Jeep XJ Pop Top Camper Build

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Welcome!

This is an open forum thread relating to the build, travel, and concepts of the Pop Top XJ.



Full Details & Content: craftsmancollab.com
IG: @cherokeecamper
Youtube: @craftsmancollaborative

This thread, and build, has been some years in the making.
Reference the updated page directory:

Page 1 --- Intro, History, Early Build
Page 2 --- One Ton Steering, Initial Westfalia Roof Chop & Mounting
Page 3 --- AC Repair, Engine Failure
Page 4 --- 4.0 Engine Replacement, Engine Bay, Break In
Page 5 --- Viper Coil, Cowl Intake, Engine Take 2
Page 6 --- Engine (Continued)
Page 7 --- Fuel Pump, Quarter Trim, Intake & Fried PCM
Page 8 --- PCM Driver Replacement, HP Dana 30 Truss & Build
Page 9 --- Dana 30, Glass Replacement, Exhaust, Trackbar Brace
Page 10 -- Mold Making: Measurements & Prep
Page 11 -- Mold Making: Foam Plug & Hotwire, Gibson Header, Soft Top
Page 12 -- Mold Making: Plug Body Work; Flange
Page 13 -- Mold Making: Primer, Wet Sanding
Page 14 -- Mold Making: Top Coat; PVA; Gelcoat & Wax Failure
Page 15 -- Mold Making: Mold Gelcoat & Lamination, Suitcase Diesel Heater
Page 16 -- Mold Making: Mold "ExoCage" Supports; Mold Release
Page 17 -- Mold Making: Pop Top Gelcoat; Lamination; Final Product, Tail Light Housing
Page 17 -- (Continued) Cedar & Epoxy Headliner, AX15 Rebuild, Fender Repair
Page 18 -- Custom Pop Top Hinges, Insulated Undercoating, AX15 Swap, Crossmember
Page 19 -- DIY Lizard Skin, Bed Liner, Unibody Plating
Page 20 -- Frame Stiffeners, Hidden Winch Bumper
Page 21-23 -- Finished Camper Coverage & Jeep Camping



V1 "Jeepagon" - Jeep Camper Build W/ Upcycled Westfalia Roof


V2 "Pop Top XJ" - Fully rebuilt with a production grade custom camper top.


The Build:

A 2000 Cherokee with a custom molded fiberglass pop top.
It's had everything from structural (cage, stiffeners, sliders) to drivetrain (New 4.0l, AX15 5-speed swap) and lots more.
Most every part has been service, rebuilt, or replaced along the way.

History behind the build (skip down for actual ongoing content):

Introduction:
I bought my 2nd (and current) Jeep, A 2000 Jeep XJ Cherokee, back in March of 2017.
I drove up to LA from San Diego and bought it within a few hours of the ad going live, they go like hotcakes down here.

It was a fair price for the age and had just passed smog with 214k miles on the clock, with an ongoing overheating issue.

Factory Specs:
4.0L Inline 6 (0331 head)
AW4 4-Speed Automatic
NP231 Transfer Case
Low Pinion Dana 30 (open)
Chrysler 8.25 Rear (factory LSD)
3.55 Gear Ratio / 225-75-15 tires

At the moment of creating this thread I've done a good amount of modifications, fixes, and have learned a lot to share with all.
Always happy to answer any questions on my set up - ask away!

See more write-ups & in-depth content here: craftsmancollab.com

Youtube Content - Covering The full Pop Top Build

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Before getting into my current build, a short tribute to my original jeep.

This was a 2WD ‘94 that my dad bought new out of college. It was given to my cousins in the mid 2000’s and came back my way in April 2016.
It ran well at 215k miles and with minimal fender trim fit 30” K02s and had a safe bolted to the inside for photo gear (craigslist find from a former DEA truck).
It was a simple overland rig but provided many great memories of skate trips to empty pools and desert spots along the way.

The body was rattle canned satin black while the hood went gloss with the roller method (surprisingly good for the home depot aisle).
It sold for $2500 when I decided the 4x4 life was calling and pursed the updated body and interior of the 97+. Nothing like first jeep nostalgia...

It​

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

The first month I owned the 2000. Make it reliable before any mods and learn how it handles on and off-road stock.

First Modifications:

30" BFG KO2 A/T tires
K4 Halogen Headlights
Replacement Clutch Fan (ZJ Upgrade)

 

[Whaler]

I like the pop-top, good job. I'm curious about how you attached the fabric tent to the roof of the jeep and if you manage to keep water out completely.

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

I like the pop-top, good job. I'm curious about how you attached the fabric tent to the roof of the jeep and if you manage to keep water out completely.

Thanks @Whaler. Originally it was riveted down every 3 inches to the portion that factory rack bars would bolt to. This did a decent job but being in San Diego It hasn’t seen serious storms yet.

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Above is when I first picked up the VW top from Craigslist. It was $500 with canvas hinges and extra pieces. A little rough around the edges but good condition for the age.

Image below is the first “jeepagon” that circled Jeep Forum and Expedition Portal a few years back. @arbslikewhoa on jeep forum made a rough cut conversion but sold it not too long afterwards, never to be seen again.

 

[rubicon91]

Hey Guys,

Just got into the flow of things here at expedition portal, and the community is great.
I've had more and more questions coming in about my ongoing jeep xj overland camper build and want to make a place to house everything in an open forum.

View attachment 475627

First of all an introduction:
I bought my 2nd Jeep Cherokee back in March of 2017. It is a 2000 Jeep XJ Cherokee and was bone stock, never offroaded and a Daily Driver.
I drove up to Anaheim from San Diego and bought it within a few hours of the ad going live, they go like hotcakes down here.

It was $3000 and had just passed smog, had 214k miles and ran well other than a slight overheating issue at the time.
Factory Specs: 4.0 liter high output I6 Jeep engine, AW4 automatic transmission, NP231 Transfer Case, Low Pinion Dana 30 front, Chrysler 8.25 Rear with factory limited slip. 3.73 gear ratio.

The first month I owned it I swapped over some 30" BFG K02's and did some refurbishing and upkeep while waiting to sell my '94 2wd I had previously restored and flipped.

At the moment of creating this thread I've done a good amount of modifications, fixes, and learned a lot I'm excited to share with all. It has a westfalia poptop from a 70's VW bus adapted to fit and is now caged in addition to a good bunch of other extras. I will do category specific posts when I have the chances to, but until then am happy to answer any questions on my set up.

I have just began putting together write-ups on my photo website in detail, that will be updated continuously and found clicking here!

Also, here are a few videos to see the journey of the build as it progresses and hear me talk a good minute on my concepts:

That is sweet. I will have to go and check this out.

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Before getting into the camper build a fast forward through the suspension.



Following stock vehicle repair the lift was the next major component.
My kit was sourced from a couple different donor jeeps to achieve my ideal combination for budget/capability.

Rubicon Express 3.5" Lift Kit
RE 3.5" Front Coils
RE .75" Coil Spacer
RE 3.5" Full Rear Leaf Pack
RE Swaybar Disconnects - Sourced from a TJ
RE Monotube Shocks
Extended brake lines





Following Lift Installation bumpers were ordered and installed.

Dirtworx Front Bullbar Bumper (Widened to fit XJ front)
Dirtworx Rear Tire Swingout (W/ Hitch, Hi-lift, Jerry Can, Shackles)



Tires and Wheels:

32 - 11.50 - R15 Cooper Discoverer Pro STT
15" Pro Comp 69 Series Alloy Wheels
Splined Lug Kit

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

The poptop assembly as I bought it. Being that a VW bus doesn’t have a hood the roof is much longer and comes in two parts;
the tent top and the luggage rack. On this model bus the tent was in the rear and opened with the high side closest to the driver cab.



^ This is the part that is used to fit the cherokee, it is still too long even without the luggage rack.

Above is the luggage rack. I set this aside and had no use for it (later sold).
The original jeep forum “jeepagon” spliced the edge of the rack to the open end of the poptop.
I decided not to as the splice is a pain and has a upward facing crack to leak - instead I glassed a new profile to the open end.




Glassed with 2 plys of mat and then trimmed to fit.
(Edit: The top was redone and no longer uses this method - see further into the build thread for later modification)

I also upcycled the westfalia canvas and stitched it shorter to fit. The zippered mesh panels lined up perfectly.





Most of the hardware on the VW was old and not installed the best after decades of use.
Luckily all hinges were straight enough to reuse.



I flipped the top around so that the "back" of the VW bus would be at the front of my XJ.
This worked well and fit the curve above the windshield once trimmed.

 

[jeepdreamer]

You installed frame stiffeners yet? IMHO, that should be the very first "mod" any Xj owner does if they plan to build it. Extends the life of the unibody exponentially.

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

You installed frame stiffeners yet? IMHO, that should be the very first "mod" any Xj owner does if they plan to build it. Extends the life of the unibody exponentially.

I have not installed the traditional 3/16” plate stiffeners as JCR and others make.

The way my sliders were installed it welds into the unibody at 4 places/side with reinforcement then welds into the cage at two points. Cage stitches into all the pillars and also with floor plates at the other points. I have braced the front along the Steering with plate, but still unsure of the weight and bulk of fully plating front to back.

Thinking of fully plating the front, and my bumper/gas skid system in the rear will take into account reinforcements.

(Update: Full DIY XJ Stiffeners Installed Bumper to Bumper)

 

[jeepdreamer]

You installed frame stiffeners yet? IMHO, that should be the very first "mod" any Xj owner does if they plan to build it. Extends the life of the unibody exponentially.

I have not installed the traditional 3/16” plate stiffeners as JCR and others make.

The way my sliders were installed it welded into the unibody at 4 places/side with reinforcement then welds into the cage at two points. Cage stitches into all the pillars and also with floor plates at the other points. I have braced the front along the Steering with plate, but still unsure of the weight and bulk of fully plating front to back.

Thinking of fully plating the front, and my bumper/gas skid system in the rear will take into account reinforcements.

As long as it keeps body flex to a minimum without placing all the load on small points, you should be fine. As good as the XJ platform is, they just don't have the stamina of an on-frame vehicle over time. Glad you've addressed it and the Jeep is sweet! Do you ha e any more pics or a link to that drawer style fridge? It's pretty cool!

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Very cool. I followed the original build thread way back in the day on Jeep Forum. I was kind of sad when it just sort of abruptly ended. I am pretty excited to see this project of yours!

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Thanks!


Here’s is the 30qt drawer dometic cooler I’m running. I believe Engel makes a slightly larger one as well that runs a little more $. @overlandhistory has the dometic on his XJ camping setup as well and it’s a sweet little thing.

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Very cool. I followed the original build thread way back in the day on Jeep Forum. I was kind of sad when it just sort of abruptly ended. I am pretty excited to see this project of yours!

Thanks Greg! I had been trying to message the owner of the previous jeepagon while starting mine, and finally got in contact when he saw my thread pop up. Sounds like it made is way to other owners after he initially sold it and hasn’t gotten word of it since, but has built a good few other offroad/camping rigs since. The Jeep Forum build thread gave me a lot of ideas on how to adjust it to fit my build best.