Ursa Minor Pop-Top Jeep JK

[BOHICA]

Good info on Froli from J30 owner...(scroll down to last post by Gustavo Antonio and see comments)

Ursa Minor Jeep Owners | Facebook

A group for Ursa Minor Jeep camper top owners to meet, share ideas and interests. Perspective owners are welcome to join if you are in the process of becoming an Ursa Minor owner. We'd like to keep...

www.facebook.com

 

[mozy4xe]

This is what it looks like with both mattresses installed.

Which size HEST did you go with?
Short: 64 x 25 x 3.9 inches
Regular: 78 x 25 x 3.9 inches
Regular Wide: 78 x 30 x 3.9 inches

 

[Gobirecon_tn]

Sent you a

Have you ever gotten the tent fabric caught in the hinge mechanism on your Ursa Minor top while closing it? No matter how hard I tried it was inevitable that it would happen and it did on several occasions. I knew that sooner or later the hinges would cut the material and then I’d have to install an ugly patch, so I decided to study the problem and find a solution! The tent material is forced outward as the air escapes the top when closing, and I found it impossible to counter it when performing the final press to latch the top. Through trial and error I developed what I call Hinge Tamers. These kydex shields are heat formed and drilled to mount to the lower hinge using existing holes. I’ve been using a set on my own top for three years plus with no damage to my tent material, and I’m keeping all of my bedding upstairs on a 5” mattress! It's great living anxiety free every time I close the top! This set of shields fits Ursa Minor J30 tops for the JKU and JLU Jeeps. The box will include two formed and drilled Hinge Tamers, all the hardware and installation instructions. These are the last of the run so if you think you want a set, get them while you can. There are five sets left and then that's it! Thanks to those who have supported this little project.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2354476568...e is doing the same. Cheers, Thom [/QUOTE]

http://

 

[Gobirecon_tn]

I've had some interest over the last year from people who didn't get a set of my Hinge Tamers, so now that things have slowed down a bit I've listed ten sets on eBay. I know that some folks don't do eBay and if you're one of those people you can message me. For those of you who do not know what these are, they are a set of guards I design and built to keep your tent fabric out of the hinge mechanism in JKU and JLU Ursa Minor J30 tops. I've had mine on the top for over a year and they've been great! Here's a youtube link, and a link to the auction.

Hinge Tamers for Ursa Minor J30 JKU and JLU Jeep Wrangler Camper | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hinge Tamers for Ursa Minor J30 JKU and JLU Jeep Wrangler Camper at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I need some for my Ursa and I don’t use eBay

 

[campertramper]

Which size HEST did you go with?
Short: 64 x 25 x 3.9 inches
Regular: 78 x 25 x 3.9 inches
Regular Wide: 78 x 30 x 3.9 inches

I picked up two of the regular ones - Regular: 78 x 25 x 3.9 inches. I just came back from my first 11 day trip with the new mattress. The ursa minor is so much more comfortable now and I've just had my best nights of sleep ever! The downside is that the top doesn't close as easily and I'm not able to easily make use of the internal hatches. I've been climbing up on the tire to get in and out. Still, for me it's been worth the trade off.

 

[campertramper]

Thank you so much for the reply dmulk! Do you recall which version of the buckle you used? The .625" and .75" look about right.

I installed your solution on my attic and it worked just great! Super innovative solution - thank you!

 

[dmulk]

I picked up two of the regular ones - Regular: 78 x 25 x 3.9 inches. I just came back from my first 11 day trip with the new mattress. The ursa minor is so much more comfortable now and I've just had my best nights of sleep ever! The downside is that the top doesn't close as easily and I'm not able to easily make use of the internal hatches. I've been climbing up on the tire to get in and out. Still, for me it's been worth the trade off.

So.....to be clear.....I replaced ALL of the ties with the buckles....so what I usually do is unclip one or two on the passenger side so I can access the one hatch. I push the hatch and pad up and forward (the top is already open). I then toss what I need up there and climb up using only the passenger side hatch.

I will typically leave half the gear loft folded over and tucked up into itself under the driver hatch and only use the one hatch if that makes sense....

I'll try and shoot some photos to illustrate next much when I'm leading a group through the AZBDR.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[dmulk]

So....I'm only using ONE hatch to stand in the camper if that makes sense.

 

[ncflyer]

Got this from HEST. Now making a version for GFC. - I know this is an UM thread, just thought some may be interested since it is sections so may be an alternative to what's
mentioned above?? Look to be a bit big for the space but only looking at the UM website for dimensions.

Dually Platform 50

The Dually Platform 50 was designed to spec as a premium sleep upgrade for your GFC Standard Platform Camper. This packable portable two person mattress is composed of 4 modular pieces that allow for maximum flexibility in your GFC platform sleep space.

hest.com

 

[Wegettoadventure]

Got this from HEST. Now making a version for GFC. - I know this is an UM thread, just thought some may be interested since it is sections so may be an alternative to what's
mentioned above?? Look to be a bit big for the space but only looking at the UM website for dimensions.

Dually Platform 50

The Dually Platform 50 was designed to spec as a premium sleep upgrade for your GFC Standard Platform Camper. This packable portable two person mattress is composed of 4 modular pieces that allow for maximum flexibility in your GFC platform sleep space.

hest.com

I really hope they make this for the Ursa Minor. I did see another option on Instagram from @jeepingcouple that had a mattress made for them by roamrest

 

[campertramper]

Got this from HEST. Now making a version for GFC. - I know this is an UM thread, just thought some may be interested since it is sections so may be an alternative to what's
mentioned above?? Look to be a bit big for the space but only looking at the UM website for dimensions.

Dually Platform 50

The Dually Platform 50 was designed to spec as a premium sleep upgrade for your GFC Standard Platform Camper. This packable portable two person mattress is composed of 4 modular pieces that allow for maximum flexibility in your GFC platform sleep space.

hest.com

Thanks for posting this! A similar modded version with exact dimensions for the ursa minor would be amazing!
Ursa Minor JK version is 85.236 x 49.250 x 2" (diagram below from https://ursaminorvehicles.com/j30-specifications)

The version of the HEST that I got is 78 x 50 x 3.9". It fits snugly. The biggest problem is that the ursa minor tapers a little bit from the back to the front and so while the 50" wide is great in the back of the vehicle, it gets tight towards the front. This could be addressed by cutting out some foam, but I haven't yet had the courage. I actually really like that it's 5" shorter than the length of the ursa minor bed platform because you can fit a pillow in the cavity while the top is closed and leave your shoes or phone and wallet in the cavity at night while you are sleeping.

Now the version that you linked to is 90" x 50", and so around 5" too long. It could certainly be trimmed down if you have the courage to modify a $750 mattress (thus making it non-returnable). It might or might not line up with the ursa minor hatches with the small cushions - I don't know. It's not clear from the published ursa minor diagram (below). Maybe John Gish will chime in with an opinion.

I also want to mention that I did contact HEST to ask if they would customize one for the Ursa Minor community and they said that they do not currently do custom work. If John contacted them directly I have a feeling he would be more persuasive than a lone ursa minor owner like me.

If you decide to get the https://hest.com/products/dually-platform-50 and trim it down, please take lots of photos and let us know how it goes!

 

[bemocked]

I searched this thread for an answer to this exact Question that was posted back in ~2021 and see there is no response so thought i would ask the question again of the J30 owners.

I ask because in both of our van builds my wife and i use the Froli Sleep System below custom cut natural latex mattresses (one is 3" the other is 4"... the 3" is ideal IMO).

We are in research mode to purchase a 2024 JLU + J30 top and think the Froli + a ~3" would be awesome in the bed area. Just wondering if anyone is doing the same.

Cheers,
Thom

On the topic of natural latex for mattress insert...

We have the 3" (nominal) mattress covers from Ursa Minor (the set of covers we received, ordering from Ursa are actually 3.5" tall when measured exactly). We had a local upholstery foam company cut foam to perfectly fit the covers (this was when we realized the covers we received were actually 3.5" thick - from the foam factory's sizing/fitting their foam to exactly fit the empty covers we brought to them). We slept on those foam cushions for a 7 week extended trip this spring, but felt there was still room for improvement.
We recently purchased both a 2" thick "firm" and a 2"-thick "medium firm" natural latex "mattress topper" sheet of latex foam from SleepOnLatex (from Amazon). The latex is more compressible (or squishier) than the standard foam, and the medium firm material is significantly softer than the firm layer. I just finished cutting both layers down to fit the 4 Ursa mattress cushion covers, and now have the 2" Firm mattress layer in the bottom portion of the cushion cover, beneath the 2" (softer) Medium-Firm layer, inside the cushion covers - i.e. two/dual layers of latex in the cushion covers. This 4" of latex (as two sheets, each of 2" thickness) fits the zipped up covers from Ursa shockingly well height-thickness-wise; but the proof will be after sleeping on it several nights in the Ursa. (Ref: AISN for Amz lookup: B00UYG9WBS for firm; and B00UYG95T2 for medium-firm)

The latex-as-cushion (instead of traditional foam) is both noticeably heavier/denser than the classic upholstery foam mattress, and quite a bit "floppier" when handling or maneuvering the zipped-up cushions

My experience with home-bed mattresses has been that natural latex is much more pleasant to sleep on, than memory foam or traditional mattress-foam - i'm excited to see how the full-thickness latex performs inside the Ursa's bed-cushion covers (will test out for sleeping on a short trip next week - but so far, so good, after an initial/brief driveway-nap).

We aren't using Froli, but we do also have a layer of this thin/breathable/cushioning mesh material from Sailrite under our mattresses in the Ursa:

Moisture Prevention Underliner 60" x 90"

DetailsMoisture Prevention Underliner 60" x 90" is an innovative high-strength mesh material designed to promote consistent airflow underneath your mattress, minimizing the chances of condensation, mold and mildew growth.When a mattress or cushion is located in a place such as a boat cabin, RV...

www.sailrite.com

 

[ncflyer]

CamperTramper - If you were referring to me to experimenting with the HEST, it was just a reference. Don't have an Ursa Minor, though probably would, had I researched more prior my to last vehicle purchase. Odd that HEST said they don't do custom work. Do they consider making one for the GFC custom? You were only asking for them to make a commercially available option just like they did for the GFC. It's just a different puzzle. Guess they figure the revenue will be more from those than from the UM.

 

[dmulk]

Hey all,

I led a small group of adventurers a couple months ago on the AZBDR. Three of us were in J30 Ursa Minor JKs. Figured you all might enjoy the series my good friend Mark Doiron put together of the trip. Here's the teaser and a link to his Youtube channel.


-Dmulk

 

[kerouac]

I recognize this is the "Jeep" forum but I searched the site and couldn't find a dedicated section. My question is....does anyone have any insight what's happening with the Bronco Ursa Minor? Just seems sporadic IG posts and a small update on the website occur from time to time and then very quiet again.