Northern Explorer
Explorer
I'm liking the GR Travel Tops!
JK/J8 Flippac rumor??
- Thread starter Metcalf
- Start date
We currently have a second hand canopy for your exact model Jeep. It is the canopy seen on the website. The price will be $6 000 without shipping.
Momrocks
Adventurer
I think this might be a very interesting alternative to the Earthroamer Jeep conversions of the recent past. There was lots of interest in the ER concept but not enough buyers ponying up the considerable price of admission. This product could be the basis of a Dormobile/ER type rig on a JK platform. Conversions could be made and cost conscious accessories added to make the package more affordable to the masses.
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
TIMES 2 ON THIS. Having an EarthRoamer Jeep, I've decided the GRTravelTop is about 2/3 as functional at about a tenth of the cost. The ER XV-JP costs what it does because--in addition to being produced in very low volumes--it is very well built, mega-comprehensively equipped and full of trick features. To a person who wants a full-on turnkey overland vehicle and has the money to pay for it, the little ER can be a sensible alternative.
But if you don't care about the ER's multi-thousand dollar refrigerator, hot water system, Espar heater, etc., etc. and just want to create a secure living space with standup room from something the size of a Wrangler, this seems worth investigating. And while there are dozens on this forum who are accurately thinking, "Hey, I could build something like this for less money," that probably wouldn't be the case if you value your time at anything beyond minimum wage.
All in all, I think it'd be great if the GRTravelTop became a practical option available in the US.
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Momrocks
Adventurer
Mike, I am so happy you agree. I hesitated responding with my views because I was drawing a remote comparison to XV-JP. This forum seems to go nuts at the mere mention of ER. I am excited about the GRTravelTop product and think much could be done to develop it. I appreciate, as an EarthRoamer owner, that you agree and didn't just jump to the conclusion that I was doing harm to your resale value. I think there is room in the market for a variety of products whether they are sponsors or not. It would be great to see one of our own ExPo members explore the GRTravelTop and maybe create his or her own overland vehicle conversion business. It isn't in the cards for me but there are scores of folks around here more innovative and entrepreneurial than me.
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I'm pretty sure it will.
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
Very pleased to hear this news. It'd be great if the TavelTop were at a U.S. show. Just missed the Pomona Off-Road Expo, didn't we? You guys have other show ideas beyond the OLExpo?
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
It occurs to me that those of us interested in the GRTravelTop are hijacking a perfectly useful thread on the idea of a Jeep-mounted FlipPac.
To preserve this thread, and to give the TravelTop a place of its own, I just started a Pop-up Camper thread for the TravelTop by itself.
To preserve this thread, and to give the TravelTop a place of its own, I just started a Pop-up Camper thread for the TravelTop by itself.
elcoyote
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0004
No longer a rumor
Having participated in and watched the level of interest in this thread and the GRT Traveltop thread grow, we have decided to expedite a project that we have been working for a while. The design & development of a topper such as this for the 4 door JK is something that we have been excited about for a long time, and this is just the push we needed to take our concept from drawings and ideas to the actual product. Our design will be a single hardtop that will sleep two adults and two children in comfort, while retaining all the cargo and seating capacity of a stock 4 door JK.
The design will open forward over the hood with vertical supports down to bumper. The object of this opening direction is to not increase the footprint of the deployed vehicle & shell, important in close corners and brushy areas (or a parking lot for that matter).
Access to the sleeping platform will be through either of the rear passenger doors. The user will be able to fold the seats forward and then stand up between the 2 roll bars. A 60/40 split hatch that makes up the interior roof above the rear passenger seats will be removable and provide the access to the sleeping area. The reason we chose access in this manner was to keep the rear cargo intact for its intended purpose. Rear door access would mean that all cargo would have to be removed for access, undeniably, not very convenient and hence our design decision. When entering through this hatch, a platform will remain above the rear cargo area for staging bags etc. The hatch can be replaced from inside the sleeping area if desired to increase the sleeping area for children.
We are using a fully breathable and waterproof tent fabric, light grey in color. This will eliminate the need for a separate storm cover. Tent windows will have a small awning, similar to those in use on RTTs today to allow for the windows to be partially open for ventilation during precipitation, a happy thing in humid environments. The fabric, sourced from Australia, is no stranger to rough use and harsh environments.
The interior of the shell when closed will have a hard ceiling giving one the sense that you are under a regular factory hardtop. The advantages of this will be good headroom and improved insulation. Those of you who have JKs know how anemic the A/C can seem on a hot day in the back seat because of the single wall thickness of the factory hardtop. The exterior finish will be standard black, similar to the factory and will be paintable for those who want match colors. Factory glass and connections will be used for the rear door. Side windows will still be in place with an optional hard side insert that doubles as an external accessible compartment large enough to stow a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.
We expect the overall height of the top to only increase by 6” over the factory height. Weight will be less than 100 lbs more than the factory hardtop. The top will attach using all of the factory hardware and can be easily put on in about 15-20 minutes. The shell can be customized by adding awnings to the sides. No provision for roof racks will be made, it would simply complicate opening and add to the COG, something we all prefer to avoid.
The targeted price point for the top will be $4400. The work for the prototype has begun and we are in the mold making phase. We expect to have the working prototype completed in Jan/Feb 2010. We are now accepting a 10% refundable deposit on pre-orders for a limited production batch of only 10 tops to be made. 2 of them are already spoken for our vehicles. We expect the remaining 8 tops to go quickly. They will be completed in the Spring, in time for the Overland Expo. If you think you are ready for this cool solution to turn your JK 4 door into a truly self contained vehicle, drop me a PM or of course, you can always reach us at Adventure Trailers.
Having participated in and watched the level of interest in this thread and the GRT Traveltop thread grow, we have decided to expedite a project that we have been working for a while. The design & development of a topper such as this for the 4 door JK is something that we have been excited about for a long time, and this is just the push we needed to take our concept from drawings and ideas to the actual product. Our design will be a single hardtop that will sleep two adults and two children in comfort, while retaining all the cargo and seating capacity of a stock 4 door JK.
The design will open forward over the hood with vertical supports down to bumper. The object of this opening direction is to not increase the footprint of the deployed vehicle & shell, important in close corners and brushy areas (or a parking lot for that matter).
Access to the sleeping platform will be through either of the rear passenger doors. The user will be able to fold the seats forward and then stand up between the 2 roll bars. A 60/40 split hatch that makes up the interior roof above the rear passenger seats will be removable and provide the access to the sleeping area. The reason we chose access in this manner was to keep the rear cargo intact for its intended purpose. Rear door access would mean that all cargo would have to be removed for access, undeniably, not very convenient and hence our design decision. When entering through this hatch, a platform will remain above the rear cargo area for staging bags etc. The hatch can be replaced from inside the sleeping area if desired to increase the sleeping area for children.
We are using a fully breathable and waterproof tent fabric, light grey in color. This will eliminate the need for a separate storm cover. Tent windows will have a small awning, similar to those in use on RTTs today to allow for the windows to be partially open for ventilation during precipitation, a happy thing in humid environments. The fabric, sourced from Australia, is no stranger to rough use and harsh environments.
The interior of the shell when closed will have a hard ceiling giving one the sense that you are under a regular factory hardtop. The advantages of this will be good headroom and improved insulation. Those of you who have JKs know how anemic the A/C can seem on a hot day in the back seat because of the single wall thickness of the factory hardtop. The exterior finish will be standard black, similar to the factory and will be paintable for those who want match colors. Factory glass and connections will be used for the rear door. Side windows will still be in place with an optional hard side insert that doubles as an external accessible compartment large enough to stow a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.
We expect the overall height of the top to only increase by 6” over the factory height. Weight will be less than 100 lbs more than the factory hardtop. The top will attach using all of the factory hardware and can be easily put on in about 15-20 minutes. The shell can be customized by adding awnings to the sides. No provision for roof racks will be made, it would simply complicate opening and add to the COG, something we all prefer to avoid.
The targeted price point for the top will be $4400. The work for the prototype has begun and we are in the mold making phase. We expect to have the working prototype completed in Jan/Feb 2010. We are now accepting a 10% refundable deposit on pre-orders for a limited production batch of only 10 tops to be made. 2 of them are already spoken for our vehicles. We expect the remaining 8 tops to go quickly. They will be completed in the Spring, in time for the Overland Expo. If you think you are ready for this cool solution to turn your JK 4 door into a truly self contained vehicle, drop me a PM or of course, you can always reach us at Adventure Trailers.
Dave Bennett
Adventurist
The Word is out!
Mario, I've bit my tongue bloody around some campfires over the last couple of months... glad you finally announced the good news. These are going to be an excellent addition to the JK - had these been an option a couple of years ago I would be driving a Jeep today!
Are you guys going to have a name for this new product or just call it the JK FlipPac?
Mario, I've bit my tongue bloody around some campfires over the last couple of months... glad you finally announced the good news. These are going to be an excellent addition to the JK - had these been an option a couple of years ago I would be driving a Jeep today!
Are you guys going to have a name for this new product or just call it the JK FlipPac?
AZUnlimited
Adventurer
The JK Flippak sounds AWESOME!!! :wings:
I'm liking the fact that it will only add about 6" of height to the vehicle. My current rack added about 8" (light bar in the front). If I would have put a RTT on it, I would be at about 16'' total (rack + RTT) to the height of the vehicle, which is to much to fit into the garage.
Mario,
Roughly how big will the opening over the rear seats to get into the sleeping area above? Perhaps from where the rear roll bar crosses behind the rear seats to just over the head rests of the front seats?
Jason
I'm liking the fact that it will only add about 6" of height to the vehicle. My current rack added about 8" (light bar in the front). If I would have put a RTT on it, I would be at about 16'' total (rack + RTT) to the height of the vehicle, which is to much to fit into the garage.
Mario,
Roughly how big will the opening over the rear seats to get into the sleeping area above? Perhaps from where the rear roll bar crosses behind the rear seats to just over the head rests of the front seats?
Jason