dogs would bend them in half and be sat on the knee of the driver!!
Seriously not sure how strong the official Landy versions are but they are expensive:o

Absolutely fabulous job:cool:

I'm 99% they are all the same floor pan regardless of 3 or 5 door. My last car was an estate which had a huge boot, the Freelanders just seem on the small side.

I have an official Landrover boot guard, the one between the back seats and boot which is really good, your more than welcome to it as it's just sat in my garage, it was an eBay bargain and only cost me about £20.00. I think they are about £100ish new.

As for making the tailgate guard, I just don't have the time ATM sorry.

Pm me if you want the boot guard though.

missyburd

01-03-10, 06:42 PM

Good job Matt! Probably silly question but the 2 top compartments, one of those for Elmo? or does he get a luxury perch in the front seat? ;-)

dizzyblonde

01-03-10, 07:49 PM

PM'd Mr Chop.

PoRk ChOp

01-03-10, 08:14 PM

Good job Matt! Probably silly question but the 2 top compartments, one of those for Elmo? or does he get a luxury perch in the front seat? ;-)

Yeah one of them is for the little fella, he loves it, he just lays down and looks out the back window lol. The other side is waiting for a fourth dog ;)

PM'd Mr Chop.

Pm'd ya back :)

missyburd

01-03-10, 08:17 PM

Yeah one of them is for the little fella, he loves it, he just lays down and looks out the back window lol. The other side is waiting for a fourth dog ;)

Oooooo tell tell! :D

PoRk ChOp

01-03-10, 08:37 PM

Oooooo tell tell! :D

Haha. I would kill for another Collie although I don't think it would fit in the little cage ;) Soooo another long coated Chi might be on the cards in a year or so. Elmo needs something his own size to boss about.

missyburd

01-03-10, 08:48 PM

Hehe look forward to more fabulous photos when that time arrives then :D

dizzyblonde

01-03-10, 09:04 PM

Elmo needs something his own size to boss about.

All little dogs think they are the size of a Rotty anyway don't they??:smt082

I know of a Yorkshire Terrier who seems to think so!

PoRk ChOp

01-03-10, 09:17 PM

All little dogs think they are the size of a Rotty anyway don't they??

Yup, my soft as **** Springer and very dominant Collie back off him if he 'kicks off'. He only kicks off when they start playing a bit to rough though.

Quiff Wichard

06-03-10, 04:48 PM

what a great job,

nearly as well engineered as my gsxr pannier holders .. hee hee

just dont get mixed up and try and squeeze a collie in to one of the top compartments.. lol

shonadoll

06-03-10, 05:31 PM

That's absolutely amazing, well done, looks totally professional.