• Notice for iPhone users: DO NOT use the image size reduction option when uploading photos to the forum. This causes portrait images to post as landscape. We have added a warning to the image insert pop-up as well.

New World Cabs?

Here's one of the things the Safari Cab can do that other fiberglass hardtops can't...

The RTT is mounted on the XJ Cherokee rack channels I've got installed on the roof, using Surco XJ rack channel adapters and the crossbars that came with the tent.

SafariRTTLong1-1.jpg


The rear barn door can open under the tent for nice weather protection, and there's almost 7' of headroom under there.

SafariRTTLong2-1.jpg


SafariRTTLong4-1.jpg
 
Very nice! That's got to be the most functional hard top ever.
 
Unfortunately for the AMC crowd, it doesn't look like it will be made for the Scrambler. I contacted GR8 to see if there was any chance we'd see a safari for the '8's and/ or they were going to start making full length Scrambler tops again and they said they were concentrating on the newer models. From a business point of view that makes 100% sense. The '8's were only made for 5 years and in very limited numbers, so there's simply not much demand. I appreciated the upfront and honest response from GR8 and unless something falls apart I have an ACME full length top lined up.

Man on man did I want that Safari on the Scrambler thought........
 
wm69 said:
Man on man did I want that Safari on the Scrambler thought........
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I think that's probably the right business decision for Gr8Tops.

I've tried to come up with ways to make the Scrambler version of the Safari Cab available on a custom basis or perhaps as a kit of raw parts that the buyer could build, but I think it would still end up being more money (and/or effort and/or skills required) than most people would be up for.
 
too bad about the 8 top.... I SOOOOOO WANT ONE!!! I guess i'll have to find a postal top...
 
Yeah Jsherb, I don't know what it would run, but I understand the idea of not mass producing them. Not many Scrambler's built, lot fewer than that still on the road, and how many of those are gonna shell out $2K for a top? Not too many. Makes total sense for them to go after the newer market where they'll have demand.

You could always figure out what you'd have to charge, then see if you had enough people to make it worth your while. People might balk at the price, or they might jump all over it. Not like alternatives (postal tops or Overlander tops) are easy to find OR cheap when you do find them.

IF you ever do decide to put together a Scrambler Safari kit/ limited run, put me first in line.
 
Last edited:
The issue is that all of the cost for whoever tries to do this is all up front in setup. That's the deal breaker, the break-even point is so far out that the potential market required to justify the investment simply isn't there. :shrug:
 
What kind of cost would there be to making a set of molds and then having someone like GR8Tops, or Shell Valley do a limited run. Might be able to work a deal based on a commitment of a minimum order. All they would really need to be is solid panels that could be bolted together like the original steel ones.



Carl
 
CBRogers said:
What kind of cost would there be to making a set of molds and then having someone like GR8Tops, or Shell Valley do a limited run. Might be able to work a deal based on a commitment of a minimum order. All they would really need to be is solid panels that could be bolted together like the original steel ones.

Carl
Click to expand...
Carl,
I built a the full set of molds for the LJ Safari Cab about $500, that's what it cost me for materials only, I made the molds myself in my garage. The molds I made are light weight and can make perhaps a dozen parts before they start to deteriorate, production molds usually run 5x-10x the cost of what I did. To make a set of molds for the Scrambler version would cost about the same, light weight limited use molds maybe $500, production molds much more. If my ligthweight molds could be used for the common parts, only two new molds would have to be made (roof panel and side panel), the door surrounds, rear barn door parts and rear corners are the same for all models. Also a different mold would have to be made for the windshield header piece, which is different between the TJ and CJ/YJ series. But I think the necessary lightweight molds could be made for about $500 in materials without labor.

Also for a Scrambler/CJ version, I'm not sure you'd want to use the TJ/LJ barn door, which is just an upper that attaches to a TJ tailgate. Might be better to build molds for a one-piece barn door. Materials only, to build masters and molds for that would probably run another $500 without labor.

It cost me about $600 to mold the complete set of parts for the LJ top. A Scrambler top would be incrementally more expensive because it's longer, maybe $700 in materials. Again, that's not counting labor, which would have to be figured in to your idea.

That cost also doesn't include the labor to finish everything off and details like the windows, drip rail (sheet metal), barn door attachment hardware, finishing, painting, etc., all together to get mine to the finished state including painting it to color match the LJ was maybe $1500 in materials (that number includes the fiberglass parts, and those prices are at retail, since I can't buy materials wholesale). Some things like windows have a minimum quantity of 25 from most custom window manufacturers, but since the Safari Cabs use two of each window (except for the barn door window), the minimum would be about a dozen.

The big issue of course is the labor in all of this, all of the costs I mentioned above are what it cost me for materials to do things in my garage. Getting this done professionally, the labor would be pretty high and I believe would make it impractical.

Jeff
 
Jeff,

I was wondering if you had a SCRAMBLER top for sale...I think your idea on doing all this is just wonderful concept..What a good job your doing..

Johnny
 
deforg said:
Jeff,

I was wondering if you had a SCRAMBLER top for sale...I think your idea on doing all this is just wonderful concept..What a good job your doing..

Johnny
Click to expand...

Johnny,
I haven't molded any Scrambler versions of the Safari Cab yet, I don't have a Scrambler to put one on :).
jeff
 
how long would you need a Scrambler for?
 
Bad Karma said:
how long would you need a Scrambler for?
Click to expand...

Actually when I wrote "I don't have a Scrambler to put one on" I meant that quite literally - I don't have a Scrambler, my current Jeeps are the LJ (with a Safari Cab) and the Retro Wrangler. If I ever own another Scrambler, you can be sure one of the first things I'll be doing for it is molding a Scrambler Safari Cab :). Besides that, I just started a big new project, I don't have time to mold another Safari Cab at the moment ;).
 
I know you dont have a Scrambler... Just curious how long you would need one for to make a top? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top