Barn Door for JK factory hardtops

[TrailBadger]

here's what I'm thinking. I never really liked the idea of the spare tire mounted on the back of the wrangler seeing how the ranger's spare is under the bed. So is it possible assuming if and when we diced which wrangler to purchase.. to mount the spare inside the jeep towards either the left or right rear side of the jeep?.. this way we could do the tactical cover in the same interior color and have the molle pattern to attach more to the spare when needed. This would free up space on the rear of the jeep for the tray Jeff has an easy fix for using the reinforced door hinges.

 

[jscherb]

One bracket goes out to support the basket and the other bracket goes to the side for bracing, per side.

I suck at graphics, Im ordering parts either tomorrow or over the weekend. Ill post pics when done. As long as the weather is in the 20s it shouldnt take to long.

ETA: Now Im looking at ammo cans and maybe a new cooler.

I got a Harbor Freight sale email today, and their 69623 hitch rack is on sale for $39.99 (http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb...1017b&utm_source=1021&cid=mEmail_s1021_c1017b). . Here's a drawing using that rack... the rack is in orange and the shelf brackets in red.

The Rockler brackets are 15 x 21, and the rack is 17 1/2" deep, so a few inches get cut off the brackets. Or you could leave them long; a jack could be mounted across them.

The basket is made is two parts bolted together with a receiver tube in the middle; the tube has been eliminated in this assembly, and the connector channels that join the top of the rack together have been shortened the same amount.

The basket is slight off-center; the right side lines up with the tailgate hinge pin so it doesn't hit the body when the tailgate is open, which means based on the width of the basket it ends up a little off-center.

If you wanted more support for the basket, you could add a third shelf bracket bolted to the right-side spare carrier bolt holes.

 

[jscherb]

here's what I'm thinking. I never really liked the idea of the spare tire mounted on the back of the wrangler seeing how the ranger's spare is under the bed. So is it possible assuming if and when we diced which wrangler to purchase.. to mount the spare inside the jeep towards either the left or right rear side of the jeep?.. this way we could do the tactical cover in the same interior color and have the molle pattern to attach more to the spare when needed. This would free up space on the rear of the jeep for the tray Jeff has an easy fix for using the reinforced door hinges.

AKPostal is about to mount his spare inside, hopefully he'll post pictures and we'll see how it works. A Tactical Spare Cover on it inside the Jeep would cover a dirty tire and provide storage capability as you say.

Thank you for the links and tips.

Still looking forward to the JK window sliders.


The idea for mounting the spare in the cab is really simple using unistrut.

 

[jscherb]

I got a Harbor Freight sale email today, and their 69623 hitch rack is on sale for $39.99 (http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb...1017b&utm_source=1021&cid=mEmail_s1021_c1017b). ...

Almost forgot... I used that rack on the tongue of the first fiberglass trailer I built...

 

[jscherb]

I've been working on the master flat fenders to be used to make the molds, here are some photos. They've got a few quick coats of epoxy primer to serve as a sealer for the next steps, which is perfecting the surface and putting an automotive-quality finish on.

The masters are designed to allow for trimming the final parts after they come out of the mold, so to give a more accurate idea of what the final fenders will look like when trimmed, I've used black tape to hide the parts of the masters that aren't part of the final trimmed fenders.

They're designed to accept YJ or CJ side marker lights, if you look closely I've got one of each installed - a CJ light on hte passenger side and a YJ light on the driver's side.

It's snowing this morning, so I did these photos in the garage. Later when the snow stops I'll do some better photos outside.

 

[jscherb]

I've designed the fenders so the gusset at the front can be trimmed off if someone wants the most authentic representation of the original Willys flat fenders.

The Willys:

I've covered the gusset with black tape to simulate it being removed:

My original concept drawing for this project showed the fender with the gusset removed:

 

[jscherb]

A few more flat fender photos.

You may have noticed a difference in the Jeep compared to the earlier garage photos - I've removed the side steps. The other day I picked up a set of new take-off Rubicon rock rails for $75 and this morning while waiting for the snow to stop I removed the steps in preparation for installing the rails. But because the rock rails fit higher up on the body than the steps do, they don't fit with the mold master fenders in place. The final fenders once trimmed won't be a problem, but the mold masters are longer than the final trim will be.

 

[jscherb]

Two more photos. On the first photo, since the fender will be molded in black but the master part isn't in black, I've blackened out the inside to hide the raw fiberglass inside.

 

[akpostal]

I got a Harbor Freight sale email today, and their 69623 hitch rack is on sale for $39.99 (http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb...1017b&utm_source=1021&cid=mEmail_s1021_c1017b). . Here's a drawing using that rack... the rack is in orange and the shelf brackets in red.

The Rockler brackets are 15 x 21, and the rack is 17 1/2" deep, so a few inches get cut off the brackets. Or you could leave them long; a jack could be mounted across them.

The basket is made is two parts bolted together with a receiver tube in the middle; the tube has been eliminated in this assembly, and the connector channels that join the top of the rack together have been shortened the same amount.

The basket is slight off-center; the right side lines up with the tailgate hinge pin so it doesn't hit the body when the tailgate is open, which means based on the width of the basket it ends up a little off-center.


If you wanted more support for the basket, you could add a third shelf bracket bolted to the right-side spare carrier bolt holes.

Thanks for the link and tips, I like the second rack over the first.. How thick are MORryde hinges?

My idea to mount the tire inside is 2 tube clamps on the sport cage bolted to unistut and 2, maybe 3 allthread points to mount the tire. Gas tank is drivers side so tire will go passenger side.

I didnt think about a dirty spare tire inside, a cover would solve that.

 

[akpostal]

As I said on the other forum, the flares look awesome.

 

[jscherb]

Thanks for the link and tips, I like the second rack over the first.. How thick are MORryde hinges?

The main body of the hinges is 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangular tubing, so if by thick you mean how far does the hinge stick out from the tailgate, the answer is roughly 1 1/2" (it's a little less than that because the tailgate has a recess into which the hinge bolts). It's about 3/8" further when the tailgate reinforcement is installed.

As I said on the other forum, the flares look awesome.

Thank you (both times ).

 

[akpostal]

The main body of the hinges is 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangular tubing, so if by thick you mean how far does the hinge stick out from the tailgate, the answer is roughly 1 1/2" (it's a little less than that because the tailgate has a recess into which the hinge bolts). It's about 3/8" further when the tailgate reinforcement is installed.

Thanks again for the info and tips. Ill get everything on order including an extra set of shelf brackets before I decide how I want to build this.

Im not as immune to the cold as I was 5 or 10 years ago, there was an electric inspector who would shut me down for working well below the temp limit.,

Ive got a pile of interior stuff to install as well. Ive dont have a garage and Im tired of wrenching in the cold if I dont have to.

 

[GadgetPhreak]

How do we order the tactical tire covers?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[akpostal]

Everything ordered.

I understand your point on mounting the right hand bracket to the hinge, but Im going to start using the left and right spare tire bolts. I ordered two sets of brackets so I can always add or use them for bracing.

My food cooler will be the main weight out there not my drinks cooler which is much larger. What will go into the ammo cans on there wont weigh much, D-rings, jumper cables, light weight tools, and such. Heavy tools will go in the vacated rear footwells, I dont have a rear seat.

Also ordered some Quick Fists so I can mount a shovel, maybe an axe if I need or want too, and my strap to the rack . The rack would also be a good place to mount those lights you've been testing, as well as a CB antenna mount.

I may rethink the ammo can idea once this is built, an Action Packer or 2 may be a better idea, heck maybe both. My rafting "kitchen" is in an Action Packer, it not as well thought out as others on here.

 

[jscherb]

How do we order the tactical tire covers?

Yesterday I heard from the Jeep accessories company that the sewing company told them they'll be finished production by March 27 and will be shipping the covers to the Jeep company then (about 2 weeks from now). I expect they'll go on sale shortly after that. I'm sure the company will make some announcement when they go on sale.

If you're going to Easter Jeep Safari the company will be in a booth at the Vendor Expo they may also be some available for sale there.