Converting a factory JK/JKU hardtop to modular

[akpostal]

There was a SNAFU with USPS getting my MORryde parts from Retrofit Off Road but they will be here tomorrow, Not Retrofit or MORryde mistake but with USPS and my PO Box. Sometimes shipping to AK can be problematic.

Been looking forward to getting these, the driver and passenger Rotopax mounts, and Rubican. Having a mount for a CB or HAM antenna up front Ill finally get the CB installed. Extra water and gas mounts with a low COG will be great as well. With the Rubican and 2 one gallon Rotopax thats 4.5 gallons of water, and 3.5 gallons of extra fuel.

Ill post pics tomorrow when they get installed. The Rubican will get a vent and spigot like Scherb demonstrated, been handy with the Rotopax water pack I have under my rack.

An ammo can/molle rack for a JK would be pretty sweet.

 

[jscherb]

An ammo can/molle rack for a JK would be pretty sweet.

Bring your 2dr to my house and we'll design and build a pair, and then we'll send the drawings to MORryde for them to put into production .

 

[akpostal]

Scherb, this could work with factory flip glass in the rear or your barn door. How about a Molle plate that mounts to the hinges, and/or strut bolts, or to the barn door on the outside. Could be used for a first aid kits, a shovel and axe, or lights.. More of a solid mount then your tactical tire cover.

I dont use the rear defrost/washer/wiper on my JK, they never worked right on my old XJ or ZJ, and with my rack I only use the side mirrors anyway. Never used the center mirror on my Blazers, Postal CJ8, XJ and ZJ either.

Im going to call around tomorrow for a rear glass that doesn't have the defroster or wiper washer, I can always re purpose those switches.

I like your Barn Door Kit but it no longer works for me as I like the way my rack works and it needs the flip glass..

In my case I could run a larger Molle plate then someone that carries a spare outback or on the gate.

 

[akpostal]

Bring your 2dr to my house and we'll design and build a pair, and then we'll send the drawings to MORryde for them to put into production .

I hate you so much right now, joking.

If I didnt live AK or if my brother in NY owned a JK Ild be on this like white on rice.

 

[jscherb]

If I didnt live AK or if my brother in NY owned a JK I'd be on this like white on rice.

There's a lot I'd like to design for the 2dr but I don't have access to one, like ammo can trays similar to the ones I've done for the JKU. I've got the modular 2dr hardtop that's the subject of this thread so that enables me to design things like the slider window kit, but for other design projects I have to go down to the dealer to make measurements. Really can't do test installs on Jeeps at the dealership though, even though they are very nice to me and don't mind me coming by to measure. I wish I had a friend with a 2dr nearby .

I like your Barn Door Kit but it no longer works for me as I like the way my rack works and it needs the flip glass..

It is possible to install the barn door shell on the factory hinges to swing up like the factory liftgate instead of swinging to the side with the tailgate. Some years ago I made a prototype camper top for my Jeep-tub trailer using LJ Safari Cab parts and I installed a side-swing tailgate/barn door in the back and a drop-down tailgate with a barn door shell hinged to swing up in the front. A JK barn door could be hinged to swing up the same way.

Never finished it beyond what's in the photos above though. The project proved the concept that a camper could easily be built from Safari Cab parts and then I moved on to my next project. Still have all the parts, maybe some day I'll continue finishing it off into a camper or sell them to someone who wants to build a Jeep-tub camper.

 

[jscherb]

In my travels to the RV Capital of the World this week I picked up something fun to try out in the modular hardtop. It'll fit nicely in a 2dr side panel...

Probably will get to it sometime next week, I'll need to make up a custom retrofit kit to mount it in the 2dr panel.

 

[akpostal]

It is possible to install the barn door shell on the factory hinges to swing up like the factory liftgate instead of swinging to the side with the tailgate.

A solid barn door shell on the factory brackets would work for me without the cut out for the glass, I could mount a Molle panel to that. With my rack I cant see out the *** end rear view mirror anyway without a camera.

Actually I could have a piece of appropriate material for strength cut to replace the factory glass and find the right Molle plate to mount to the hinges and material, Just need to figure out the material replace the glass. May need new struts depending what gets mounted, it wouldnt be anything heavy..

 

[jscherb]

A solid barn door shell on the factory brackets would work for me without the cut out for the glass, I could mount a Molle panel to that. With my rack I cant see out the *** end rear view mirror anyway without a camera.

Actually I could have a piece of appropriate material for strength cut to replace the factory glass and find the right Molle plate to mount to the hinges and material, Just need to figure out the material replace the glass. May need new struts depending what gets mounted, it wouldnt be anything heavy..

The challenge in replacing the factory liftgate glass with anything is that the factory glass and the gasket surface the liftgate seals against are curved in both directions, so anything you replace the factory glass with will need to match those curves if you expect it to press against the seal uniformly and not leak.

 

[akpostal]

The challenge in replacing the factory liftgate glass with anything is that the factory glass and the gasket surface the liftgate seals against are curved in both directions, so anything you replace the factory glass with will need to match those curves if you expect it to press against the seal uniformly and not leak.

Well there goes that idea, flip up Barn Door it would have to be.

ETA: When i go to get the windshield replaced I can see if they can drill the rear glass to mount a Molle plate, I wont be putting anything to heavy back there.

 

[jscherb]

Well there goes that idea, flip up Barn Door it would have to be.

ETA: When i go to get the windshield replaced I can see if they can drill the rear glass to mount a Molle plate, I wont be putting anything to heavy back there.

If he knows what he's doing, he'll say no. The liftgate is tempered glass - any attempt to drill or cut it will cause it to shatter. Sorry.

 

[akpostal]

Then Ill have to look at mounting to the hinges and existing holes for a Molle plate on the rear glass.

Got my fender mounts and Rubican in today. I only did the driver side because I wanted to try the vent and spigot on the Rubican. The caps I have are smaller then the Rubicans neck so Ill have to do what you did and cut some plastic and DIY. I did get the vent installed.

Very easy to install and stable. Once I install the CB the drivers side will stay on as the antenna mount, I may not leave the passenger side on unless I need it for more gas.

ETA: I did Plasti-Dip the mount where it would contact the body for my own piece of mind if there was any rubbing. I may need to redo the decals on the hood.

 

[akpostal]

Because it was bugging me I decided to try and make the cap the Rubican came with work with the spigot, so far it has. Ill be checking it for leaks but so far looks good.

And while I was digging threw the boxes, Retrofit already delivered with a sticker so 2 fingers up.

 

[Jurfie]

In my travels to the RV Capital of the World this week I picked up something fun to try out in the modular hardtop. It'll fit nicely in a 2dr side panel...

Probably will get to it sometime next week, I'll need to make up a custom retrofit kit to mount it in the 2dr panel.

This I like; though I would prefer it be hinged on the front end and open like a vent window to the back (like the back window of a minivan). And since I'm lazy, opened and closed with the push of a button. I know you're with me on this one, as the Safari Cab has a powered vent window at the back; that's what I want, but the full side window. Come on Jeff! Get on that already, will ya?

 

[jscherb]

This I like; though I would prefer it be hinged on the front end and open like a vent window to the back (like the back window of a minivan). And since I'm lazy, opened and closed with the push of a button. I know you're with me on this one, as the Safari Cab has a powered vent window at the back; that's what I want, but the full side window. Come on Jeff! Get on that already, will ya?

I don't have any plans to try to get powered pop-out windows into production; that's just a feature of my Safari Cab .

So far only the slider window kits are going into production, the company that's doing them hasn't asked me to do any further styles for them. I picked up this tilt-out window because I thought it would be interesting to experiment with for in-Jeep camping options - this style window could stay open in most bad weather and let some air in but not the weather. If you were camping in the Jeep, or perhaps in something like an Ursa Minor, maybe this style window would be useful. I don't think there would be enough demand for this tilt-out style to turn it into a product but it will be fun to experiment with anyway.

 

[jscherb]

Back to the hardtop skylight project...

Before I cut the holes for the skylights there were a few repairs I needed to make to the roof panel. I picked up the hardtop this roof came from very cheaply because it had been in an accident and the front corners of the roof are damaged. The inner and outer skins of the roof have separated, and the outer skin is cracked.

Cracks in the outer skin:

Separation of the inner and outer skins:

The damage looks pretty bad, but the repair is fairly simple.