Jeep XJ Pop Top Camper Build

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Tube connectors came in the mail. Cage tie-ins fitted and tacked. XJ shock hoops are just about done after this last adjustment.

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Painted & Reinstalled the XJ Shock Hoops / “Bed Cage”. Got the reservoirs mounted temporarily until I decide where they’ll go and get proper hardware in place. Here’s a few more pictures after paint:

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Fixed: Incomplete Catalyst Monitor


Smog was due in this last month, and of course the battery had been disconnected while welding up the bed cage / chassis mounts.
Catalyst monitor wouldn't set over a few hundred miles of mixed street and freeway driving. Been fighting with it the last few weeks.

Finally got the drive cycle figured out and set the monitor on the commute home yesterday.
Went in the slow lane, doing 55mph on cruise control @ ~1500rpm (5th gear manual trans).
Did this for 10 minutes down a flat / moderate downhill stretch and the monitor set.

Passed smog without an issue 🧰

 

[XJlimitedx99]

Been awhile since I've checked in. Rear suspension looks awesome. Love what you did with the Kenworth shift boots to keep it sealed. Looking at your placement, I was concerned your tires would rub the shocks with flex, but looks like your wheels sit a bit wider than mine when I set mine up.

Looks great. I'd love to see how you end up incorporating the sleeping platform with your cross-brace, because thinking about how to do a sleeping platform with a cage is what got me looking for your thread again lol.

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

Been awhile since I've checked in. Rear suspension looks awesome. Love what you did with the Kenworth shift boots to keep it sealed. Looking at your placement, I was concerned your tires would rub the shocks with flex, but looks like your wheels sit a bit wider than mine when I set mine up.

Looks great. I'd love to see how you end up incorporating the sleeping platform with your cross-brace, because thinking about how to do a sleeping platform with a cage is what got me looking for your thread again lol.

Appreciate it! Shouldn't run into any rubbing issues, the shocks sit a good bit into the wheel well.
At 3.75" backspacing it definitely has added clearance.

The sleeping platform has been involved, but that's by my own design. Ended up running two pieces of c-channel aluminum supported by the vertical cage supports.
I have a series of tube clamp brackets supporting them, along with additional reinforcements from the crossbar/etc. I wanted the bed to be in three portions, with the ability to have each end as a hinged access.

Here's some in progress photos:

 

[CraftsmanCollaborative]

I originally had a camper shell latch and gas struts planned, but now trying the linear actuator setup to give the option to recline the "headboard" side by switch.
Need to add a lid prop on each side to keep it stable, or try running dual actuators (if I can getaway without having them synced, trying to keep it low $).