Habitat/Flip pac style top for 2004-2006 Jeep Unlimited (LJ)
- Thread starter Jim K in PA
- Start date
What about a universal habitat? Use the lid from the JK and/or a flippac and build a rack mount base. Like a hard-shell RTT that sleeps 4-8. It could work for ANY jeep or SUV or van or... so your market potential is bigger. Now you have the choice of a BIG soft top or a small hardtop, but no big hardtop. If you could build it so it doesn't need loadbars (just feet from your rack man. of choice) you could get it pretty darn low and aerodynamic.
Just my wish.
Just my wish.
flippac rtt
Already been done. When I first heard about the flippac a couple yrs ago and googled it I found a web site, I suppose from FRP, that had a flippac top mounted on a flat tray base. As I recall it had a picture of it on a Astro van and advertised it as compatable with regular factory roof racks. I can't find the page anymore so I suppose it was taken down but you could always check with FRP to see if they would build one for you.
Already been done. When I first heard about the flippac a couple yrs ago and googled it I found a web site, I suppose from FRP, that had a flippac top mounted on a flat tray base. As I recall it had a picture of it on a Astro van and advertised it as compatable with regular factory roof racks. I can't find the page anymore so I suppose it was taken down but you could always check with FRP to see if they would build one for you.
I would much prefer an AT version, for a multitude of reasons...
elcoyote
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0004
This is true. Only one was ever built, it was called Flippac Jr. Despite my urgings, I have not been able to get them to make another.
When we get to it, our version will use the same tent and fabric from the Habitat.
I am not in that much of a rush. I will "settle" for a normal RTT if the trip comes together before AT does. I haven't had a good batting average lately for trips actually happening
The FP jr would have part of the benefit--the hard shell--but not the Habitat tent design. That tent design is SO much better than the old designs.
Calin.Macrinici
Observer
Still watching this...
Just so we know, I am still watching this and wondering if it'll happen -- the JK Habitat is "almost there", maybe the time'll come for this to be rediscussed?
Technicalities: I was looking at the JK Habitat and it does have one or two external side doors in some of the later pictures, which would fit nicely with the LJ interior size (or the lack thereof). I still believe the best approach would be a hard floor, a roof that flips from the front to the back, not over the bonnet (with support rods angled back towards the C pilars) and a ladder that can be mounted to the side or at the back -- if at the back it could be permanently attached to the roof and hinged so it comes down (watch your head) when you flip the roof open. This would potentially give enough length at the front (roughly over the cabin) for a bed and enough length at the back for getting in and playing board games in the rain. The extra would be some sort of an extra awning above the ladder. This will make it quite similar in functionality to an RTT with almost none of the drawbacks, that would definitely justify the higher cost. The entire top could be taken off and replaced with the original one when not needed (only asking for some storage space in return), or it can be left on permanently.
If it flips to the back, a roof shaped somewhat like Jeff Sherb's (Gr8t Tops) Safari top would look cool and it could nicely mask a bit of the required gain in height. Well, a top segmented like the Safari top would be even better -- can you imagine having the LJ Habitat on top but no sides?
No worries, I'll keep dreaming and watching this...
Just so we know, I am still watching this and wondering if it'll happen -- the JK Habitat is "almost there", maybe the time'll come for this to be rediscussed?
Technicalities: I was looking at the JK Habitat and it does have one or two external side doors in some of the later pictures, which would fit nicely with the LJ interior size (or the lack thereof). I still believe the best approach would be a hard floor, a roof that flips from the front to the back, not over the bonnet (with support rods angled back towards the C pilars) and a ladder that can be mounted to the side or at the back -- if at the back it could be permanently attached to the roof and hinged so it comes down (watch your head) when you flip the roof open. This would potentially give enough length at the front (roughly over the cabin) for a bed and enough length at the back for getting in and playing board games in the rain. The extra would be some sort of an extra awning above the ladder. This will make it quite similar in functionality to an RTT with almost none of the drawbacks, that would definitely justify the higher cost. The entire top could be taken off and replaced with the original one when not needed (only asking for some storage space in return), or it can be left on permanently.
If it flips to the back, a roof shaped somewhat like Jeff Sherb's (Gr8t Tops) Safari top would look cool and it could nicely mask a bit of the required gain in height. Well, a top segmented like the Safari top would be even better -- can you imagine having the LJ Habitat on top but no sides?
No worries, I'll keep dreaming and watching this...
Calin,
I agree that outside ingress is the only viable way of doing with the LJ. There is plenty of room over the top to have a bed, it is more than long enough. Only hangup will be getting enough people willing to preorder.
AND, I totally agree that something shaped like the Safari Top would be completely fit the design concept.
I agree that outside ingress is the only viable way of doing with the LJ. There is plenty of room over the top to have a bed, it is more than long enough. Only hangup will be getting enough people willing to preorder.
AND, I totally agree that something shaped like the Safari Top would be completely fit the design concept.
Calin.Macrinici
Observer
Indeed. The Safari Top would not only work beautifully from a design and functionality standpoint (shape looks perfect for an LJ and the extra height helps with the tent inside), but its modular concept would be quite an interesting addition: apart from the cool factor of running only the roof (no sides) but still have your flip pac with you, it would probably fit with the "flip pac on-a-rack" or "flip pac Jr" idea that was debated in this thread in the past -- a stand alone flip pac that can be attached to a rack. If you take that as a possiblitity then the flip pac roof that is supported on the roll bars so does not need sides makes sense (check out Jeff's excellent drawings and arguments re: suporting a Safari top roof rack through the roll bar). Maybe cheaper to manufacture (if possible even as an "add-on" to the Gr8Tops Safari Top, use the same sides and the roof is interchangeable)? Or maybe more applications, like make the on-the-rack flip pac and the LJ flip pac the same mold so it can also be mounted on a rack, this way you're not limiting this run to the not-so-large LJ market?
I should probably stop now, right?
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Indeed. The Safari Top would not only work beautifully from a design and functionality standpoint (shape looks perfect for an LJ and the extra height helps with the tent inside), but its modular concept would be quite an interesting addition: apart from the cool factor of running only the roof (no sides) but still have your flip pac with you, it would probably fit with the "flip pac on-a-rack" or "flip pac Jr" idea that was debated in this thread in the past -- a stand alone flip pac that can be attached to a rack. If you take that as a possiblitity then the flip pac roof that is supported on the roll bars so does not need sides makes sense (check out Jeff's excellent drawings and arguments re: suporting a Safari top roof rack through the roll bar). Maybe cheaper to manufacture (if possible even as an "add-on" to the Gr8Tops Safari Top, use the same sides and the roof is interchangeable)? Or maybe more applications, like make the on-the-rack flip pac and the LJ flip pac the same mold so it can also be mounted on a rack, this way you're not limiting this run to the not-so-large LJ market?
I should probably stop now, right?
Calin,
I've never published this concept drawing before, it's one of the many camper concept drawings I did back when I was designing the Safari Cab...
Jeff
Calin.Macrinici
Observer
Calin,
I've never published this concept drawing before, it's one of the many camper concept drawings I did back when I was designing the Safari Cab...
Jeff
Does it have to be that long, though? Considering that in a "regular" sized popup you get pretty much twice the length of the LJ, I believe you can safely subtract the opening for the door (only if you decide the ingress should be from the floor and not from the back wall of the tent), some storage space (not a lot needed, since you are not reducing your trunk storage space) and still have enough room for the mattress and bedding.
Knowing the work you did with the Safari cab, do you believe that a popup opening to the rear, with a ladder on the rear (either through the floor or through the wall of the tent but no entry from inside the LJ) would be functional? Could it be made to have enough support when opened? And (quite important, I believe
), could this be simply a replacement for the Safari top? Not the whole Safari cab, just the top, i.e. keep the side walls (either the hard sides or the rollups you thought of) and probably the roll bar supports (that you designed for the roof rack) and just change the roof from the "regular" Safari top to the "popup" one.