Pop-up top modifications?
- Thread starter Pskhaat
- Start date
BMAN said:
BMAN (what's your name anyways?), right now it's at 80", I figured I'm 5'10 (and the g/f's the same) and I fit fine in a standard doorway which is 80", so it seemed like a nice number. I originally was hoping to have an opening when the camper floor was folded out so I could crawl through, but given that I'm pushing length as it is I think the better alternative would be to have a hinged panel that I'd crawl up throuh and then close to stretch out fully.
S
Scenic WonderRunner
Guest
Forget that!........I found the solution!......Now it just needs a lift!:shakin:
and just think of the gas mileage!..........hehe
...........JUST KIDDING!
CL..............Thats a very Kewl drawing!.............now can you do one for my 4Runner?
and just think of the gas mileage!..........hehe
...........JUST KIDDING!
CL..............Thats a very Kewl drawing!.............now can you do one for my 4Runner?
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BMAN
Adventurer
Unfortunately those tents are no longer available new. Are you a VW junkie too or just scooped the pics from the Samba with an image search?
And the name's Branden... but BMAN is just fine by me and it's easier to type.
80" would seem real tight for me at 6-0. remember that the front side is very short. A stubbed toe in the middle of the night could make for a grumpy morning. Add 2" up high and you got something.
And the name's Branden... but BMAN is just fine by me and it's easier to type.
80" would seem real tight for me at 6-0. remember that the front side is very short. A stubbed toe in the middle of the night could make for a grumpy morning. Add 2" up high and you got something.
S
Scenic WonderRunner
Guest
I've always loved V~Dubs!
I've had two 1969 bugs..........and a 1972 VW Van.
In fact....my first car was a used, baby blue, 1969 Beetle (only two years old when I got it) with just 18,000 miles on it. The guy was asking $1,350. I told him I only have $1,100 cash in my pocket and I need a car for school and work. I drove home with it! The guy took such good care of it, there was not a scratch on it! I was in V~Dub Heaven! I waxed that thing every Sat......!:victory:
....oh......Yes I found the pics at Samba while doing a search for Westfalia Syncro's tonight.
I've had two 1969 bugs..........and a 1972 VW Van.
In fact....my first car was a used, baby blue, 1969 Beetle (only two years old when I got it) with just 18,000 miles on it. The guy was asking $1,350. I told him I only have $1,100 cash in my pocket and I need a car for school and work. I drove home with it! The guy took such good care of it, there was not a scratch on it! I was in V~Dub Heaven! I waxed that thing every Sat......!:victory:
....oh......Yes I found the pics at Samba while doing a search for Westfalia Syncro's tonight.
kcowyo
ExPo Original
I'll second how awesome Vince's Flipac is. I've had a chance to crawl all over it and I think it is a great system. All of the bed storage of a regular truck with a huge tent packed tightly into the closed lid. It's my favorite of all of the trick white Tacos out there. Unfortunately they don't make them for Wranglers.
I'm not sure, even at 5'10 how you would stand in the rear of a Wrangler, with a pop top tent. Seems like there wouldn't be very much headroom or foot room to move around. I like the Innovation-style campers too, but maybe there is a better solution to camping out of a Wrangler? If you're going solo, you could make a sleeping and storage deck like I made in my '84 CJ-7. However, for two people, you'll need another solution.
And now completely random, semi-hijack comment and pics. I was checking the local DOT web cams this weekend and I happened to notice an old school looking, pop top on a truck. It was open and I saved the pic. I hit refresh and it was closed, looking like any old truck topper. From these snowy and grainy photos, can anyone tell what type of topper this might be? These were taken on Teton Pass, which connects Jackson Hole, WY to Victor and Driggs, ID. One of the hairiest roads in the state.
I'm not sure, even at 5'10 how you would stand in the rear of a Wrangler, with a pop top tent. Seems like there wouldn't be very much headroom or foot room to move around. I like the Innovation-style campers too, but maybe there is a better solution to camping out of a Wrangler? If you're going solo, you could make a sleeping and storage deck like I made in my '84 CJ-7. However, for two people, you'll need another solution.
And now completely random, semi-hijack comment and pics. I was checking the local DOT web cams this weekend and I happened to notice an old school looking, pop top on a truck. It was open and I saved the pic. I hit refresh and it was closed, looking like any old truck topper. From these snowy and grainy photos, can anyone tell what type of topper this might be? These were taken on Teton Pass, which connects Jackson Hole, WY to Victor and Driggs, ID. One of the hairiest roads in the state.
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It's killing me not having SolidWorks on this computer to play with and post exact dimensions and fitment. I read your post on your trip in the CJ a while back, found it very interesting and a creative solution, but I need space for two to ride/sleep. The idea with the popup is that when the panels where you sleep are folded foward, you can stand in the rear (easily) fo access the sink and stovetop, which would be at about the hight of the hardtop as it sits currently, on the right side. Is it a tight fit? YES Is it feasible? Yes Will I try it, at least with a wooden mockup to test size/feasibility? Yes. It's not intended to be a living space in the back, just a place to put the panels in to sleep and possibly a cooktop area below (eventually) and cram as much storage of spare parts, tools, clothes, etc in.
Sorry for completely hijacking the V-dub post. I saw a 4wd one from maine at the post office on the way back from class today, looked very similar to the one posted by scott.
Sorry for completely hijacking the V-dub post. I saw a 4wd one from maine at the post office on the way back from class today, looked very similar to the one posted by scott.
S
Scenic WonderRunner
Guest
Thats OK...........I often talk to myself here..........very therapeutic!......LOL:ylsmoke:
BMAN
Adventurer
Carl,
Why not use a roof top tent over a stock Jeep hardtop? You'd get twice the sleeping room as the popup and if you add a lower tent surround (assuming a hannibal style clamshell tent) you could use that as the kitchen/changing area. Rig up a fold down window on the DS rear 1/4 window with stove attached to it. Something similar to Chuck's (Ursidae) fold-up windows on his Taco topper. The 1/4 would fold down and you could fab a support leg that would rest on the tire to support the table top. DOes that make sense? I suggest using the DS 1/4 because it is the one you need to see out of the least when driving.
Why not use a roof top tent over a stock Jeep hardtop? You'd get twice the sleeping room as the popup and if you add a lower tent surround (assuming a hannibal style clamshell tent) you could use that as the kitchen/changing area. Rig up a fold down window on the DS rear 1/4 window with stove attached to it. Something similar to Chuck's (Ursidae) fold-up windows on his Taco topper. The 1/4 would fold down and you could fab a support leg that would rest on the tire to support the table top. DOes that make sense? I suggest using the DS 1/4 because it is the one you need to see out of the least when driving.
That's one of the options I've considered, and I'm not set right now on the whole interior setup, if I did do it that'd be a long ways off, that's more of a pipe dream right now. I kind of like the ide of the fold up side windows, or the fold down side/shelf idea if it was done into the side of the camper. The thing I was hoping to avoid was being outside in the cold/wet trying to cook under a tarp on a stove. If I lived in the west I'd be far less concerned, but my hopes is that this will be used on camping trips across the country, around here in the mountains, the lake, wherever, and the weather's not always going to be sunny and nice out. This is kind of why I wanted provisions for a possible interior space later down the road.
Finding a roof rack capable of supporting the tent and two people is rather daunting. There are two rated at 400lbs but I've heard tales of both cracking under the weight of two people in a roof-top tent. The hard top will definately not support the weight, I'm affraid just to stand on the thing let alone sleep up there.
Another concern was cost. Most roof-top tents are in the neighborhood of $1000. For a college student that's a very large initial investment. The camper is something I can build in the garage in my spare time, a little along as slush funds permit. Rough cost of aluminum I added up to be around $150, plus paneling and hardware. Not that it wouldn't end up costing a significant amount more down the road, but less of an initial investment.
I also want to do something that no one's done before. Something a bit different. If it turns out to be a bad idea, I know what not to do next time, I'd like it to be something that can evolve and I can modify and pick at at make changes on. I'm still a firm believer that real trucks are built not bought, and I admire others' creativity, and it inspires me to try some different things on my own.
I do appreciate the comments and suggestions though! It's flexible, and it's a looong ways off.
Edit - Just caught your lower tent idea. That would be nice if I went with a rooftop tent setup, but again we're back into the $$$ lol
Finding a roof rack capable of supporting the tent and two people is rather daunting. There are two rated at 400lbs but I've heard tales of both cracking under the weight of two people in a roof-top tent. The hard top will definately not support the weight, I'm affraid just to stand on the thing let alone sleep up there.
Another concern was cost. Most roof-top tents are in the neighborhood of $1000. For a college student that's a very large initial investment. The camper is something I can build in the garage in my spare time, a little along as slush funds permit. Rough cost of aluminum I added up to be around $150, plus paneling and hardware. Not that it wouldn't end up costing a significant amount more down the road, but less of an initial investment.
I also want to do something that no one's done before. Something a bit different. If it turns out to be a bad idea, I know what not to do next time, I'd like it to be something that can evolve and I can modify and pick at at make changes on. I'm still a firm believer that real trucks are built not bought, and I admire others' creativity, and it inspires me to try some different things on my own.
I do appreciate the comments and suggestions though! It's flexible, and it's a looong ways off.
Edit - Just caught your lower tent idea. That would be nice if I went with a rooftop tent setup, but again we're back into the $$$ lol
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BMAN
Adventurer
How about a dormobile type of setup?
Add another panel the same size as the door that folds out to parallel w/ the ground out over the passenger side and you've got a "hardtop patio". Add some canvas hanging sides and then you have a nice private cabana.
Search google images for dormobile and check out all the VW's and other manufacturers. The doormobile setup adds a little more length to the area you can "stand".
Add another panel the same size as the door that folds out to parallel w/ the ground out over the passenger side and you've got a "hardtop patio". Add some canvas hanging sides and then you have a nice private cabana.
Search google images for dormobile and check out all the VW's and other manufacturers. The doormobile setup adds a little more length to the area you can "stand".
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Nullifier
Expedition Leader
Great Idea for a Jeep. I would say it would work really well on an unlimited since it would give you more length for sleeping. I would also not do a hinged design but rather fully raisable top like a sportsvan. This would be an awesome project sicne you cold probably build it into a factory hard top and it would be removable.
BMAN
Adventurer
Problem is... he doesn't own an unlimited. I really like the idea of a completely raised roof too. My only concern with that design would be racking of the top in windy conditions. I'd take a close look at a Maggiolina RTT before commiting to this design. They seem to have it figured out. You could borrow some design cues from them.
