Converting a factory JK/JKU hardtop to modular
- Thread starter jscherb
- Start date
AgentOrange76
Adventurer
Don't tempt me! I'm not an engineering major nor a business major, nor do I intend to be, but man of there was ever an opportunity for something like this........it's got me second guessing things for sure.......
Keep up all the great work Jeff, can't wait to see what you come up with and stumbling on stuff you've done in the past. It really is inspirational, and if there was ever a reason to drop out of school, for me it would be to learn how to do this. I hope to know a quarter of what you do some day!
Topo.Ranger
Adventurer
any info on that company? my dreams have been to start a shop for a long time now and it just isnt in the cards at the moment due to my work schedule now but the busy schedule is making me want to look for other avenues!
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Since you wrote that your dream is to start a shop, I'm guessing this is the kind of info you're asking for:
It's the company I mentioned that got started when I gave them one of my product designs. They've been in business a little over a year and they've picked up three more of my product designs, including the half door slider window kit for JK/JKU Wranglers and the TrailVision trail camera system. The JKU factory hardtop slider window kit will be the latest addition to their product line, and if that does well they plan to add other window products for the JK and JKU.
They don't have any manufacturing capability of their own; I used my manufacturing contacts to arrange initial production of the products for them and they've taken it from there.
They don't have a shop; they are 100% mail order from their website.
They also resell most of the Jeep hardware accessory products I've designed (jerry can mounts, etc.), which are also sold by other companies (including one of the big Jeep accessory catalogs).
I am not an employee of any of the companies mentioned in this post (or of any company)
jscherb
Expedition Leader
I haven't quite decided what to do with my $50 JK hardtop yet, but since it's big to store I cut it up this morning.
Since these side panels still have the factory glass in them and the other factory hardtop I converted earlier in the thread was lacking the glass, I'll probably put bolt flanges on these sides so they can be used with the other factory modular top. That way I can configure the modular top to have factory window sides or I can configure it to have one of my other opening window side ideas.
I do have a plan for the Freedom panels, as soon as I get a few concept drawings done I'll post them.
I'm off to Las Vegas tomorrow for the SEMA Show so I won't get back to this project for a bit, but at least it'll store more easily now
.
Since these side panels still have the factory glass in them and the other factory hardtop I converted earlier in the thread was lacking the glass, I'll probably put bolt flanges on these sides so they can be used with the other factory modular top. That way I can configure the modular top to have factory window sides or I can configure it to have one of my other opening window side ideas.
I do have a plan for the Freedom panels, as soon as I get a few concept drawings done I'll post them.
I'm off to Las Vegas tomorrow for the SEMA Show so I won't get back to this project for a bit, but at least it'll store more easily now
.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Following up on the removable window idea, here's a removable storage compartment concept with a gullwing door. It would latch in place just like the window does.
Compartment assembly:
In place:
Maybe a Molle grid for the back panel?
Or a grid for gear storage?
Or a retaining net?
The compartment would be a simple molded fiberglass box, with any necessary clearance for the roll bar inside and a locking gullwing door. Or it could have a swing-down door that serves as a table:
Took this photo at SEMA this past week, it shows roughly how deep a cargo compartment would fit outside of the roll bar. Seems like a fairly useful size.
Yuke
Adventurer
Took this photo at SEMA this past week, it shows roughly how deep a cargo compartment would fit outside of the roll bar. Seems like a fairly useful size.
Whose going to be making this??
jscherb
Expedition Leader
It's not a storage compartment like the concept images I've done, that's why I didn't take a photo of the outside. I think it may be a custom one-off for this show Jeep but I'm not sure. I only took this photo of the inside to show the size that's possible.
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Comanche Scott
Expedition Leader
My plan for the Freedom panels that were part of the $50 hardtop deal: I've designed skylights for them. They'll use flip-out hardware on the glass so they can be opened for ventilation.
From the inside they'll look something like this:
Hi Jeff,
Before getting too involved in the moon roof project, you might look at this (if you haven't seen it already).
http://www.jeetop.com/
Hth,
jscherb
Expedition Leader
I have seen that product. Those are fixed skylights, mine will be openable.
Comanche Scott
Expedition Leader
I really like the backglass panel, but what I don't like is how they just sit on top without anything done around the ridges.
A nice flat lip or a recessed lip would look so much cleaner.
Your design looks to be larger glass pieces, taking advantage of the reinforced front edge of the panel. If you did a flat fiberglass lip all the way around it should come out looking more OEM. :victory:
A nice flat lip or a recessed lip would look so much cleaner.
Your design looks to be larger glass pieces, taking advantage of the reinforced front edge of the panel. If you did a flat fiberglass lip all the way around it should come out looking more OEM. :victory:
jscherb
Expedition Leader
I picked up the hardware for the openable skylight panels today, in this photo it's just sitting in place. The latch is nicer than most latches like this because it locks in the open position and you squeeze the sides to release it so it can close - this will be a good feature for vertically opening skylights, where gravity would be working to close them.
