JK/JL Jeep Camper Concept

[LostInTheWorld]

I realized that I haven’t updated this post in a long time.

Yvonne and I have been out in the camper every few weeks this summer and loving how easy it is to jump in the camper and go when we have a few free days. It’s been a busy summer with a dynamic work schedule, so having the camper ready on-demand has been super nice. We also have a few trips lined up for this fall in areas that are a bit too hot in the summer, so we are looking forward to those upcoming trips.

The camper has been working perfectly for us, but it’s funny how I can’t help but think about what different things I would maybe try if I made another camper. We really like the compact size of this setup, so I’d for sure stick to this small size. It’s just so practical and cozy for the two of us.

 

[86scotty]

Great pics! What kind of fuel mileage are you averaging? I can't remember if yours is gas or diesel.

 

[LostInTheWorld]

Great pics! What kind of fuel mileage are you averaging? I can't remember if yours is gas or diesel.

Good question. We’ve put 10,050 miles on the vehicle with the camper installed, so we have a good bit of info on that now; I just looked through our little fueling logbook this morning to see what we’ve been getting for mileage. Over those 10,050 miles, our average fuel mileage has been 17.4 mpg. That mileage is based on total miles driven (GPS verified) and the total fuel burned. The onboard mileage that the vehicle reports is 18.4 mpg average over that time, so the vehicle is reporting right at 1.0 mpg better than what we think we are actually getting. For some reason, every vehicle that we’ve driven that reports mileage on the dash has always over reported, but we trust the 17.4 mpg that we have verified by other means.

On the stock jeep before the camper install, we were getting 20.1 mpg average, so adding the aerodynamically draggy, fully loaded camper reduced the fuel mileage by only about 2.7 mpg. I think that is actually pretty good considering that the camper has such poor aerodynamics. Depending on the trip, and what we take with us, we are still operating under or right at the gross weight, so we aren’t running over the MGVR even loaded up with us both in it, so that is nice.

Ours is a stick shift gasoline JLU Sport (Dan Grec’s is a diesel automatic JLU Rubicon).

 

[shays4me]

Good question. We’ve put 10,050 miles on the vehicle with the camper installed, so we have a good bit of info on that now; I just looked through our little fueling logbook this morning to see what we’ve been getting for mileage. Over those 10,050 miles, our average fuel mileage has been 17.4 mpg. That mileage is based on total miles driven (GPS verified) and the total fuel burned. The onboard mileage that the vehicle reports is 18.4 mpg average over that time, so the vehicle is reporting right at 1.0 mpg better than what we think we are actually getting. For some reason, every vehicle that we’ve driven that reports mileage on the dash has always over reported, but we trust the 17.4 mpg that we have verified by other means.

On the stock jeep before the camper install, we were getting 20.1 mpg average, so adding the aerodynamically draggy, fully loaded camper reduced the fuel mileage by only about 2.7 mpg. I think that is actually pretty good considering that the camper has such poor aerodynamics. Depending on the trip, and what we take with us, we are still operating under or right at the gross weight, so we aren’t running over the MGVR even loaded up with us both in it, so that is nice.

Ours is a stick shift gasoline JLU Sport (Dan Grec’s is a diesel automatic JLU Rubicon).

That’s great mileage for a setup like that! If I could get that with my jkur with Ursa Minor top I’d be ecstatic. I’ve kept track since it was new and I’m getting 14.3 overall. If I had 3.73 gears and stock tires it would be better, but I opted for 4.10’s and 33”. My jeep also lies to me about gas mileage. I think it’s to make me feel better.

 

[Dan Grec]

That’s great mileage for a setup like that! If I could get that with my jkur with Ursa Minor top I’d be ecstatic. I’ve kept track since it was new and I’m getting 14.3 overall. If I had 3.73 gears and stock tires it would be better, but I opted for 4.10’s and 33”. My jeep also lies to me about gas mileage. I think it’s to make me feel better.

For what it's worth, My Diesel "Michael Fuchs" camper gets ********** on 24mpg.
It's heavy, and has 35x11 tires.

When I drove it cross-country as a bone-stock Rubicon I had many tanks of 28mpg and one of 29.

-Dan

 

[shays4me]

For what it's worth, My Diesel "Michael Fuchs" camper gets ********** on 24mpg.
It's heavy, and has 35x11 tires.

When I drove it cross-country as a bone-stock Rubicon I had many tanks of 28mpg and one of 29.

-Dan

That’s better than the wife’s stock diesel gladiator. I’ve seen 22 out of it if I’m acting like there’s a grape between my foot and the gas pedal.

 

[fourfa]

Odd, I easily got 27 hwy in my diesel gladiator when it was stock. (And 21-23 hwy built, with a heavy Alu-Cab camper and 37s)

 

[86scotty]

Well that's odd! I easily get 42 mpg out of my Hemi 392 Rubicon on 42"s, usually with the rear wheels spinning twice as fast as the speedometer leaving a trail of rubber behind me towing a 40' 5th wheel!

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

[Mules]

Good question. We’ve put 10,050 miles on the vehicle with the camper installed, so we have a good bit of info on that now; I just looked through our little fueling logbook this morning to see what we’ve been getting for mileage. Over those 10,050 miles, our average fuel mileage has been 17.4 mpg. That mileage is based on total miles driven (GPS verified) and the total fuel burned. The onboard mileage that the vehicle reports is 18.4 mpg average over that time, so the vehicle is reporting right at 1.0 mpg better than what we think we are actually getting. For some reason, every vehicle that we’ve driven that reports mileage on the dash has always over reported, but we trust the 17.4 mpg that we have verified by other means.

On the stock jeep before the camper install, we were getting 20.1 mpg average, so adding the aerodynamically draggy, fully loaded camper reduced the fuel mileage by only about 2.7 mpg. I think that is actually pretty good considering that the camper has such poor aerodynamics. Depending on the trip, and what we take with us, we are still operating under or right at the gross weight, so we aren’t running over the MGVR even loaded up with us both in it, so that is nice.

Ours is a stick shift gasoline JLU Sport (Dan Grec’s is a diesel automatic JLU Rubicon).

I'm having a good day when I get 17 MPG out of my Rubicon with 38's. 😣

 

[86scotty]

Question for Dan and Michael, what highway speed do you guys typically run? I mean interstate speeds when you are 'between' scenic roads and trails. I'm not only curious how this plays into the mileage figures you've posted but also what is comfortable in the modified Jeeps, Jeeps being generally light vs. the bigger heavier camper rigs a lot of us drive.

 

[Dan Grec]

Question for Dan and Michael, what highway speed do you guys typically run? I mean interstate speeds when you are 'between' scenic roads and trails. I'm not only curious how this plays into the mileage figures you've posted but also what is comfortable in the modified Jeeps, Jeeps being generally light vs. the bigger heavier camper rigs a lot of us drive.

My EcoDiesel does not care one little bit. It will sit on 80 mph with cruise all day long. Even going up a huge grade it will hold 8th gear and barely feels like it's working at all. Night and day compared to the 3.6 gas Gladiator I had.
At that speed it will average 21mpg or so.
For my good mileage that is mostly gravel roads and looking around exploring, with a bunch of low range thrown in too. I'd say the average of all of that is more like 50-60mph.

-Dan

 

[86scotty]

Wow, that is moving for a modified Jeep! Glad to hear it's comfortable at that speed. My wife's little 2.0l turbo Wrangler Willys is fine at that speed all day too but no rack or anything other than 33"s on it, not even a lift. It averages low to mid 20's and has been rock solid so far.

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

I keep thinking about this as well. What I think would be really epic would be a flip pack style camper that mounts directly to the tub of a jeep JL and opens out over the front of the Jeep.
years ago they used to make something at ursa minor called the j 180
I don’t know why they stopped it, but in my view, it’s way better than the j 30 which is a wedge style
There’s even now a Chinese company called the life that has a knock off of the J 30 at about half that price and that looks pretty appealing entry from inside the jeep
The thing I always liked about my flip pack on my Tacoma back in the day when I had a Tacoma was you had plenty of standing room in the back which for getting up in the middle of the night go to the bathroom (i am 72) and standing to get dressed made it a huge draw
If I had the skills and a bit more time money, I’d probably try and build one myself

 

[JDaPP]

I keep thinking about this as well. What I think would be really epic would be a flip pack style camper that mounts directly to the tub of a jeep JL and opens out over the front of the Jeep.
years ago they used to make something at ursa minor called the j 180
I don’t know why they stopped it, but in my view, it’s way better than the j 30 which is a wedge style
There’s even now a Chinese company called the life that has a knock off of the J 30 at about half that price and that looks pretty appealing entry from inside the jeep
The thing I always liked about my flip pack on my Tacoma back in the day when I had a Tacoma was you had plenty of standing room in the back which for getting up in the middle of the night go to the bathroom (i am 72) and standing to get dressed made it a huge draw
If I had the skills and a bit more time money, I’d probably try and build one myself

They quit making them because of they had a lot of issues getting the flippac style torsion bar in the front and although there was a lot of "interest" there was not a lot of people who actually signed up for them.

I had both versions at one time. I loved the space of the J180 but it was a lot colder inside, took longer to pack and deploy and just in general was not as convenient for me as the J30.

I love this camper design by the way.amazing piece of work.

 

[86scotty]

Also, a hard roof over any style pop up camper is a whole different world than a tent. Much more durable, secure, easier to stay comfortable in, etc. I love the idea of a Flippac but there's no going back to sleeping in a tent for me.