Land Rover ideas for Jeeps

[jscherb]

I'm at the Bantam Jeep Fest in western Pennsylvania this weekend. There's a company at the vendor expo that makes slip-in camper shells:

Some of them are quite small (check the ones on the flatbed behind the tent). Not quite the right size to fit in an M416 (see the post above), but I suggested to the owner of the company that he consider making a version that slips into an M416. I told him it would probably have to be a "muffin top" shape - a longer sleeping area above the smaller part that inserts into the short M416 tub, but it wouldn't be hard for him to to. Not sure if he'll take action on it but he said people attending the expo had already asked him about supporting the M416 so maybe he'll consider it.

 

[shays4me]

I'm at the Bantam Jeep Fest in western Pennsylvania this weekend. There's a company at the vendor expo that makes slip-in camper shells:

Some of them are quite small (check the ones on the flatbed behind the tent). Not quite the right size to fit in an M416 (see the post above), but I suggested to the owner of the company that he consider making a version that slips into an M416. I told him it would probably have to be a "muffin top" shape - a longer sleeping area above the smaller part that inserts into the short M416 tub, but it wouldn't be hard for him to to. Not sure if he'll take action on it but he said people attending the expo had already asked him about supporting the M416 so maybe he'll consider it.

That makes a lot of sense for someone with limited space for parking. I have a lot of space now, and since I don't have a truck that runs I have multiple trailers around for doing various tasks with the Jeeps. If I were to ever downsize and move back into a town, I've pondered building a muffin top camping pod for my flatbed trailer that would be easily removable. That way I could use the trailer for chores when I'm not camping in it.

 

[givemethewillys]

I'm at the Bantam Jeep Fest in western Pennsylvania this weekend. There's a company at the vendor expo that makes slip-in camper shells:

Some of them are quite small (check the ones on the flatbed behind the tent). Not quite the right size to fit in an M416 (see the post above), but I suggested to the owner of the company that he consider making a version that slips into an M416. I told him it would probably have to be a "muffin top" shape - a longer sleeping area above the smaller part that inserts into the short M416 tub, but it wouldn't be hard for him to to. Not sure if he'll take action on it but he said people attending the expo had already asked him about supporting the M416 so maybe he'll consider it.

I have a Spen model S (very similar to the m416) and have often thought about throwing together a small camper for it. I'd think that other than being quite narrow in the "floor area" that it would work pretty well.

 

[jscherb]

The M416 is too short for someone like me to sleep in (I'm 6'6"), but a few years ago I built a proof-of-concept chuck wagon top for mine.

It supported a roof top tent and the cargo hatches on the side would have had built-on cabinets had I finished it.

It was mostly a proof-of-concept and I didn't finish it completely because I decided it would be better to build out my Jeep-tub trailer.

 

[jscherb]

Its not uncommon to make trailers out of Series/Defender bodies and hardtops and they usually look pretty good. I came across this photo the other day:

Reminded me of this photo of my LJ and trailer I took last year.

My trailer wasn't a Land Rover Idea for a Jeep though, it was part of the original design I did for the LJ Safari Cab hardtop back in 2010/2011.

 

[XJlimitedx99]

I just spent the last 2 weeks reading through this whole thread. Definitely some really great innovation happening here. I like the idea of sharing ideas across different makes/models. We all tend to do things a bit differently. Thank you for creating this.

You've definitely opened my eyes a bit to what is possible with fiberglass and fabrics. Awesome stuff.

I noticed most topics in this thread are storage related. I know you were pulling most ideas from magazines, but I was thinking there would be more mechanical/functionality topics to discuss. I really like the snorkel pre-filter and shower systems. I figured there would be some topics such as on board air, airing up/down, anti-rollbars, differential breathers, fluid cooling, electrical systems, etc, etc.

 

[jscherb]

bI just spent the last 2 weeks reading through this whole thread. Definitely some really great innovation happening here. I like the idea of sharing ideas across different makes/models. We all tend to do things a bit differently. Thank you for creating this.

You've definitely opened my eyes a bit to what is possible with fiberglass and fabrics. Awesome stuff.

I noticed most topics in this thread are storage related. I know you were pulling most ideas from magazines, but I was thinking there would be more mechanical/functionality topics to discuss. I really like the snorkel pre-filter and shower systems. I figured there would be some topics such as on board air, airing up/down, anti-rollbars, differential breathers, fluid cooling, electrical systems, etc, etc.

I've done some of those things in my other threads - the things in this thread are pretty much ideas that came from the Land Rover world that could be adapted to Jeeps (and I have adapted many of them on my Jeeps). But here are some of the things you mentioned which were covered in my other threads:

For example, I recently posted about a microprocessor-controlled compressor experiment I've been working on for either air bags or airing up/down: https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/barn-door-for-jk-factory-hardtops.127687/post-3114911

I posted about this DIY shower system a while back: https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/barn-door-for-jk-factory-hardtops.127687/post-2909963

And this pre-filter/cold air intake for the Wrangler:

I've also posted a lot about electrical systems, for example this DIY dual battery trail kitchen power system: https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/barn-door-for-jk-factory-hardtops.127687/post-2996721

None of those were inspired by Land Rovers so they're not in this thread. There are lots more ideas like those above in my other threads .

 

[AggieOE]

I've done some of those things in my other threads - the things in this thread are pretty much ideas that came from the Land Rover world that could be adapted to Jeeps (and I have adapted many of them on my Jeeps). But here are some of the things you mentioned which were covered in my other threads:

For example, I recently posted about a microprocessor-controlled compressor experiment I've been working on for either air bags or airing up/down: https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/barn-door-for-jk-factory-hardtops.127687/post-3114911

I posted about this DIY shower system a while back: https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/barn-door-for-jk-factory-hardtops.127687/post-2909963

And this pre-filter/cold air intake for the Wrangler:

I've also posted a lot about electrical systems, for example this DIY dual battery trail kitchen power system: https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/barn-door-for-jk-factory-hardtops.127687/post-2996721

None of those were inspired by Land Rovers so they're not in this thread. There are lots more ideas like those above in my other threads .

This air intake is one of my favorite ideas. I've barely scratched the surface on looking into what it takes to do this to my JK but plan to get into it one day. It's just so much cleaner looking and functional if you bring an extension section with you to raise it off the cowl when needed. No need for a permanent snorkel and the wind noise it brings.

 

[jscherb]

A few months ago I wrote about the demise of Land Rover Owner Magazine. Neil Watterson, who was the editor of that magazine, has founded another, this time called Land Rover Life.

The magazine web site doesn't say if they'll mail subscriptions to the U.S., but I've emailed them to ask. I'll subscribe if they will mail here.

Reminds me of Jrations magazine - anyone remember that? In 2005, Rob Reaser, who was the founder of JP Magazine, decided to try again and he founded Jrations. Unfortunately the 2000's are not a good time to found new print magazines and Jrations only lasted about a dozen issues. I've got all of them:

Does that make the new Land Rover Life magazine a Jeep idea for Land Rovers?

I wrote I think 8 articles for Rob, and six of them appeared in the magazine before it stopped publication.

Let's hope Land Rover Life has more success than Jrations.

 

[Zeep]

I had just found out about Jrations, just before the demise. Think I still have a issue or two lying around.

 

[givemethewillys]

I was a long time subscriber of JP, but have never heard of Jrations!

 

[jscherb]

I was a long time subscriber of JP, but have never heard of Jrations!

In my opinion (and not because I wrote for them) Jrations was a more useful and interesting magazine.

But I was a long-time subscriber of Jp as well, I've got every issue:

And an index so I can find articles in them:

And when I finished my Retro Wrangler pickup project, it was featured in JP:

I don't really miss it though, as it strayed from Rob Reaser's original vision over the years the articles became much less relevant to me.

 

[jscherb]

From the October issue of Land Rover Magazine:

The web page for it: https://www.expedition-equipment.com/product/universal-tunnel-saddle-bag/

Not sure if it's a good idea or not, what do you think? I would be easy enough to turn this into a Land Rover idea for a Jeep, I could sew a prototype to see how it works in a Jeep if you guys think it's a good idea.

 

[givemethewillys]

From the October issue of Land Rover Magazine:

The web page for it: https://www.expedition-equipment.com/product/universal-tunnel-saddle-bag/

Not sure if it's a good idea or not, what do you think? I would be easy enough to turn this into a Land Rover idea for a Jeep, I could sew a prototype to see how it works in a Jeep if you guys think it's a good idea.

I like most of the bags you've made, but that one seems like a miss to me....

 

[jscherb]

I like most of the bags you've made, but that one seems like a miss to me....

I agree, doesn't seem like a good idea to me but I thought I'd ask in case I was missing something. If people thought it was good I would make a Wrangler version to test the idea but it doesn't seem like a good one.

Also from the October issue - and this does seem like a good idea - hardtop-mounted rear work lights:

They seem to have an angled housing that would focus the light very nicely around the rear of the Land Rover. I checked the company's web site (https://irbdevelopments.com/) but the lights don't seem to be on the site yet.

Recently I felt the need for rear work/camp lights, so I made a pair of clamp-on lights. I used an inexpensive pair of Harbor Freight clamps, a pair of LED pod lights that I don't remember where I got, some wire and a power plug.

I plug them into an extra outlet in the Trail Kitchen power panel; the wire is long enough that I can deploy them on the back of either side of the rack.

They work pretty well but if the lights featured in the magazine were available here I might consider them instead. They would work without needing the rack to be in place, although the times when I might need the lights are also times when the rack is installed.