Barn Door for JK factory hardtops

[jscherb]

I like this idea, but is it possible to swivel it completely out of the way to maintain access to the rear cargo area? It would have to be a hinged arm rather than just a swivel, though.

The angle of the concept photos may be a little misleading - the slide/fridge combo is less than half the width of the cargo area, so whether the fridge is slid in or out there's still more than half the cargo area that's accessible. The swivel I'm thinking about swivels the fridge in an outboard direction, so it doesn't take up any more space when swiveled than it does when stored.

This photo I posted a week or two ago gives a better idea of the space...

 

[jscherb]

What are your ideas for securing the table in the up position and supporting in the down position.

My initial prototype design is very simple - the table will be hinged to the slide. The table will be supported in the down position with 1"-wide nylon webbing (the same way a TJ glovebox door is held in the open position). When stowed, the top of the table will be held in place with neodymium magnets. If any of that works out to be insufficient, I've got alternate designs that are stronger, but I want to start with the simplest approach and test that first.

 

[Jurfie]

The angle of the concept photos may be a little misleading - the slide/fridge combo is less than half the width of the cargo area, so whether the fridge is slid in or out there's still more than half the cargo area that's accessible. The swivel I'm thinking about swivels the fridge in an outboard direction, so it doesn't take up any more space when swiveled than it does when stored.

Ah, got it. What about a compartment under the fridge for a stove that then slides out from under it (like a keyboard tray)? It would raise the fridge up a little higher, but you (and I) are vertically superior to most of the masses.

 

[jscherb]

Ah, got it. What about a compartment under the fridge for a stove that then slides out from under it (like a keyboard tray)? It would raise the fridge up a little higher, but you (and I) are vertically superior to most of the masses.

That's a good idea, and if I had a stove to prototype with I'd probably do that. Right now all I've got to play with is the fridge supplied by Dometic and the slide supplied by MORryde (in the process of shipping to me now). If anyone knows a stove company that wants me to prototype their stove into the equation send them my way.

 

[jscherb]

The MORryde slide arrived today. I haven't had time to install it yet, but I did a quick test when it arrived to see how it might work out. Since it's not bolted in yet I'm supporting it with a 2x4 for the photo.

It's a double-extension slide, and in the photo I have the fridge sitting on the furthest extension, but I'm thinking a better way to do it would be to mount the fridge on the first extension and then have the second extension pull out beyond the fridge. The second extension would have a drawer and the tabletop.

I'm still working on design ideas so I may do something different, stay tuned.

 

[akpostal]

Instead of a swivel mount how about another set of sliders perpendicular to the ones that mount in the Jeep. Pull the fridge out of the jeep and push it to the outside, leaving a tray or stove in the main slider.

ETA: Also could you mount the fridge to where it just clears the Jeep and slide it to the outside? The rest of the slide, where the fridge is now, could be used for prep or a table.

Guess I should had paid more attention to your post.

 

[jscherb]

Instead of a swivel mount how about another set of sliders perpendicular to the ones that mount in the Jeep. Pull the fridge out of the jeep and push it to the outside, leaving a tray or stove in the main slider.

That's an interesting idea, thanks. The swivel I've got also has a slide that provides about 15" of movement, so it might work for that. I haven't started playing with the swivel yet, will have to see what's possible with it.

 

[jscherb]

If the slide were to be mounted on the first extension, the second extension could pull out from under the fridge like this:

In this next photo I've set a swivel/slide on top of main slide, it could be used to turn the fridge 90 degrees once the main slide is pulled out, and it could also move the fridge to the side a bit on its own short slide.

Haven't decided what I'll do yet, I'm still working on design ideas.

 

[Comanche Scott]

I like the idea of the perpendicular slides to move the fridge to the left, especially if there was a tray that would drop down when the fridge is moved out of the way.
Normally a stove is mounted in the lower section (that slides out furthest). So moving the fridge to the side leaves a great "prep" space.
To my knowledge, no one else has done that. If that is correct, you'd have a very useful and unique slide.

 

[JSwanson]

If you can get that swivel to work out and I am sure if anyone could YOU can it looks like a great set up. That is a very nice and well designed slide as it is from the looks of it. Great job as always!

 

[jscherb]

If you can get that swivel to work out and I am sure if anyone could YOU can it looks like a great set up. That is a very nice and well designed slide as it is from the looks of it. Great job as always!

Thanks. The MORryde slide is very well constructed, I'm sure it'll hold anything I decide to build on it although I'm still trying to decide what configuration and features for the fridge mount/slide would be the most functional and practical. Since I'm not a camper I'm kind of feeling my way here, so any input anyone has would be very helpful. I don't even want a fridge in my Jeep, but when it was offered to me it seemed like a fun design challenge so I had to go for it . As soon as I decide what to build and then build it I'll offer up the design to the fridge company, MORryde, etc., and then take the whole thing out of my Jeep.

 

[rubicon91]

We can talk when we meet up as well Jeff. You can even mount my arb 50qt to see if the dimensions are different or not. I love having mine in the back of jeep especially for those beach days. Anyways look forward to seeing and hearing the plans Jeff.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Comanche Scott]

I'm not feeling the Good Humor here...

Thanks. The MORryde slide is very well constructed, I'm sure it'll hold anything I decide to build on it although I'm still trying to decide what configuration and features for the fridge mount/slide would be the most functional and practical. Since I'm not a camper I'm kind of feeling my way here, so any input anyone has would be very helpful. I don't even want a fridge in my Jeep, but when it was offered to me it seemed like a fun design challenge so I had to go for it . As soon as I decide what to build and then build it I'll offer up the design to the fridge company, MORryde, etc., and then take the whole thing out of my Jeep.

"Don't even want a fridge in my Jeep" ...

You must not like Ice Cream!

As David Lee Roth sang... "I'm your Ice Cream Man, stop me when I'm passing by." :wings:

 

[jscherb]

You may have seen the spigot I put in the Rubican water containers a few weeks ago (http://forum.expeditionportal.com/t...rdtops?p=2285769&highlight=spigot#post2285769) - here's another take on the idea. Matt's got the MORryde side mount jerry can carriers installed on both sides of his JKU, but wanted to make it easy to dispense water from them. He's modified the tray slightly so the can is able to lay down, and he's done a nice spigot cap for his jerry cans. The cans are normally held vertically in the tray, but when he gets to his destination (looks like this one might be a scouting event), he rotates the cans and puts the spigot cap in place. Nicely done!

 

[Bam2413]

That looks great! Where did he source those chrome jerry cans?