Barn Door for JK factory hardtops
- Thread starter jscherb
- Start date
jscherb
Expedition Leader
I've been asked how the barn door attaches to the tailgate and how sturdy it is.
The barn door upper bolts to "stakes" that are bolted to the tailgate. The stakes are attached with longer bolts through 4 of the spare carrier holes.
It's very sturdy, in this video I'm pushing very hard on the upper corner to close it.
The barn door upper bolts to "stakes" that are bolted to the tailgate. The stakes are attached with longer bolts through 4 of the spare carrier holes.
It's very sturdy, in this video I'm pushing very hard on the upper corner to close it.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Thank you.
My wife has been anxiously waiting this barn door for a long time, I snapped this cell phone picture as she was speeding off to do some errands after dinner last night. For the past few months I've had the soft top on the JK because it was easy for me to take it off to test fit Safari Cab parts, and she really couldn't deal with the zippered rear window. She didn't like the two-step liftgate/tailgate combo either, but at least she could open that. Now she's very happy with her barn door.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
THank you very much.
The main emotion right now is relief that the main project is finally done. I'll be proud after that wears off
.Still more work to do, I'm getting ready to sew a final spice skin for the soft barn door, and after that the soft sides.
I'm getting ready to sew a final spice skin for the soft barn door.
rubicon91
Explorer
One nice thing about the extra height of the Safari Cab roof - storage above the roll bars. In this photo I'm testing the fit of the prototype soft barn door up there:
Thats what I am talking about. I would love to have that extra room up there for my uppers for my half doors. With having my ARB fridge mounted in the rear my storage options are limited and I have to carry them with me at all times right now as you know Jeff. SWFL rain every dang afternoon. Anyways the pics look awesome. I am sure your wife will get into many conversations while she is out driving with the Safari cab on. Great job again!
Donny
Comanche Scott
Expedition Leader
The project came out awesome. :beer:
I'm sure your wife is happy to have her Jeep back, better than new.
I can relate to her dislike of the soft top rear window. It is definitely a pita, when it's covered with dust
I'm looking to see how feasible it would be to do something like you did for the TJ soft top/barn door setup, on the JK.
I'm sure your wife is happy to have her Jeep back, better than new.
I can relate to her dislike of the soft top rear window. It is definitely a pita, when it's covered with dust
I'm looking to see how feasible it would be to do something like you did for the TJ soft top/barn door setup, on the JK.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Thank you.
Doing a soft barn door for the factory JK hardtop is very feasible. I've done soft barn doors two ways -
1. Make a barn door that's compatible with the factory hardtop, and then build a door jamb for the soft top that's got the same shape as the hardtop door jamb. This gives you a soft barn door that you can use with either the soft top or hard top, but the jamb is a little more difficult to make because it's curved in all directions. This prototype soft barn door is compatible with the factory hardtop:
2. Make a soft barn door that's rectangular and flat, and make a jamb to match. This one wouldn't work with the factory hardtop, it would only work with the rectangular/flat jamb. This is what I did for the TJ/LJ soft barn door:
If you make the barn door upper wider than the tailgate (say you're doing #1 with an '11 or later JK), you'll need to swap the tailgate hinges for "wide swing" hinges. I made a set a while back, they're described in this post: http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...for-JK-factory-hardtops?p=2036666#post2036666
Comanche Scott
Expedition Leader
A "zip in jamb" from frp might be do-able for the JK Soft top.
At least this is what all your hard work, and excellent engineering skill, has inspired me to look into.
Then the same barn door would work for either top. Would be cool to build a rain lip into that jamb at the same time.
Any way, I have two vehicle builds to complete first. But after that, if you haven't already beat me to it, I may try my hand at making such a thing. So hopefully your Barn door makes it to market, or I'll have a lot more work to do.
At least this is what all your hard work, and excellent engineering skill, has inspired me to look into.
Then the same barn door would work for either top. Would be cool to build a rain lip into that jamb at the same time.
Any way, I have two vehicle builds to complete first. But after that, if you haven't already beat me to it, I may try my hand at making such a thing. So hopefully your Barn door makes it to market, or I'll have a lot more work to do.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Testing the wiper. It's completely out of the field of vision when it's parked. Works properly with the factory wiper circuit, including the delay.
The view through the rear view mirror is much better than the factory hardtop - no wiper motor in the way and no third brake light.
The view through the rear view mirror is much better than the factory hardtop - no wiper motor in the way and no third brake light.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Improving flow-through ventilation... I installed and tested the power vent motors today.
The switches for the power vents are overhead. Also overhead is a small console with a small storage area - in my LJ I keep my EzPass up there, the signal works just fine through the fiberglass roof and I don't need it to have the EzPass stuck to my windshield. The console also has two map lights, and there's a power outlet up there for my GPS or whatever.
The switches for the power vents are overhead. Also overhead is a small console with a small storage area - in my LJ I keep my EzPass up there, the signal works just fine through the fiberglass roof and I don't need it to have the EzPass stuck to my windshield. The console also has two map lights, and there's a power outlet up there for my GPS or whatever.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
A "zip in jamb" from frp might be do-able for the JK Soft top.
At least this is what all your hard work, and excellent engineering skill, has inspired me to look into.
Then the same barn door would work for either top. Would be cool to build a rain lip into that jamb at the same time.
Any way, I have two vehicle builds to complete first. But after that, if you haven't already beat me to it, I may try my hand at making such a thing. So hopefully your Barn door makes it to market, or I'll have a lot more work to do.
My plan is to use the mold for the Safari Cab rear panel and make a jamb in that. It's a perfect replica of the factory jamb, and I can mold just the portion I need to make a zip-in jamb for the soft top. The zip-in jamb will accept the factory hardtop weatherstrip, so it'll seal perfectly. And either the soft barn door or the hard barn door will seal well to it.
I did these concept drawings a while back based on the idea of using the Safari Cab rear panel mold to make a jamb for the soft top - here's a soft barn door with the soft top:
Hard barn door with the soft top:
