Long Jeep.....chasing unicorns

[Metcalf]

Just a little detail.

I have been thinking about the sleeping platform and how it will flip/slide forward over the passenger seat and center console. It took me a bit but I think these hinges would be a simple and clean solution to having the platform flip forward in one or more section. I think with the roll bar the platform might need to flip forward in two sections to make eveything clear inside. Anyways....cool little hinges.

http://www.sdslondon.co.uk/product/self-supporting-folding-table-hinge-1.html





This style of hinge allows everything to fold flat back 180 degrees on itself. They also kinda self support the multiple panels. I won't rely on the hinges to support everything but it can't hurt.

I am thinking maybe some plywood with lots of holes to make a light platform? The platform will only have a 36" unsupported width between the wheel tubs. The forward leaves can be supported on the center console, a small bracket on the roll bar, the seat back, and perhaps the grab handle on the dash. I may also have a separate leaf on the drivers side to give a little more room when sleeping two people.

My basic organization plan for camping inside on solar trips is to have my personal gear bag strapped to the deck behind the drivers seat far over the drivers side toward the window. My bed roll can be on the opposite side. It will basically be my foam sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and pillow all rolled up in one unit. It should be simple to store and unroll for use. The kitchen box and a small cooler may fit behind the spare tire ( on the rear forward floor ) and the tailgate.

I was looking at another LJ in real life today.....they really are not THAT big. I will need to be careful with space....

 

[Clutch]

might be a repost, have you seen this metcalf?

http://www.aqualu.com/frames.html

 

[Metcalf]

Yeah, neat stuff, but WAY expensive! The landcruiser tubs are more expensive than the same kinda thing in a jeep. The frames are similar in price to the TDK jeep stuff, which is just silly in my opinion.

The top on that cruiser is also pretty dang bulky in the rear portion.

Yes, Yes. I know I am playing like the three little bears here. I think I have a solid plan for what I want, now I am just hashing out the details and filling the holes.

 

[Clutch]

Yes, Yes. I know I am playing like the three little bears here. I think I have a solid plan for what I want, now I am just hashing out the details and filling the holes.

yeah the toyota stuff is ridiculous $$$

Good to hash out the details, your attention to detail/thought process blows me away, impressive.

I go round and round in my head what the perfect vehicle is (for me) as well.

I like those 180º hinges you found, I have been trying to find something for a updated Wildernest camper idea I have been working on. want something
that is invisible from the outside unlike the original model.

 

[Metcalf]

yeah the toyota stuff is ridiculous $$$

Good to hash out the details, your attention to detail/thought process blows me away, impressive.

I go round and round in my head what the perfect vehicle is (for me) as well.

I like those 180º hinges you found, I have been trying to find something for a updated Wildernest camper idea I have been working on. want something
that is invisible from the outside unlike the original model.

Thank you. I like getting though most of the detail stuff before I start building. I usually have a pretty darn firm idea of what I will have in the end before I start. I think it is important to know how modification A will impact modification K on the list. Some stuff you have to be willing to 'float' a little bit till you get more data. Some stuff is just a total pain in the rear

I don't think there is one perfect vehicle. You have to make a compromise at some point. For me I want to combine as much off road performance I can into the smallest vehicle I can camp inside. Most of the other stuff is just icing. A lot of the other stuff is trying to manage cost. I don't see myself being able to buy new crate motors, atlas transfer cases, and custom Dynatrac axles and stuff them in a new $40K JKUR. I just don't have those kind of funds to play with. This project should cost about $15-25K or so in total. That will be for a 'new' frame and body, lightly used V8 power, 6spd auto, tough transfer case, Dana 60 axles front and rear, and 40" tires. As I have mentioned before I think there is a point at which starting with a complete base vehicle isn't worth it anymore. I can see some things being easier with a complete base vehicle, maybe selling parts off the base vehicle to recoup some of its cost, etc. If you haven't figured it out yet I like designing and building a lot also

 

[Clutch]

You're welcome.

Yeah there is no perfect vehicle...why I have 3 sitting in my driveway. and still could use a couple more "tools for the job at hand"

It is awesome that you are into designing/building. I wish I knew how to use solid works, I could get into designing. (my math skills aren't the best)

All I have is Adobe Illustrator...doing stuff like this.

Link

 

[Metcalf]

There probably isn't as much difference between illustrator type stuff and solidworks. If you can think in 'legos' you can build stuff in solidworks. Google Sketchup might be a decent primer between the two. I design and build stuff for a living so vehicle stuff is just for fun...

 

[Metcalf]

Today's research project.....Wipers.

The Aqualu tub uses a cowl design similar to a CJ or YJ but has the TJ shape. This means that the stock TJ wipers won't work....and the stock CJ/YJ wipers won't work either because your using a TJ windshield.

So....what to do about wipers. Also, how to make the wiper system simple, easy to install, easy to wire, affordable, etc.

A cable drive hot rod system like this is probably the best answer....

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speci...-2I-Deluxe-Universal-Dual-Wiper-Kit,2995.html

....till you look at the install complexity, cost, etc

I am looking for a compact electric wiper assembly that just be able to bolt directly to the flat section of the cowl just below the windshield. Something from a boat maybe. It would be nice if the wipers where synced. It would be nice if the wiper motors had enough swing to have TJ(ish) flat wiper arms that where out of the way.

I found a picture of a converted CJ/YJ with the long sweep wipers....



With some rough layout work it looks like having about 135 degrees of sweep. Most of the simple stuff on the market seems to max out about 110 degrees.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Metcalf]

Wipers....



http://tmcin.com/modeltmc-00901-12vheavydutymarinewipermotorwith1shaft.aspx

It looks like these units are about $60 each. They offer a few different shaft lengths.

http://www.aura.szczecin.pl/schematy/WycieraczkaTMC090x.pdf

They will do 120 degrees of sweep from the factory and I don't see why you couldn't drill another hole to get 130 degrees or so?

I think these motors are small enough to fit in the space provided since the motor is turned sideways. They only provide low and hi speeds, no intermittent. I wonder if that could be added with another kind of switch. They also wouldn't be synced, but I don't think that bothers me too much as long as they don't hit each other. They do have a park feature which would be nice. Honestly, just having one of the large sweep wipers would probably be enough for me most of the time.....yes....I am a minimalist.

 

[Metcalf]

Switches.....with a delay option!

http://store.amequipment.com/wiper-....html?osCsid=738b4c451d3d648c7b8191611fc892ff

Found them here when randomly google-fuing the motors and control...neat....

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93007

Most switches also have a 'wash' function to drive a squirt pump....double neato....

 

[Clutch]

There probably isn't as much difference between illustrator type stuff and solidworks. If you can think in 'legos' you can build stuff in solidworks. Google Sketchup might be a decent primer between the two. I design and build stuff for a living so vehicle stuff is just for fun...

Thanks. I need to play with Google Sketchup a bit.

My engineering buddies say Solid Works as a steep learning curve for an average joe like me.

Sorry for mucking up your thread...back to the idea board!

 

[Metcalf]

Thanks. I need to play with Google Sketchup a bit.

My engineering buddies say Solid Works as a steep learning curve for an average joe like me.

Sorry for mucking up your thread...back to the idea board!

I think solidworks isn't really that bad. If your at all mechanical you will get it pretty quick. You basically build parts like you would in real life really.....Get a block of material and carve out what you want. It gets easier as you use it more. There are some things that are really hard but most of the basic stuff is pretty simple. The sheetmetal stuff for 2d profile cutting can be a bit of a headache at first but it gets easier as you go. Hours is hours....the longer you work with it the better you get....

No mucking....I like long threads with lots of questions, answers, ideas, and tangents

 

[skibum315]

Tangent: Any engineer who says Solidworks is a steep learning curve needs to spend some time with a *real* (said with as much sarcasm as you can imagine) CAD program like I-Deas ... I wish, with as much wishing as one could muster, that I could convince the powers that be at my company, that Solidworks would be a worthwhile investment for us ... but it hasn't happened yet and I don't see it going any time soon (PTC Creo or NX will likely be where we go, now that I-Deas is going away).

Metcalf, your threads are an inspiration; and I greatly enjoy following along (stumbled upon the Willys thread a while back, then went and read the Dodge one, now this). I really like the idea of what you're going for on this build ... and it sounds like you know what you want, so I'll leave my opinions out of it (since they'd be more of what *I'd* want, anyway) and just enjoy reading along. For what it's worth, though, your ideas here really reminded me a bit of RMP&O's mongrel build that he's got going (60 Series LC body, 80 Series frame/suspension, portal axles from his 'big' Patrol build & a built SD33 motor to top it all off). I know it's really not the same thing, but it struck me a some similar motivations for some reason ... I dunno.

Anyway, back to wipers ... thanks for all the detail.

 

[Metcalf]

Tangent: Any engineer who says Solidworks is a steep learning curve needs to spend some time with a *real* (said with as much sarcasm as you can imagine) CAD program like I-Deas ... I wish, with as much wishing as one could muster, that I could convince the powers that be at my company, that Solidworks would be a worthwhile investment for us ... but it hasn't happened yet and I don't see it going any time soon (PTC Creo or NX will likely be where we go, now that I-Deas is going away).

Metcalf, your threads are an inspiration; and I greatly enjoy following along (stumbled upon the Willys thread a while back, then went and read the Dodge one, now this). I really like the idea of what you're going for on this build ... and it sounds like you know what you want, so I'll leave my opinions out of it (since they'd be more of what *I'd* want, anyway) and just enjoy reading along. For what it's worth, though, your ideas here really reminded me a bit of RMP&O's mongrel build that he's got going (60 Series LC body, 80 Series frame/suspension, portal axles from his 'big' Patrol build & a built SD33 motor to top it all off). I know it's really not the same thing, but it struck me a some similar motivations for some reason ... I dunno.

Anyway, back to wipers ... thanks for all the detail.

I was able to get the company I work for off 2d autocad ( like version 10 or something ridiculous ) and into 3d modeling by using a program called Alibre for a year. It was pretty low cost, and honestly almost as good as solidworks on a lot of levels for a lot less money. The only area it sucked at was FEA since it was a seperate module and you had to convert, export, etc. Anyways, for a good 3d program it gets my vote. The cost was pretty dang low really. I think they got bought out though....

Building is fun for sure. Thinking about it and planning is a lot of fun for me too.

Everyone is going to have a different idea of what the perfect vehicle is for sure. I basically wanted the smallest body I could comfortably sleep in with around a 110" wheelbase. Most of the other stuff is pretty common universal thinking for off road performance.....low stance, flat belly, good approach and departure angles, a decent amount of uptravel, articulation, etc. Then fill it up with what everyone seems to want that Jeep doesn't offer in the YJ/TJ/JK stuff.....V8 power, all gear front dig capable transfer case, dana 60 axles, and 40" tires I could build this same vehicle inside a lot of different bodies for sure. I think the LJ tub is probably one of the better overall sizes for a 110" wheelbase AND that has good current aftermarket support for tops, doors, etc.

 

[Metcalf]

Any idea on misc stuff would be appreciated....

Wipers
Heater
Defrost
Lights
seats
seat mounts
seat sliders
more storage
floor heat management
seatbelts and mounts
rollcage stuff

What I am always looking for is ideas that just make vehicles better. A flexible LED map light or an underseat storage drawer or a seat that folds flat. Basically. I am building this vehicle from scratch so adding just about whatever details I want is possible. I am trying to keep the vehicle fairly simple and clean looking, but I think you can have some neat stuff while still maintaining a clean look. Honestly I don't get around new vehicles that much so I am pretty minimalist in what I think a vehicle has. I also very much like having one thing that does more than one function. I was looking at using a tablet mounted to the dash to perhaps provide gauges, gps functions, music, movies, etc. Just a thought....