Barn Door for JK factory hardtops

[jscherb]

Something interesting I found at SEMA this week - liquid containers that mount similarly to the Rotopax and Kolpin style containers. I got several samples from the company - two 10 liter (2.5 gallon) and one 5 liter (1.25 gallon), plus a mount and several extensions.

They've got a very nice stacking mount - the base mount bolts to whatever surface you're mounting to, and as you need to stack more containers on the mount you add an extension when needed - the extensions just spin in place on top of the previous container (the Rotopax system requires that the extensions be bolted in place prior to putting the containers on).

In this photo I've stacked all three using the mounting system:

The containers come in red, orange, blue, black and white, and there's also a 20 liter (5 gallon) one, the blue one in this next photo is 5 gallon:

When I get back I'll try out the system in various places on the Jeep and see how I like it. One thing I like already is the price - the wholesale prices they quoted me would indicate these could retail for considerably less than the other solutions on the market.

I don't sell anything of course, so if I decide I still like these after testing them I'll see if I one of the companies I've done designs for is interested in retailing them (the company showing them at SEMA is an offshore company and doesn't sell retail in the US).

 

[bknudtsen]

Hopefully it's not this offshore company...

http://www.fourwheeler.com/sema/201...-at-2016-sema-show-u-s-marshals-serve-papers/

 

[jscherb]

Hopefully it's not this offshore company...

http://www.fourwheeler.com/sema/201...-at-2016-sema-show-u-s-marshals-serve-papers/

I happened to be passing by that booth while the Marshals were shutting that company down. The infringing product seemed to be an angry bird grille, at least that's what I'm assuming because that what the Marshals confiscated from the booth.

 

[bknudtsen]

I didn't know so many people wanted frowny-faced Jeeps... who knew???

 

[unkamonkey]

I always wondered why somebody would want to abuse their Jeep by putting a grille like that on it.
This is from a guy that has 2 CJ3Bs or "horse faces".

 

[Zeep]

Interesting looking hood on the gray jeep. Looks very CJ ish.

 

[rubicon91]

A few more photos of the Jankel "J8" I spotted at SEMA with the HD hinges. It's actually not a J8 despite looking exactly like one - it's a JKU conversion. They're not allowed to sell J8's to the public but because they believe there's a market for a J8 style Jeep in the consumer market, they do conversions.

I like that look. Especially top down that has the best sharp as hell. Hope you enjoyed Sema. I am talking about a must need to go next year. Take care Jeff and let me know next time you are down my friend.

Donny

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[rubicon91]

A couple of new hardtops I saw this week at SEMA, both by a company called Cliffride. The first one is a JKU top with a raised roof and Alpine windows. It's got a recess at the front for a light bar (not sure what the recess looks like if you don't want a light bar). Has a glass liftgate on the back.

The designer of the above top recognized me even before I introduced myself; he said he follows my projects on the forums .

He also did this JK-styled TJ top:

Hmm not sure how I feel about these hard tops. Granted after seeing your safari top in person I can see why I feel this way.

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[rubicon91]

A few more photos of the Jankel "J8" I spotted at SEMA with the HD hinges. It's actually not a J8 despite looking exactly like one - it's a JKU conversion. They're not allowed to sell J8's to the public but because they believe there's a market for a J8 style Jeep in the consumer market, they do conversions.

I started to think man why am I digging that with no top oh yeah because I really enjoyed the driving mine like that last few weeks. Really would have loved not having the rear doors and instead this look however.

I thought mine looked like old scrambler but still had the rear doors. These I really like top down. They look like old school scrambler and I loved them.

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[akpostal]

Gott say I like the Safari Top better.

 

[jscherb]

Gott say I like the Safari Top better.

Hmm not sure how I feel about these hard tops. Granted after seeing your safari top in person I can see why I feel this way.

Thanks . Some may consider me biased, but I much prefer my Safari Cab over this new one at SEMA and over the Smittybilt "Safari Top" on two counts - styling and functionality.

Hope you enjoyed Sema. I am talking about a must need to go next year. Take care Jeff and let me know next time you are down my friend.

Donny

SEMA is always fun, but sometimes it feels a little bit like work - I helped out the MORryde guys at their booth a bit and I also spent time talking to other companies - two companies expressed interest in marketing the Safari Cab so I talked to them, and another company expressed interest in me helping them with some accessory designs so I talked to them as well. Also I walked the halls with another company I've helped out, looking for new products they could add to their product catalog. But other than that, I had a lot of fun wandering around by myself seeing all the show Jeeps and new products.

Donny, unfortunately it's an industry-only/members-only show, so hard for most people to get credentials to attend.

May be down your way in January, if so we'll get together.

 

[jscherb]

I started to think man why am I digging that with no top oh yeah because I really enjoyed the driving mine like that last few weeks. Really would have loved not having the rear doors and instead this look however.

I thought mine looked like old scrambler but still had the rear doors. These I really like top down. They look like old school scrambler and I loved them.

I've thought about making fiberglass "filler panels" to replace the rear doors many times. Wouldn't be took hard to do. But then you'd need a custom hardtop or custom soft top as well... one thing leads to another .

 

[jscherb]

Trying out the sample liquid containers I picked up at SEMA on my LJ (it would work the same on the JK). In this first photo, I've got a 10 liter and a 5 liter container mounted:

In these photo, two 10 liters, one ten liter, and one 5 liter left to right:

A look at the mounting system. On the left is the mount that bolts to wherever you want to mount the system. It bolted right up to my MORryde hinge-mount Rotopax bracket, no drilling. Once that's in place, you put a container on the stud, and either secure it with the knob (far right), or secure it with a second can holder and second can and then the knob, and so on.

 

[jscherb]

This morning I tried the new containers on the JK side mount...

Left to right in this photo - one 5 liter, two 10 liters, a 10 and a 5, and a front view showing the depth on one container.

No drilling was required, the container stud bolts right up to the JK side mount.

 

[Comanche Scott]

That looks great! Pretty cool that the long version fits without hitting the fender.
How would that compare to the Rotopax (sp?) units?