How would you outfit this custom LJ?

[jscherb]

Any idea on the weight of your trailer? I rented an trailer over the weekend and my Jeep didn't do too well with it (Click here to see other thread on that)

I am beginning to question how much trailer my Jeep can handle.

As it's configured with the camper top, it weighs right at 1000 lbs. I've loaded it with several hundred pounds of stuff in it, and the Jeep configuration included the Safari Cab hardtop, roof rack basket with HiLift, luggage in the back of the Jeep for two people, myself and my wife. I didn't have any problems towing it on a trip through the mountains of central Pennsylvania. Mileage dropped by about 1 mpg at 65 mph, and occasionally had to downshift on big hills. I was very happy with the performance overall.

I think because the trailer is exactly the same size as the Jeep with hardtop, the additional wind drag is fairly small.

 

[tweenerlj]

As it's configured with the camper top, it weighs right at 1000 lbs. I've loaded it with several hundred pounds of stuff in it, and the Jeep configuration included the Safari Cab hardtop, roof rack basket with HiLift, luggage in the back of the Jeep for two people, myself and my wife. I didn't have any problems towing it on a trip through the mountains of central Pennsylvania. Mileage dropped by about 1 mpg at 65 mph, and occasionally had to downshift on big hills. I was very happy with the performance overall.

I think because the trailer is exactly the same size as the Jeep with hardtop, the additional wind drag is fairly small.

Thanks, Do you have an auto or 6 speed in your LJ? I am also a mile higher in elevation than you, so that has some effect as well.

 

[jscherb]

Thanks, Do you have an auto or 6 speed in your LJ? I am also a mile higher in elevation than you, so that has some effect as well.

6 speed.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Love your work and the concepts you take from the drawing board to actual design. I am not sure if my comment has been made yet, because my eyes were crossing trying to get through your thread:Wow1:

Just having started on my second TJ build, with about 10 years of wheeling experience, many of that with friends who wheel LJ's in some pretty vigorous terrain, I would recommend a belly up system of some sort. The great advantage of wheelbase on the LJ can be a drawback if you leave the shovel in place (that is your transfer case skid). If you push that drivetrain up a bit and do it right, it does not affect your durability and greatly increases you ability to negotiate tight rocky terrain.

Best of luck with everything and please continue to share.

John

 

[jscherb]

Continuing to share...

Part of the reason for the modular design of the Safari Cab is to make it easy to install, remove and store; the goal was for it to be possible for one person working alone to remove or install it.

Here's a series of photos showing how one person can handle the roof, which at 5' x 7 1/2' (LJ), is the largest piece. The side panels and rear door are small and easy to handle, the roof can be a bit awkward for one person to do alone, so here's an easy way to do it.

These photos are of the trailer, but removing the Safari Cab roof from the Jeep is done in the exact same way.

Step 1: Unbolt the roof panel. I put mover's blankets under the back half of the roof to protect the side panels. Put a 6' length of closet pole (or equivalent round object) under the center of the roof.

Step 2: Roll the roof back on the closet pole.

Step 3: Swing the back of the roof down to the ground. I've backed the trailer over the grass so the roof doesn't get scratched by the driveway. Or you could put another mover's blanket or a piece of carpet on the driveway where the bottom of the roof will land.

Step 4: Put the roof panel on a hand truck. You could protect the roof by putting a piece of carpet on the hand truck, although I haven't done that in this photo.

Step 5: Roll it away. I'm heading for underneath the deck, that's where I'm going to store this roof panel for now.

Installation is performed using the same steps in reverse order.

The rest of the hardtop (either the camper top or the Jeep hardtop) consists of much smaller pieces that are very easy to handle.

 

[jscherb]

And BTW, when you go to store the pieces off the Jeep, they don't take up much space...

These are the half cab parts, but the full cab parts can be stored in roughly the same depth of space.

The parts only take up a little over a foot - so in the typical garage they can go up against any wall and not interfere with parking a vehicle in there.

 

[jscherb]

I've been working on some alternate roof panel designs for the Safari Cab. Here are some examples...

One version is called the "Alpine roof", it's got a raised rear section with "Alpine windows" (I shamelessly borrowed the term from the LJ Discovery). Another version is a "low profile" roof, much flatter than the current roof, it's a lot like the old Meyer, Kelly and Koenig aluminum hardtops made in the 60's for CJ2/3/5/6's. The low profile roof is also modular, with a front section over the driver/passenger seats, and a rear section over the back.

I've also drawn the low profile roof in a half cab version, and a "Commando" concept with different side panels that slant forward in the back like the old Jeepster Commandos.

Having finished all of the fiberglass projects I've been working on, I'm thinking about starting another 'glass project, perhaps one of these alternate roof designs.

Your input on any of these designs is welcome...

 

[Beowulf]

I really like the low profile LJ top. It would allow a full length basket which would come in extremely handy.

Or a Maggiolina or any RTT could be bolted straight to the top by using the roll bar support brackets.

 

[Concho]

Man, if I had all these options on a top, I'd go broke trying to get them all. Love the the low profile and the single cab

 

[jscherb]

Man, if I had all these options on a top, I'd go broke trying to get them all. Love the the low profile and the single cab

Thank you... lots of panels are shared between the different configurations, so I guess you could start a collection - the front roof section and the door surrounds are used by all. The side panels for the LJ and TJ full hardtops are shared with all the other Safari Cab full hardtops, and the half cab rear wall/side wall panel is shared with the other Safari Cab half cabs, so the roofs are and side panels are all compatible among all of the versions.

The half cab uses only two roof panels, and the full hardtops use the same two panels plus a center panel for the extra length. The front roof panel and the full hardtop center panels would be pre-fitted for sunroofs, meaning that the inside structure of the panel would have a recess ready to be cut out for the installation of a sunroof. Sunroofs are not required of course, but if they were wanted, installation would be straightforward - just cut along the recess on the inside of the roof panel.

The LJ Commando version uses different side panels with a sloped rear and a special liftgate just for that version, but it shares the roof with the TJ full hardtop. The reason for that is not because I would expect people to own both a TJ and an LJ and be swapping hardtop parts around, but for manufacturing efficiency - it's more likely that it could be cost-effective to manufacture the Commando version with more panels shared with other versions.

I've shown the Commando version with a special rear roof section; it is curved (it's a duplicate of the front of the roof). The more squared off rear roof section from the other low profile roofs would fit fine, but the curved section looks better with the sloped rear wall of the Commando hardtop. The curved rear section I've shown on the Commando could also be used with the other full hardtops in the drawing above..

 

[jeepdreamer]

not going commando...

I don't know JS... For some reason the Commando top doesn't do it for me? And I own a 67 halfcab 'mando so I like the look. There is just something about the way it sits on the TJ/LJ that doesn't seem to jump out at me... maybe the lack of slopped rear jeep to match? Not sure... shrugs.

 

[reece146]

Yeah, the C101 style roof is neat in its way but I don't think I'd ever want one for myself. I don't think it would be a good seller. It is also the most impractical top you have designed - no usable cargo space above the belt line.

2¢

 

[jscherb]

Yeah, the C101 style roof is neat in its way but I don't think I'd ever want one for myself. I don't think it would be a good seller. It is also the most impractical top you have designed - no usable cargo space above the belt line.

2¢

I agree is isn't as practical as the other designs, and I wouldn't want one for my personal Jeep. But somehow fastback hard- and soft-tops are on the market and keep selling, I guess someone likes them...

 

[bob91yj]

I'm a sucker for a clean Commando. If I had a street LJ I could see putting that top on it. I'm still holding out for the original Safari top with soft sides.

 

[jscherb]

Back to the original topic of the thread for a moment, outfitting the LJ, here's a piece of cargo gear I just finished building for it, I call it an "Excursion Rack/Trail Table".

This is designed for "occasional use", meaning when you're about to head out on an excursion to the beach, or a trail run, and you need more storage for food, fuel or supplies, you can quickly throw this on to provide the needed extra capacity. Here are some photos.

Here it is with a 40-quart cooler (big enough for 70 beverage cans), I haven't strapped the cooler in place yet:

It installs with no tools, it just slips over the top of the spare, and is secured in place with a ratchet strap:

It folds up quickly so it can stay on the Jeep when not being used for carrying something.

It's held up in the folded position by two ball lock pins. Just pull them and the rack folds down. The top frame is adjustable, so it can work with tires ranging from 225/75-15's up to 35x15.50's.

When it's off the Jeep, it folds flat for storage:

And it's at a good height to be either a trail work table or a lunch serving table:

The table is roughly 14" deep by 26" wide.

I don't have any jerry cans here to pose on it, so here's a drawing with a jerry can and a smaller cooler:

It can be used with pretty much any rear vertically mounted spare tire (not just Wranglers and not just with the tailgate reinforcement).

Carrying capacity depends on the strength of your spare tire mount. With the tailgate reinforcement installed, or with a frame- or bumper-mounted swing out spare carrier, it could carry quite a bit.

Summary of the features:

• Installs/removes in a minute without any tools
• Folds up small for storage
• Works with any vertically mounted spare on any vehicle or any spare carrier
• Works with tires ranging from 225/75-15 up to 35x15.50
• Weight capacity depends on strength of tire carrier.
• Large enough to hold a 40-qt. cooler or three jerry cans
• At a good height to serve as a trail table
• Doesn't reduce departure angle like a receiver rack does