Custom modular JK hardtop
#311
Thanks. I was really pleased with the enthusiasm of the RV window company for this project. They really seem to want to do something very cool here, maybe because this is something different from the ordinary RV windows they do every day. They're really taking a lot of care to make the fit and details perfect.
Next they'll be making up a complete prototype set of all four windows, which they'll ship to me as soon as they're done - hopefully within 2-3 weeks. I'll check the engineering details, and if all is ok, then the company I'm doing this for will place a small initial production order. The initial production windows will go to "early adopters" who will provide test feedback.
Next they'll be making up a complete prototype set of all four windows, which they'll ship to me as soon as they're done - hopefully within 2-3 weeks. I'll check the engineering details, and if all is ok, then the company I'm doing this for will place a small initial production order. The initial production windows will go to "early adopters" who will provide test feedback.
Definitely consider me as an early adopter. I have kids that'll test them very well too
#312
#313
The profile of the parts without the drip rails/roof installed matches the profile of the factory roof. I did that so that the roof panel would be compatible with the factory hardtop - that way the roof could be installed on a factory top as a tilt-up camper, for example, or one of the other factory hardtop mods I've shown over the course of this thread.
#314
Would this design possibly work with a flip style camper like the HABITAT but for a JK 2 door?
#317
#318
The other day as I was working with the new fiberglass upper door jamb pieces I molded I started thinking of another use for them, this time with the factory hardtop. They could be installed as upper jambs to replace the freedom panels of a factory top. They'd provide sealing surfaces for the top of the doors, and also provide a place to secure a canvas roll-up freedom panel replacement. It sure would be a lot more convenient on the road than trying to store the factory freedom panels somewhere when you wanted to open up the roof a bit.
I haven't done enough design work on this idea yet to know if it would be best for the canvas to roll up as pictured, or just to be completely removable. Or to decide whether the fiberglass windshield header I'll be making for the hardtop would be used in this configuration, or perhaps one of the aftermarket bikini headers would work in this application.
I don't know it I'll build a prototype of this idea or not, I'm just always thinking about new ways the fiberglass parts I'm molding could be used.
I haven't done enough design work on this idea yet to know if it would be best for the canvas to roll up as pictured, or just to be completely removable. Or to decide whether the fiberglass windshield header I'll be making for the hardtop would be used in this configuration, or perhaps one of the aftermarket bikini headers would work in this application.
I don't know it I'll build a prototype of this idea or not, I'm just always thinking about new ways the fiberglass parts I'm molding could be used.
#319
Really love the idea of a soft freedom panel. Looking at your last hard top picture, any possibility of doing a longer soft panel on the unlimited top? I like Rugged Ridge's new exotop with that allows the soft top to be slid open on tracks. If all or at least 3/4 of the unlimited hardtop was fabric, it could be slid open on two channels and wouldn't require the external bars that the exotop has.
#320
Really love the idea of a soft freedom panel. Looking at your last hard top picture, any possibility of doing a longer soft panel on the unlimited top? I like Rugged Ridge's new exotop with that allows the soft top to be slid open on tracks. If all or at least 3/4 of the unlimited hardtop was fabric, it could be slid open on two channels and wouldn't require the external bars that the exotop has.
Or, there's at least one super-large sunroof/sliding canvas product on the market, I don't now what sizes those come in, but one of these might be used on the Safari Cab as well..
The configuration of the modular Safari Cab parts can make lots of interesting configurations possible.