JK 4-door to 2-door long wheelbase conversion.....

[12husky]

I am liking the overall concept Metcalf. I can envision a full bed platform in the back with a flip down section when you slide the front seats forward if you need more length. In your rear door infill panels, it would be nice to have an access door attached to a drawer on each side that slid under the bed platform. The same could then be done with another drawer that slid out when you put down the tailgate.

 

[Metcalf]

Cause Sheppard is a curmudgeon....I know he runs his diesel jerry cans mid ship....seems like a pain in the ******** getting to them without an extra set of doors...he also has a cot which he sleeps outside of his vehicle...

And that thing is going to suck in the snow...well deep snow that is, without at least 37's on there...so you're talking about either heavily modded the suspension or major fender trimming...or a little of both. Doing that to it...is getting rock crawler-esk...

Alas different strokes for different folks.

My personal experience I would choose the 4D JK over a 3D....leaks can be fixed, don't care bout the size of the windows...hell I am not riding back there...nor the weight...what is the weight of a window mechanism compare to a winch, or the rotational weight of a 37" tire...pretty moot really...

Access to gear is more important than the other things you mention, well at least to me. That and it would be nice to have a window that rolled down right by my head if I wear sleeping in it to get a little cross breeze in warmer temps...

We have a 4D Trooper in our fleet now...it sure is nice..opening the extra door and throwing crap in there...unlike my 4Runner...either crawl in from the passenger side, or crawl in on my hands and knees from the back to get to whatever gear...

This all boils down to what works for me doesn't need to work for other every other person......

I'm not saying I want Tom Sheppard's G-wagon ( well I do, but not in this capacity ).

I basically fall off the page when it comes to the crossover between 'overlanding' and 'rockcrawling'. I tend to take on more challenging terrain than most would in the typical overland vehicles. My daily driver dodge truck is basically on a 39" tire with no lift.....it works FANTASTIC overall, its just too dang big overall, tire size doesn't have anything to do with it....its just the body dimensions.

If you like having the rear door option that is great for you, but I think you have to realize that it just isn't an attractive option for me. Arguing over the weight of a large tire vs the weight of a rear door with full interior trim and roll up windows isn't going to work. I would MUCH rather have the larger tire than the window Maybe you just need to organize you gear differently so you don't have to crawl in the back so far?

Lets try and get this thread back on track to the concept.......instead of just trying to change the concept. If you don't like the concept, well....

 

[Metcalf]

I am liking the overall concept Metcalf. I can envision a full bed platform in the back with a flip down section when you slide the front seats forward if you need more length. In your rear door infill panels, it would be nice to have an access door attached to a drawer on each side that slid under the bed platform. The same could then be done with another drawer that slid out when you put down the tailgate.

Thanks.

I am torn on having the rear 'door' panels being anything other than just a panel. A drawer could be a very clever use of that area. Currently in my crazy little brain, I am thinking a water tank under a flat floor shelf ( that would fill the space from the factory rear seats ) would be a good use of that space for longer trips. A water tank could be filled remotely and you don't really need to access it in route. It also centralizes a heavy weight item low and forward in the chassis. I am a pretty firm believer in keeping weight low and forward for overall chassis performance.

I'm conflicted on trying to include an ARB type fridge somewhere? Generally they are pretty bulky and take up a lot of space. Most of the world survives just fine without refrigeration......backpackers do it without refrigeration. I do like an ice cold can of Pepsi however

 

[Clutch]

This all boils down to what works for me doesn't need to work for other every other person......

I'm not saying I want Tom Sheppard's G-wagon ( well I do, but not in this capacity ).

I basically fall off the page when it comes to the crossover between 'overlanding' and 'rockcrawling'. I tend to take on more challenging terrain than most would in the typical overland vehicles. My daily driver dodge truck is basically on a 39" tire with no lift.....it works FANTASTIC overall, its just too dang big overall, tire size doesn't have anything to do with it....its just the body dimensions.

If you like having the rear door option that is great for you, but I think you have to realize that it just isn't an attractive option for me. Arguing over the weight of a large tire vs the weight of a rear door with full interior trim and roll up windows isn't going to work. I would MUCH rather have the larger tire than the window Maybe you just need to organize you gear differently so you don't have to crawl in the back so far?

Lets try and get this thread back on track to the concept.......instead of just trying to change the concept. If you don't like the concept, well....

Oh totally agree with you. Everyone has different needs. I am coming from... I don't think Jeep would sell too many of the 3 doors compared to a 4 door (well 5 door actually) if they were available from the factory, at least in the American market...even Shepard had to order his 3-D Mercedes special for the Euro market.

As for re organizing gear...I like to keep the heavy items midship (like Shepard)...crawling to access the heavy items is no bueno in my book.

 

[Clutch]

I'm conflicted on trying to include an ARB type fridge somewhere? Generally they are pretty bulky and take up a lot of space. Most of the world survives just fine without refrigeration......backpackers do it without refrigeration. I do like an ice cold can of Pepsi however

All you really need is a way to make ice...buy the smallest freezer available, so space isn't compromised. Ice maker plus a cooler works great. I like my drinks cold as well...but use canned or freeze dried food other wise, so I am not dependent on a fridge.

 

[Metcalf]

Oh totally agree with you. Everyone has different needs. I am coming from... I don't think Jeep would sell too many of the 3 doors compared to a 4 door (well 5 door actually) if they were available from the factory, at least in the American market...even Shepard had to order his 3-D Mercedes special for the Euro market.

As for re organizing gear...I like to keep the heavy items midship (like Shepard)...crawling to access the heavy items is no bueno in my book.

That is kinda the point of this concept. Have an aftermarket solution for the lack of the factory avaliability of the J8 style 3-door A quick simple bolt on solution for those who want that function. Heck, if you did it right you convert back to a regular 4-door in a few hours.....

What about a long floor slide to get the heavy items from the front of the cargo area out the rear door?

I'm basically thinking a water tank under the flat floor shelf ( that doesn't have to come out daily )....and then the large spare tire ( just tire ) with tools and spare parts inside the tire as far forward in the chassis. For me, this would be most of the really heavy stuff. I don't have to get at that stuff every day (hopefully) so it can just live toward the front of the chassis. I guess I would try and layer gear in the vehicle so things that are heavy and not used/moved often go to the front, while daily use items are easy to get to close to a door? That is generally how I run my pickup most of the time......

 

[Clutch]

That is kinda the point of this concept. Have an aftermarket solution for the lack of the factory avaliability of the J8 style 3-door A quick simple bolt on solution for those who want that function. Heck, if you did it right you convert back to a regular 4-door in a few hours.....

What about a long floor slide to get the heavy items from the front of the cargo area out the rear door?

I'm basically thinking a water tank under the flat floor shelf ( that doesn't have to come out daily )....and then the large spare tire ( just tire ) with tools and spare parts inside the tire as far forward in the chassis. For me, this would be most of the really heavy stuff. I don't have to get at that stuff every day (hopefully) so it can just live toward the front of the chassis. I guess I would try and layer gear in the vehicle so things that are heavy and not used/moved often go to the front, while daily use items are easy to get to close to a door? That is generally how I run my pickup most of the time......

Yeah those floors sliders are great, but you loose storage space on the side. Unless you purpose build storage boxes to go there.

All comes down to weighing the pros and cons of a setup.

Like I prefer storage containers over a drawer system, since I use my truck for other duties. A 1st gen. Tacoma extra cab by the way...wish it had 4 doors though. :ylsmoke: Pain the butt to get large objects behind the front seats, like a cooler or my motocross gearbag...need to upgrade to current the Tacoma...with that extra cab door...actually want the crew cab...

 

[Clutch]

Back to your concept.


What did ER use for their door fillers? Make their own, or off the shelf soft-top half doors? (as someone suggested earlier)

So basically a door filler and a different top and you're golden.

 

[Metcalf]

Good idea....

I also remember that there was a 'bolt on' JK8 kit at EJS last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vildRrRHZ8M

 

[Clutch]

Offroad Astro....

Virtually no hood...small....easy to sleep in...

 

[Clutch]

Good idea....

I also remember that there was a 'bolt on' JK8 kit at EJS last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vildRrRHZ8M

Nice...just need a full length hardtop to go with those door fillers.

 

[Metcalf]

oh boy....going downhill again....

 

[Dan Grec]

Good idea....

I also remember that there was a 'bolt on' JK8 kit at EJS last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vildRrRHZ8M

You can see at about 0:55 they bolt in a "door filler" on the inside, then at about 1:05 they bolt on a piece of sheet metal that cover the outside of the tub completely.
I would think with both of those it's probably similar thickness to just a regular door.
If you can get your hands on just the outside sheet metal piece, you have a workable solution.

-Dan

 

[Metcalf]

I don't really see the door insert as a hard part to fabricate. The top on the other hand....ick.

The bolt on JK8 kit also retained the factory B-pillar where the current weld on kit replaces it. I wish I would have had this idea last year so I could have looked more carefully!

Depending or not if you wanted to be able to convert back and forth. I imagine you could talk to a company that makes a corner protector into make a longer version to cover the factory rear door opening?

I'm almost thinking that making the replacement top out of aluminum would be the easiest way to get to a prototype? Fiberglass is probably going to need a mold. Perhaps two 2-door tops could be grafted together with a modified B-pillar interface? The 4-door B-pillar does complicate things a little bit, anyone have a detail pic of that area?

 

[Clutch]

oh boy....going downhill again....

LOL...just messing with ya.

The Jeep idea is cool.