Paul wrote a cogent response to my posting, and I'd like to address a few of his points, if for no other reason than to demonstrate it's valid to have different outlooks on things.
Paul: My questions were based upon Mike's Post #827 ... "As you might guess, EarthRoamer (or their manufacturer) currently has the molds, and they are not interested in allowing their use by others, even with a substantial payment."
Mike: Ummm . . . yep; I wrote that. It was based on then-current information and I'm not allowed (spooky stuff, huh) to talk about it. I should make it clear, though, that EarthRoamer has the sole right to the XV-JP design elements, and whether they will now sell the molds for a payment, substantial or otherwise, is fully their decision and has nothing to do with Dion's work.
Paul: Why not be original, and create a new camper shell and not steal someone elses work...???..."
Mike: Well, it pretty much comes down to not having a better idea except the cube with lifting roof, in large part because that's what the Wrangler Unlimited body allows you to do at a reasonable cost. The "cabover" parts can readily vary, and Red Cannon's is unique, but as far as the put-the-cabin-where-the hardtop-was approach, nothing else seems obvious.
Paul: Thanks for the detailed reply explaining that the owner of the original molds is simply not adversely concerned in what Dion is doing.
Mike: You're welcome, and as I just wrote above, I don't want to create the appearance of EarthRoamer having any connection whatsoever with this. They've moved on to bigger and better things and don't want to be perceived as having anything to do with Jeep campers.
Paul: My intent was not to question the ethics of a startup company run by an outstanding and well-loved young entrepreneur... It was a straight forward question about intellectual property rights... Reading more into it than that . . . is turning an honest question into a personal retaliation.
Mike: I believed, and I still believe, that a substantial portion of the readers would conclude you felt Red Cannon had "stolen" EarthRoamer's intellectual property and was "ethically-challenged" in doing so. Having such labels associated with Dion's work could potentially damage his company's not-yet-established reputation and unjustly hurt his chances of success. I apologize for doubting, and reacting incorrectly to, your intentions, but others may also make the same mistake.
Paul: You ask how I would go about creating an "original" shell design... My first concern would be to have it look original... Look at it and there is no wondering if you've seen it before... The Australians do it all the time... Sure there are flat planes that define the cabin, but the way they intersect with curves or smaller angles define originality... It's not that hard... The plywood cabin on Post 963 is a recent example...
Mike: Many of us admire the work done on that camper, and thus it is no criticism to point out that it's a bit like the Thaler/Action Camper. It's also not a criticism to say that there are justifiable concerns about hanging substantially more weight behind the rear axle of the fairly-short-wheelbase Wrangler Unlimited, and also that widening the cabin width that much affects the trail nimbleness which is one of the great assets of the Jeep. Lots of us eagerly await the "road test."
Paul: On your specific Jeep, attention to exterior storage of retrieval items and things like the generator would be well served if they were given consideration in the new exterior layout instead of just hanging on where there is space to bolt something on... I believe that the excess weight bolted on the rear door had some affect on that door to sag...
Mike: Always a good idea to improve storage, for sure, but as you know as well as anyone, the wheel wells on the Wrangler are extremely intrusive, nearly half of the available length and putting severe limitations on how much can be squeezed in. And re: the door sag, the NW Edition exterior case was mounted in lieu of a spare tire that would have weighed more. The door sag doesn't come from the metal Wrangler part of the door to which the case/tire is attached; it's the upper, unsupported fiberglass window frame part of the door that's falling backwards.
Paul: I would probably design a rear cabin with a modified "service body" configuration, but out of foam and fiberglass...That would be one starting point towards an original, functional and utilitarian design... I could go on, but you get the idea...
Mike: If you think it's buildable, you should draw it up and post it for us to see. With all the Wrangler owners here, I'm sure there are some, including me, who would consider sponsoring the prototype of an innovative new design.
And now, we resume normal programming.
