New World Cabs?

[DC CJ8]

Regarding the swinging door - I think it is a great idea, with the exception of the door being hinged on the passenger side in the picture. When pulling alongside a curb (in this country at least) it would be handy to have it hinged on the driver side for ease of access. This is simply an observation that I'm sure is easily accommodated, and in no way meant to criticize.
Best -
Todd
P.S. - Alex DOES have MAAAD SKILLZ!!!!

 

[jscherb]

Regarding the swinging door - I think it is a great idea, with the exception of the door being hinged on the passenger side in the picture. When pulling alongside a curb (in this country at least) it would be handy to have it hinged on the driver side for ease of access. This is simply an observation that I'm sure is easily accommodated, and in no way meant to criticize.
Best -
Todd
P.S. - Alex DOES have MAAAD SKILLZ!!!!

When Jeep build the World Cab/Alaskan Postals, they agreed with you - the Alaskan Postal version destined for the USA had rear doors hinged on the driver's side, while those destined for export, like the Australian Overlanders, had the rear doors hinged on the passenger side.

But a few years after they designed the World Cabs, they designed the YJ Wrangler, destined mainly for the LHD US market, and they hinged the tailgate on the passenger side. And they continued that with the TJ. I wonder why they made that switch? Didn't they think of curb-side access?

Anyway... the one-piece fiberglass barn door I've designed for the Safari Cab could be hinged on either side for the CJ. For the YJ and TJ, it would probably use the existing tailgate hinges and be hinged on the passenger side, but for the CJ it could be configured either way. If I ever build molds for a full fiberglass barn door, that is. Seems most people would prefer to keep their CJ's swing-down tailgate and have the upper be a hatch that hinges upward, so I doubt I'll ever need to make that mold.

I'll tell Alex you like his skillz

 

[jscherb]

All the Safari Cab parts are now finished and ready for final assembly.

Final assembly begins tomorrow.

 

[Going Postal]

But a few years after they designed the World Cabs, they designed the YJ Wrangler, destined mainly for the LHD US market, and they hinged the tailgate on the passenger side. And they continued that with the TJ. I wonder why they made that switch? Didn't they think of curb-side access?

Seems most people would prefer to keep their CJ's swing-down tailgate and have the upper be a hatch that hinges upward, so I doubt I'll ever need to make that mold.

Just my two cents but.... I have an LJ as well as a CJ8 which I'm planning to put a world cab on. I hardly ever curb side park. I'm loading stuff in a parking lot or the driveway much more often. I like the LJ pssenger side swing when acessing from the drivers side. I'm guessing Jeep saw it that way too for consumers and figured they would rather not have to open the door into there path to teh drivers seat.

I much prefer the barn door too. Maybe it's my short arms for loading stuff and not having to reach over a tail gate. I'd probubly prefer a full lift door hatch if that was an option though but not sure that could be done every easily even with a fiberglass door.

 

[jscherb]

... I'd probubly prefer a full lift door hatch if that was an option though but not sure that could be done every easily even with a fiberglass door.

I doubt that would be an option if this top comes to market, but it would be possible with a full fiberglass door - the door itself isn't too heavy, the heaviest part is the window, which is in the upper half of the door, so leverage on the hinges wouldn't be too bad. Just need approriate-strength gas cylinders to hold up the door, but it certainly would weigh a lot less than the factory fiberglass XJ Cherokee rear hatch, so it's certainly possible to do.

 

[jeepdreamer]

Options....

Maybe someone could get the swing out (or up?) full barn door and add a little flip down shelf instead of the tailgate? That way you could reach all the way in (arms permitting ) and have the table option that only is there when you need it.?.

 

[jscherb]

Here's some photos of the side panels, fully assembled and ready to install. Tomorrow I'll install the wiring harness and headliner in the roof panel, and then the finished Safari Cab gets put on the LJ.

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Here's the link to the survey again for those who haven't taken it yet: Safari Cab market survey.

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Questions about the Safari Cab? Try here first: Safari Cab FAQ

 

[bigwalton]

 

[Major Jack]

What are you using for the headliner?

 

[jscherb]

What are you using for the headliner?

I used the same technique that I used when I made the headliner for my World Cab a few years ago - 0.10" chipboard, covered with headliner fabric. Here's a few photos. The overhead console section is leather-grain vinyl. For some reason the lighting in the garage that day makes the fabric look a little on the brown side to the camera, but it's a charcoal color and goes well with the vinyl.

If you've noticed the three nuts showing through the headliner, along each of the sides, these are mounting locations for the brackets that tie the roof rack into the roll bar so it can support a decent amount of weight.

 

[DiveSherpa]

Impressed And inspired every day. Were it not for the fantastic temps here in the DFW area, I would be working on the Jeep(s) and not on painting, landscaping and doing electrical around the house. The next auto project is going to be the 6 headliner and its so similar to the construction of your amazing World top, it has me thinking.... I was going to clean it to the metal, prime / paint it then line it with a thick (ish) liner flocked material. But, now I am thinking of epoxying in plastic strips and doing a more structural head liner that I can run wire for a dome style light. Do you have pics of the headliner and top just before you installed the headliner? Would love to see the mount points. (I assume they are "glassed in".)
Hope you don't ever get tired of the "great work" comments because they are not likely to stop.

 

[jscherb]

Impressed And inspired every day. Were it not for the fantastic temps here in the DFW area, I would be working on the Jeep(s) and not on painting, landscaping and doing electrical around the house. The next auto project is going to be the 6 headliner and its so similar to the construction of your amazing World top, it has me thinking.... I was going to clean it to the metal, prime / paint it then line it with a thick (ish) liner flocked material. But, now I am thinking of epoxying in plastic strips and doing a more structural head liner that I can run wire for a dome style light. Do you have pics of the headliner and top just before you installed the headliner? Would love to see the mount points. (I assume they are "glassed in".)
Hope you don't ever get tired of the "great work" comments because they are not likely to stop.

I don't have any closeup photos of this headliner, but I covered the construction of the headliner for the Retro Wrangler in a lot of detail, here's the post: https://www.cj-8.com/forum/showpost.php?p=156002&postcount=692. If you have questions that the post/thread doesn't answer just let me know and I'll try to help.

 

[jscherb]

The Safari Cab is officially complete.

 

[jscherb]

 

[jscherb]

 

[jscherb]

 

[jscherb]

 

[DC CJ8]

You should have a TV show. Your skills and builds are an inspiration to just go into the garage and try......

Todd

 

[jscherb]

You should have a TV show. Your skills and builds are an inspiration to just go into the garage and try......

Todd

Thanks! I'm sure a TV show by me would be deadly boring. But I am a big believer that you don't know what you're capable of until you really try. Get out to the garage and build something!

 

[Polarfire]

Incredible! Looks completely factory! I'm really hoping some form of this top goes into production, it's always nice to have a variety of parts available for your Jeep.