Jeep JKU rear storage system that includes dedicated freedom panel space

[Abe Froman]

Hi all.
I have a 2015 JKUR with the floor sub.
I also have an ARB 50l fridge.
I also have a bunch of random recovery and camping gear that needs dedicated storage (drawers)
Issue with all the commercially available systems is that they don't include anywhere to put the freedom panels.
I know a lot of people don't use them, but we do all the time. It rains most days here in the high mountains, so need easy access to them.

I am thinking an open slot on the bottom that the panels can slide in, then build ( or install if a commercial system) the storage system on top.
Issue: fridge in slide gets pretty high, and my short wife can't see in.
I don't want a drop slide for fridge.

Any ideas?

 

[HRPINDC]

Hey. This isn't the answer to your question, but maybe a solution nonetheless. Have you thought about this http://www.quadratec.com/products/11132_9301_07.htm ?

Just a thought. Good luck!

 

[Comanche Scott]

I've seen some folks take metal grill racking, and strap it to the bottom side of the sport bar above the rear seats. I'm wondering if the area between the rear cross member of the sport bar and the back of the top would be big enough to fabricate a "rack" to hold them up.
Something like psychosquirrel's rear drawer, only just a flat rack.
http://www.grenadeacorp.com/
Might be enough room to put the panels up there.
If so, that would make for easy access, and keep them safe/out of the way.
Hope this helps. :beer:

 

[pdxfrogdog]

Hey. This isn't the answer to your question, but maybe a solution nonetheless. Have you thought about this http://www.quadratec.com/products/11132_9301_07.htm ?

Just a thought. Good luck!

This is a great solution. Love the freedom panels, hate how bulky they are.

 

[HRPINDC]

I can't wait to see what Jeeps look like in 2915! Tell Marty McFly I say hello.

 

[Comanche Scott]

I can't wait to see what Jeeps look like in 2915! Tell Marty McFly I say hello.

One thing we have in common with Doc Brown...

"Where we're going, we don't need roads!" :victory:

 

[Abe Froman]

Ok. Fixed YOM of jeep.
Thanks for ideas so far.
I think I'm in the camp that I'd rather have an entire soft top for not much more money than a sun rider, but I do like them.

I think I'm going to order a drawer system from Drifta in Australia and just worry about the freedom panels later.

 

[HRPINDC]

Ok. Fixed YOM of jeep.
Thanks for ideas so far.
I think I'm in the camp that I'd rather have an entire soft top for not much more money than a sun rider, but I do like them.

I think I'm going to order a drawer system from Drifta in Australia and just worry about the freedom panels later.

I absolutely agree with getting the full soft top if that's a possibility, there's no substitute. I thought maybe you had storage issues with the HT.

 

[Abe Froman]

I really don't have a great place to store the HT.
Maybe I should figure that one out.
I need to build a shed for the HT.
I mean, I didn't buy a jeep to NOT take the top off.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Soft top is great except for back window

I have both the hard top, and premium convertible top.
Haven't put the hard top on in over a year now.
Love the convertible top, except for the back window. It is a total PITA.
Also having a boot that allows the top to be lifted up out of the way when it is down, would be a big help to using the back. There is a company who makes a boot like this, but I can't remember their name.

jscherb did a really cool "Soft Barn Door" system to work with the soft top on his TJ. For someone who likes to drop the top as much as possible, that would be a cool thing for the JK(U). It could then be stored on top of the sport bar.

I have the Jeep setup to sleep in the back, so we just use the driver side rear door to get in and out of.
The premium soft top is pretty quiet. I did an 18 hour drive pulling an empty car trailer, and didn't feel tired, or wired, from the white noise.
If there was a good solution for the back window which still allowed easy top storage, that would be awesome.

 

[HRPINDC]

I have both tops as well, but I like having the HT for the winter. Plus I like the way it looks. I end up renting a storage unit for six months a year to store it. The first year I kept it in my parent's backyard, but something took up residence in it. Took me two hours to clean the poop out of it and there are still stains on the inside. You're right about the back window being a pain, I look forward to the ease of the HT when I put it on.

 

[Kmrtnsn]

I do a fair bit of overlanding, off-roading, and a wee bit of rock-crawling in our JKU. We have a dedicated fridge slider, storage
Boxes for this and that, and bags for whatever. What I have never considered a pressing need for was a dedicated space for the freedom panels. If I feel a need to remove them then they go into the more than adequate storage bag and then either lashed to the roof rack or bungee'd to one of the barrier nets inside. A dedicated space would be a waste of precious little space that would more likely than not be used for something more useful.

 

[Blue Baby Sound]

The Teraflex rear cargo shelf isn't quite big enough for the panels, but they'll fit.
Panels are about 37"x28", rack is 45"x26". I use it to keep my tool trunk semi-secure when DD, and I put the trunk on it when wheeling.

 

[Abe Froman]

I do a fair bit of overlanding, off-roading, and a wee bit of rock-crawling in our JKU. We have a dedicated fridge slider, storage
Boxes for this and that, and bags for whatever. What I have never considered a pressing need for was a dedicated space for the freedom panels. If I feel a need to remove them then they go into the more than adequate storage bag and then either lashed to the roof rack or bungee'd to one of the barrier nets inside. A dedicated space would be a waste of precious little space that would more likely than not be used for something more useful.

This all makes sense.
I "feel a need" to take the freedom top off every chance I get. It's part of why I bought a jeep versus another landcruiser or similar.
In the summer, where I live, in the mountains at altitude, it rains; sometimes hails.........
Our summers are also beautiful, but short...
It rains Enough that I wouldn't want to be caught in the middle of BFE in a thunderstorm without an complete roof.
So if I have a built out rear storage system, and I am utilizing it to store other stuff in the dedicated spaces, where would the freedom panels go?
There would need to be an empty space for,the freedom panel, or something else would need to de displaced to free up room.
I was hoping to avoid a roof rack due to weight, I'd rather have a trailer.
If I had a roof rack that would be the ideal spot for temp panel storage.
I'm hesitant to get a roof rack, as I plan on this jeep having a soft top next summer.
If I had a soft top, I'd not have this problem, I'd strap them to roof when needed.


Working on solutions.
Thanks for all input

 

[Yuke]

The Teraflex rear cargo shelf isn't quite big enough for the panels, but they'll fit.
Panels are about are 37"x28", rack is 45"x26". I use it to keep my tool trunk semi-secure when DD, and I put the trunk on it when wheeling.

Does yours rattle like crazy?