square vs round

rockmike · Mar 5, 2009

Im getting ready to buy some link material for my build.I was looking for some opinions on useing 2"x.250 wall square for my bottom links vs 2"x.250 dom round.Ive been quoted $4.45 per foot for square vs $11.70 per foot for the dom.Big saveings useing the square.Discuss please,thanks Mike.

Roccrawler · Mar 5, 2009

had square on my last rig and it worked great. I dont know if you could bend it. it just looks booty fab though

rockmike · Mar 5, 2009

Roccrawler said:
had square on my last rig and it worked great. I dont know if you could bend it. it just looks booty fab though

Is that what you used the 2'' .250 wall on the square links?

Roccrawler · Mar 5, 2009

rockmike said:
Is that what you used the 2'' .250 wall on the square links?

i think it was 2.5x2.5 .250

Roccrawler · Mar 5, 2009

here............

crash2 · Mar 5, 2009

Those links made that rig fall over all the time

I have seen square links work, just never looked right to me

Roccrawler · Mar 5, 2009

crash said:
Those links made that rig fall over all the time

I have seen square links work, just never looked right to me

that they did :redneck:

rockmike · Mar 5, 2009

Im concidering useing the 2'' .250 wall square and put a slight bend on them close the axle end then fish plate them at the bend for extra strength to gain extra link clearance.

What do you guys think of doing that?

Roccrawler · Mar 5, 2009

rockmike said:
Im concidering useing the 2'' .250 wall square and put a slight bend on them close the axle end then fish plate them at the bend for extra strength to gain extra link clearance.

What do you guys think of doing that?

they kinda protect your driveline a bit ??

rockmike · Mar 5, 2009

Agreed,Im going take a good look at this tonight and see if theres room to do this.

rockmike · Mar 5, 2009

So what you guys take on will the square be more prone to bend than the round??

rockmike · Mar 5, 2009

Been searching my arse off and found this.

According to a quick force analysis the round would be better. I did a quick and dirty analysis in cosmos of 2 inch 1/4 wall round and square. Subjected both to a 50000N load which is rediculous for what they would see in crawling. The round had a 12.5% better factor of safety than the square. Both failed, but I expected that with the force I was putting them under. This is with the force applied at the center of a 36 inch link. This is also assuming that the force is directly into the links not at an angle. The round wouldn't care about the angle, but thee square would getter weaker as the force became more angled towards the corners.

Bunk1 · Mar 5, 2009

I have a bunch of 1 3/4 3/8ths wall dom for 12.50 a foot if yer interested...PM me if so.

crash2 · Mar 5, 2009

rockmike said:
Been searching my arse off and found this.

According to a quick force analysis the round would be better. I did a quick and dirty analysis in cosmos of 2 inch 1/4 wall round and square. Subjected both to a 50000N load which is rediculous for what they would see in crawling. The round had a 12.5% better factor of safety than the square. Both failed, but I expected that with the force I was putting them under. This is with the force applied at the center of a 36 inch link. This is also assuming that the force is directly into the links not at an angle. The round wouldn't care about the angle, but thee square would getter weaker as the force became more angled towards the corners.

Round is constant strength at all angles--where square is not.

Roccrawler · Mar 5, 2009

rockmike said:
Been searching my arse off and found this.

According to a quick force analysis the round would be better. I did a quick and dirty analysis in cosmos of 2 inch 1/4 wall round and square. Subjected both to a 50000N load which is rediculous for what they would see in crawling. The round had a 12.5% better factor of safety than the square. Both failed, but I expected that with the force I was putting them under. This is with the force applied at the center of a 36 inch link. This is also assuming that the force is directly into the links not at an angle. The round wouldn't care about the angle, but thee square would getter weaker as the force became more angled towards the corners.

sounds good, 2" seemed a bit small to me when you mentioned that.. good luck with your build:;

sarg · Mar 5, 2009

I think the other issue with square is the tube insert, last year grama ripped his **** apart on the outlet mall. I run 2inch 120wall sleeved over 1.75ich 250wall dom tube and they have held up very well but the next level is heat treated cromo.