Jeep Cherokee XJ Pop Top

[Topgun514]

I am thinking about turning my Cherokee into a Westfalia style cruiser. I currently have a RTT and am thinking about selling it and creating a homemade pop-top similar to a westfalia. I like the idea of cab access from sleep (especially after camping in bear country).

I am in the very beginning of plans with this and would love some feedback on how I can do this. (and for around $500) I have all winter so time is on my side.

So far, I am thinking chopping either the whole roof or just an access port, having an aluminium or fiberglass topper that opens from elbow brackets or gas struts that open like the tailgate. I could somehow incorporate the drip rails as something to lock the tent down with. I also am not trying to do this as cheaply as the Jeepforum one, which I was unimpressed with the final product (though impressed with the ingenuity).

Please let me know some idea's, links to similar products like the Campteq for Cruisers. I know I may add in a medium sized support cage either by 2 or 3 contact points and would be sleeping at the roofline.

 

[Dan Grec]

Here's a guy doing exactly that on a Defender 110.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/117809-Making-a-ifting-roof-on-a-110

I'm sure you could borrow some of his ideas.

Should be an awesome project. I'll watch with interest.

-Dan

 

[JeepN95YJ]

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/jeep-gon-build-thread-665127/

 

[Septu]

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/jeep-gon-build-thread-665127/

I'm glad you pulled this up. I couldn't remember where I saw it.

 

[brushogger]

The main issue you will run into is the unibody construction. After cutting the top, considerable reinforcing will need to be done. These trucks are pretty flexy as it is. I'm not saying don't do it, just make sure it doesn't turn into something that will ball up like tinfoil in a wreck or rollover.


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[squareaffair]

this could be really neat - however the xj has much less interior volume than a 110 or a westfalia for that matter. popping the top is one thing, but its still going to be a trick to have sleeping and storage space. I have a rtt on my cherokee and i think its perfect, this ia a huge undertaking for a small convenience.
ALL that said if i were to attempt something like this, i might simply go with a xj with a sun roof or cut a sun roof and flush mount something like cascadia vehicle tents' mount baker to the roof of the cherokee, fibre glassing it (think the high roof 60 series land cruisers), and cutting the access to the tent area through the floor of the tent so its like the ursa minor jk pop up hard top. you would still need to creat some sort of load bearing support into the roof. actually cutting a larger portion of the roof is possible with a full cage but the roof is very much a part of the structure unless you do plan on going full cage.

 

[Topgun514]

Here's a guy doing exactly that on a Defender 110.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/117809-Making-a-ifting-roof-on-a-110

I'm sure you could borrow some of his ideas.

Should be an awesome project. I'll watch with interest.

-Dan

Thank you,

This is exactly what I need!

 

[Dan Grec]

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/jeep-gon-build-thread-665127/

Wow, it's almost like the Westie roof was made to fit.
IMO That guy did a bit of a rough job, but I bet if you took your time you could make it beautiful for the XJ.

-Dan

 

[mbryson]

The main issue you will run into is the unibody construction. After cutting the top, considerable reinforcing will need to be done. These trucks are pretty flexy as it is. I'm not saying don't do it, just make sure it doesn't turn into something that will ball up like tinfoil in a wreck or rollover.


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This will be a real issue. How's the black one above holding up? As mentioned, XJ's aren't exactly sturdy unibodies to begin with. Cutting the roof out isn't going to help.

 

[Dan Grec]

This will be a real issue. How's the black one above holding up? As mentioned, XJ's aren't exactly sturdy unibodies to begin with. Cutting the roof out isn't going to help.

Not sure if you saw the whole thread (it's worth it), the guy put a roll cage from a 4Runner into the XJ (fit perfectly) and he's had no problems at all.
Full flexed, all the doors opened and closed without a problem.

-Dan

 

[mbryson]

Not sure if you saw the whole thread (it's worth it), the guy put a roll cage from a 4Runner into the XJ (fit perfectly) and he's had no problems at all.
Full flexed, all the doors opened and closed without a problem.

-Dan

As we were building XJ's, we'd reinforce some area and stress would transfer to another area creating fatigue cracks at areas we hadn't addressed. It was an interesting process. (oddly enough, two of my three Jeeps have frames now...the other is a hooptymobile for my 16 yr. old to drive to school (ZJ))

Good deal that it's working for him! Definitely a cool concept

 

[Idahoan]

Sell it and buy a JK and an Ursa Minor top.

 

[brianjwilson]

Sell it and buy a JK and an Ursa Minor top.

I love the j30 top but man, if I didn't already dump a ton of cash into my JK I'd sell it for an 80 series land cruiser and a Campteq pop up. Those cruisers just seem like solid rigs.

 

[Idahoan]

I haven't seen that one before. Looks beefy.

What probs are you having Brian? Just Empty Every Pocket?

 

[brianjwilson]

I haven't seen that one before. Looks beefy.

What probs are you having Brian? Just Empty Every Pocket?

Yeah, basically. Just amazed at the amount of money I've spent (or am spending) to reliably handle 35s.