Barn Door for JK factory hardtops

[akpostal]

Fantastic. Cant wait for JK sliders.

 

[jscherb]

Looks awesome Jeff!!!!

Looks great!

Thank you! I'm really pleased with the final windows and with how the final installation looks.

Fantastic. Cant wait for JK sliders.

I've probably said this already, but... assuming these sell ok, the company tells me they want to do a late model 2dr kit next.

I've already done a prototype of the retrofit kit for the 2dr, I used some of the parts in the modular hardtop thread (in that thread, the cargo hatch is mounted in the prototype retrofit kit). When the company tells me they want to go ahead with the 2dr, I'll send the specs for that retrofit kit to the hardware company and when they've made preproduction samples they'll send a retrofit kit to the window company and the window company will make a test set of window frames to fit in the retrofit kit. Once that's approved, glass will be made and preproduction sliders will be made for testing. Since this has all been done already for the JKU, the process for the next model is more or less a formality.

 

[akpostal]

My dog is excited.

 

[jscherb]

My dog is excited.

I can just see the dog wagging its tail furiously and rubbing its wet nose against the fixed glass of the factory hardtop, wishing the glass would slide open .

 

[TrailBadger]

Jeff I told Jeep how disappointed we are that they haven't used any of your concepts like the barn door etc.. At one point we thought really hard into looking at the new jeep truck.. too many negatives and not enough positives have now taken the wrangler truck off the table. I think (based on your 60ish Jeep Gladiator grille modification) we would have rather seen something like this from jeep as a truck.

Yeah I know crude attempt at best.. but should give others a general idea. I call it the "Honcho Chief" In this instance, it would or could be based on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited platform and not be any longer then 200 inchs.. But it would be wider.

 

[jscherb]

Jeff I told Jeep how disappointed we are that they haven't used any of your concepts like the barn door etc.. At one point we thought really hard into looking at the new jeep truck.. too many negatives and not enough positives have now taken the wrangler truck off the table. I think (based on your 60ish Jeep Gladiator grille modification) we would have rather seen something like this from jeep as a truck.

Yeah I know crude attempt at best.. but should give others a general idea. I call it the "Honcho Chief" In this instance, it would or could be based on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited platform and not be any longer then 200 inchs.. But it would be wider.

But they have used some of my ideas... like the barn door:

And the general shape and proportions of the Safari Cab, although they skipped the Alpine windows in the roof and the opening rear quarter vent windows. Oh and the modular removable side panels, and...

Honestly I don't really think they borrowed my ideas, but it is a fact that I posted concept drawings for the JK Safari Cab and began work on the molds and parts for it long before their Africa concept showed up .

Building something like your Honcho Chief should be possible when I finish my Retro Rhino kit - that, plus a hardtop modified into a half cab (or the Gr8Tops Recruit half cab), and I believe there are rear door delete panels on the market somewhere.

I've been driving my homemade Jeep truck for the past 8 years, and it just passed the 100,000 mile mark. I still like it a lot better than the spy shots of the JT pickup I've seen.

 

[TrailBadger]

I guess I should have been more clear about my comment.. Let me rephrase. They need to use some of your designs and ideas in a production vehicle set for market and not just concepts. Again, I'm not a jeep person so I've not researched any history of jeep and your creations. Just saying that after seeing the Africa concept I though about post from the past.

But let's move on.. In that Jeep will be introducing the new generation wrangler and wrangler truck.. what are your plans (if any) to keep up with any ideas that you would incorporate into one or both of these vehicles. As of right now. We have no interest in the truck nor the new JL or JL unlimited.

I think what should have happen based on the current concept drawings and designs of the new rib cage they (jeep) should allow you to move forward with your safari top as a quick interchangeable option for those who wanted one.

 

[jscherb]

I guess I should have been more clear about my comment.. Let me rephrase. They need to use some of your designs and ideas in a production vehicle set for market and not just concepts. Again, I'm not a jeep person so I've not researched any history of jeep and your creations. Just saying that after seeing the Africa concept I though about post from the past.

If someone at Jeep Design wants to talk to me I'm not hard to get in touch with.

But let's move on.. In that Jeep will be introducing the new generation wrangler and wrangler truck.. what are your plans (if any) to keep up with any ideas that you would incorporate into one or both of these vehicles. As of right now. We have no interest in the truck nor the new JL or JL unlimited.

I do plan to adapt many of my current JK designs to the JL (and JT), but to do that I'll need access to a JL and I have no plans to buy a JL for myself. As a SEMA member, I may be able to take advantage of the measuring sessions that SEMA holds for new vehicles, although those sessions are usually at the SEMA garage in the Los Angeles area, which is very far from where I am. I guess what I need is a friend with a JL who wants to see some of my designs on his Jeep so I can use his JL for measuring and fitting.

I think what should have happen based on the current concept drawings and designs of the new rib cage they (jeep) should allow you to move forward with your safari top as a quick interchangeable option for those who wanted one.

At this point I don't plan to do a version of the Safari Cab for the JL.

 

[jscherb]

This morning I installed a pair of cardboard mockup flat fenders on the JK to check fit, shape and proportions. The fiberglass mounting flange is longer in the front and in the wheel arch than the final fenders will be, I've left it long for making the mold.

I plan to start making the mold masters tomorrow so if you have any suggestions for improvement of the size, shape or proportions of these cardboard mockups please let me know.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Looking good. :beer:
I bet it would look awesome with a set of 35" tires on Smoothies.
Invites a rear fender upgrade...

 

[jscherb]

Looking good. :beer:
I bet it would look awesome with a set of 35" tires on Smoothies.
Invites a rear fender upgrade...

I agree - 35's will fill up the fenders very nicely.

Matching rear fenders are part of the plan...

 

[Jorsn]

Rear Side Mount



Do you think it's possible to have a rear side mount similar to this for the JK? I realize the G Wagon has upper and lower rail mounts and the JK doesn't, but you seem to be able to come up with a solution to everything:sombrero:

 

[TrailBadger]

Jeff, did a quick rendering of your new rear sliding window on this Africa concept

 

[jscherb]

View attachment 389289View attachment 389288

Do you think it's possible to have a rear side mount similar to this for the JK? I realize the G Wagon has upper and lower rail mounts and the JK doesn't, but you seem to be able to come up with a solution to everything:sombrero:

I can think of several ways to do it. Obviously it's easy to do if you don't mind drilling a few holes in the hardtop, but I believe it can be done without drilling. I'd have to build a prototype to test that though.

 

[jscherb]

Jeff, did a quick rendering of your new rear sliding window on this Africa concept

Nice.

Just like the factory hardtop, the window of the Africa concept is curved in both directions. To install a slider, which requires a flat mounting surface, something like the retrofit kit I designed for the factory hardtop would be necessary.