jeepmedic46
Expedition Leader
Congratulations on your purchase, Good times await you.
Exrunners Xj
- Thread starter SixLug
- Start date
Ive been wanting to get working on a platform for the rear of my Jeep, for storage under, and a sleeping surface on top. Here's what I came up with. The front platform section would be removable to allow use of the rear seats, as it is a DD. The rear platform could stay in all the time, however. Id like to get some input from you guys and gals. Thanks!
*Its not to scale and it was done with MS Paint, so be easy..ha.
**I just had an idea to have one more panel, that is either hinged or just separate, that will fill in the space created by moving and leaning the front seats all the way forward. That might be and extra foot or more.
*Its not to scale and it was done with MS Paint, so be easy..ha.
**I just had an idea to have one more panel, that is either hinged or just separate, that will fill in the space created by moving and leaning the front seats all the way forward. That might be and extra foot or more.
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Ok, heres the version with the seat forward, and the extra panel in place, gaining 10", for an overall length of 68". The picture shows the front seat leaning forward, but on my 98, the do not do this. They just lean up near vertically, and scoot forward a bit. There would also be 25" between the top of the platform and the ceiling.
A guy on NAXJA had the idea of installing 2 door XJ front seats, which WILL fold forward along with sliding forward, which could increase the distance by another 6" or so, putting it over the 6' range which would be nice.
A guy on NAXJA had the idea of installing 2 door XJ front seats, which WILL fold forward along with sliding forward, which could increase the distance by another 6" or so, putting it over the 6' range which would be nice.
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jeepmedic46
Expedition Leader
Nice looking Rig:smiley_drive:
wADVr
Adventurer
I have been kicking around a similar design for storage and a sleeping platform. I have thought about doing the same with the 2 door seats and extending the platform but have thought about making only one side be able to do this or at least have the option of only using one side at a time. Not like it would really help but having a little more room to move around and rummage through the storage below the platform would be nice, or at least i am thinking so.
I plan on installing a cage on my XJ so I would support the front of the platform using the B pillars, what have you came up with? Possibly some folding or hinged legs or something similar would work best, apposed to boxing in the front with plywood ect. This way you could fold it all back on the rear cargo area portion.
What material and thickness will you be using? In every attempt to keep my jeep as light as possible modifications such as these do not help
I plan on installing a cage on my XJ so I would support the front of the platform using the B pillars, what have you came up with? Possibly some folding or hinged legs or something similar would work best, apposed to boxing in the front with plywood ect. This way you could fold it all back on the rear cargo area portion.
What material and thickness will you be using? In every attempt to keep my jeep as light as possible modifications such as these do not help
XXXpedition
Explorer
something like this??
and don't forget the insect screens
I have been kicking around a similar design for storage and a sleeping platform. I have thought about doing the same with the 2 door seats and extending the platform but have thought about making only one side be able to do this or at least have the option of only using one side at a time. Not like it would really help but having a little more room to move around and rummage through the storage below the platform would be nice, or at least i am thinking so.
I plan on installing a cage on my XJ so I would support the front of the platform using the B pillars, what have you came up with? Possibly some folding or hinged legs or something similar would work best, apposed to boxing in the front with plywood ect. This way you could fold it all back on the rear cargo area portion.
What material and thickness will you be using? In every attempt to keep my jeep as light as possible modifications such as these do not help
Do you mean rummaging through the storage while your in the back? I dont really care about that part. As you can see in the drawings the front section will be completely removable when the back seats will be used (DD configuration). When in, it will be flush with the rear storage compartment, that will be hinged to open from the back. The section over the rear seat area (rear seat bottom removed for trips) will be able to open via a central hinge, left compartment from the left rear door, right compartment from the right rear door. This will creat the flat surface Im going for, with one extra panel somehow supported and inserted when the seats are forward, since Im a tall ********. Hopefully, the height I have measured for this will allow me to use the rear wheel wells as a support for each side. As for other supports, Im thinking what you are thinking and just have enough to get the job done, but not too much to create a lot of weight. These are things I will have to address when construction starts...Ill be able to "see" my ideas better that way. I have also been wondering about materials, b/c like you said, weight is a factor.
XXXpedition...that is nearly dead on. I would like the top of the platform to be as close to the inside panels as possible though, and either resting on or slightly above the wheel wells in the back. And you are the inspiration for the bug screens...I already told my lady that I would install those for when we camp if its summer out, to keep the windows down. I also already have the window visors on so if it rains, who cares?
The purpose for trying to get as much sleeping space as possible is for my 6' 2" frame AND for my girlfriend. If its just me, I can sleep diagonally, or with my head at the rear hatch and my feet between the front seats.
Thanks guys!
Explorer 1
Explorer 1
Great help from others!
It's great to see so many XJ owners helping each other!
Since I rarely take passangers and if I do it is only one, I wanted to maximize storage and sleep space, so I removed the rear seat completely and then added a deck that matched the level of the rear storage compartment. This gave me room for my 2nd battery and other odd and end that I take along. I am 6' 4" and simply slide the passanger seat forward stuff the foot hole with something and I have enough space to sleep and close the hatch if needed.
Before the most recent modifications I ran BFG 31x10.50 with very good results. I had a 3" lift at the time and with lockers went just about anywhere I wanted. The XJ can really flex as seen in this photo:
Great job so far on your XJ and thanks for sharing with us all.
Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1
It's great to see so many XJ owners helping each other!
Since I rarely take passangers and if I do it is only one, I wanted to maximize storage and sleep space, so I removed the rear seat completely and then added a deck that matched the level of the rear storage compartment. This gave me room for my 2nd battery and other odd and end that I take along. I am 6' 4" and simply slide the passanger seat forward stuff the foot hole with something and I have enough space to sleep and close the hatch if needed.
Before the most recent modifications I ran BFG 31x10.50 with very good results. I had a 3" lift at the time and with lockers went just about anywhere I wanted. The XJ can really flex as seen in this photo:
Great job so far on your XJ and thanks for sharing with us all.
Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1
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jeepmedic46
Expedition Leader
Very good job. Thank you for sharing:smiley_drive:
It's great to see so many XJ owners helping each other!
Since I rarely take passangers and if I do it is only one, I wanted to maximize storage and sleep space, so I removed the rear seat completely and then added a deck that matched the level of the rear storage compartment. This gave me room for my 2nd battery and other odd and end that I take along. I am 6' 4" and simply slide the passanger seat forward stuff the foot hole with something and I have enough space to sleep and close the hatch if needed.
Before the most recent modifications I ran BFG 31x10.50 with very good results. I had a 3" lift at the time and with lockers went just about anywhere I wanted. The XJ can really flex and see in this photo:
Great job so far on your XJ and thanks for sharing with us all.
Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1
:clapsmile
Nice info, and great looking XJ. Thanks for the input!! I really like that setup. I am just wanting more storage below the sleep deck so that is why Ill raise it up above the wheel wells. But since it is a DD, I want to retain the back seat. Great info though...Thanks!
So today I started my next modification. Im making quick-disconnect mudflaps for all four wheels. I personally love the look of mudflaps on a rig, and you cant hate the functionality. My tires stick out a bit past the fender flares, so I get mud and rocks flying up into the sides of the XJ all the time. The other day I was riding windows down on a wet gravel road and got all kinds of mud slung inside, so Im going to do something about it. I just purchased a pair of 18"x24" tractor trailer mudflaps for $30 shipped. Each one will be cut in half for 4 flaps total. This was an incredibly cheaper way of going about it, as big mudflaps are pretty pricey. The rest of the hardware I found laying around my fathers shop. So once the flaps get here, Ill try to do a small write up on their construction. A couple of things I had to get around: I had to work around the rear leaf springs which was kind of a pain, but I think I remedied this; XJ wheel wells are kind of small, even with 31's, and I have to keep the flaps from rubbing when the hang straight down; little hitch pins for the "quick release" are expensive and I need 8, but I dont know what Im going to do about this...either bite the bullet or figure something out. Ive already got all the measurements, and Ill update when I start.
saburai
Explorer
Not just yet. Money is a little tight at the moment, so Im working on smaller things here and there. Unfortunately, the widths and lengths of the rear platform tops are too long to be ripped from one 4' x 8' sheet of plywood which means Im going to have to get two sheets just to make it. I want to carpet it all also, so Ill have purchase that, along with hinges and other odds and ends. But as soon as I can get enough together to do it all at once, Ill definitely post it up.
saburai
Explorer
Great!
I'll be doing mine later in the spring. I'll be eliminating the rear seats or going to some sort of flip up single rear seat. Just working on the general design for now...