Custom modular JK hardtop
#771
The Spice Denim fabric I ordered arrived this morning. I couldn't be happier with the match of the painted fiberglass and the fabric. It's extremely hard to render colors accurately on a monitor, especially when the textures are different like these two are, but I think these photos show how nicely they match.
I've got 4 yards of the fabric, which is more than enough to make both soft sides and a soft barn door with enough extra to make another one or two of of either of those.
I've got 4 yards of the fabric, which is more than enough to make both soft sides and a soft barn door with enough extra to make another one or two of of either of those.
#773
BTW it only gets hard if you've got a later model hardtop with the wide hatch - in that case the width of the barn door doesn't work with the geometry of the stock tailgate hinges. The reason is that because of the width of the opening, part of the barn door is outboard of the stock hinge pin location, so when the door swings out that part of the barn door swings in and contacts the door jamb. To do a barn door (soft or hard) for a later model hardtop you need wide-swing hinges that have the hinge pin moved outboard, like these HD hinges a friend and I made when we installed a hard barn door on his '14 JKU (photos taken before the hinges were painted). Compared to the stock hinges you can see the difference in the hinge pin location...
These hinges were made in my home workshop, so if you're a DIY-er making a soft barn door, perhaps you could make hinges too.
#775
I've been following quietly. Nice work. I, like others, would be willing to test any of your stuff.
My thoughts on which of the four window sizes to produce? Any of the early sizes. 2-door more than 4 and I'm a JKU driver.
My reasons:
Older rigs more likely to be willin to have people modify as they're owned, paid off and such.
2 door as they seem more willing to modify.
With that said, as a JKU owner I'm willing and able.
FD.
My thoughts on which of the four window sizes to produce? Any of the early sizes. 2-door more than 4 and I'm a JKU driver.
My reasons:
Older rigs more likely to be willin to have people modify as they're owned, paid off and such.
2 door as they seem more willing to modify.
With that said, as a JKU owner I'm willing and able.
FD.
#776
I've been following quietly. Nice work. I, like others, would be willing to test any of your stuff.
My thoughts on which of the four window sizes to produce? Any of the early sizes. 2-door more than 4 and I'm a JKU driver.
My reasons:
Older rigs more likely to be willin to have people modify as they're owned, paid off and such.
2 door as they seem more willing to modify.
With that said, as a JKU owner I'm willing and able.
FD.
My thoughts on which of the four window sizes to produce? Any of the early sizes. 2-door more than 4 and I'm a JKU driver.
My reasons:
Older rigs more likely to be willin to have people modify as they're owned, paid off and such.
2 door as they seem more willing to modify.
With that said, as a JKU owner I'm willing and able.
FD.
What will need testing is the end-user installation - it's pretty easy for me to remove the factory hardtop windows and install this kit, but will it be easy enough for the average Jeep DIY-er? That needs to be tested.
#779
Getting the Spice fabric today and seeing what a great match it is with the paint made me do a few new color renditions this afternoon - here are a couple with matching Spice soft sides rolled up and rolled down.