Cut and clamp exhaust for breakaway protection?

[leaffan1988]

Last summer I high centered the gladiator and something hit the resonator (under the driver's seat area) hard enough to pull it the whole system causing the catalytic converter to pull away from the engine header. Which caused it to leak, a ticking noise, exhaust fumes, and a $2000 repair.

This year, I don't want to do that. So I am thinking about about cutting the exhaust pipe in 1 or 2 places and rejoining with a lap/band clamp. So next time it will just pull the pipe apart instead of pulling a bracket off the engine.

See this as a better alternative than muffler skid plates because I don't need extra weight to protect a muffler.
Better than replacing with an aftermarket exhaust system because I don't want to be loud while I'm trying to roll through the trails discretely.

Anyone see problems or better solutions?

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[whiteglad]

I just replaced that resonator with a length of 2.5" exhaust pipe. I got my local muffler shop to make it with the ends expanded to 2.58" ID. Cut off the resonator with a sawzall close to the body of it.

 

[leaffan1988]

I just replaced that resonator with a length of 2.5" exhaust pipe. I got my local muffler shop to make it with the ends expanded to 2.58" ID. Cut off the resonator with a sawzall close to the body of it.

The Internet told me that first resonator helps manage drone, so I considered replacing it with a lower profile res or glass pack... how does yours sound with a straight pipe?
Did you keep the big muffler and smaller down stream resonator?

 

[whiteglad]

I left the other two mufflers/resonators stock. On my 2020 the third, near the rear bumper, was bigger than the one on my 2022. On the 2020 I did not notice a difference in sound, but get a little more "growl" on the 2022 after deleting the front resonator. No drone on either year JT.

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