New World Cabs?

[jscherb]

I'm not trying to build an argument for increasing the slant on the Safari Cab pickup rear wall, but here's one more example - the Defender truck cab slants 5 degrees forward.

I'll stick to somewhere between 2.5 and 4 degrees on the Safari.

 

[Bad Karma]

i think you should go with the 14 degree forward slant like the F-150....


k seriously...
i think the 2.5 is the best overall for what you are planing to do (interchangeability between half and full) I like the 4 degree for the full top and the 0 degree for the half, but 2.5 is the best if youre gonna be making one mold.

i cant wait to see the build process of this stuff!! you're insane!! but a good insane

 

[jscherb]

I'm mostly done with the design process, and over the next couple of weeks I'll be finalizing the detailed engineering drawings of the various top components and the other assorted details necessary for building the mold masters.

The first subproject will be to build a prototype of the windshield attachment and sealing. I've done the design for the roof panel to enable it to work with the different windshield frames and sealing methods used on TJs vs CJ/YJs, but because the exact height at which the roof panel sits on the header establishes a datum point for the dimensions and precise locations of all the other parts of the tops, I need to build a prototype of this section first so I can derive the final precise dimensions for the other parts.

I probably won't start working on that for a few weeks at least, besides the final drawings for the Safari Cab components, I've got a few other projects to clear off my plate first - for example, this week I'll be doing the finish work and final paint prep for the new fiberglass rear fenders I made for the Retro last fall.

As always, if you have more ideas please share them here so I can consider them as I move on through the next steps of this project.

 

[Ford Prefect]

Will the parts, IE top, sides, etc etc be two layers, or will they be one solid piece? It seems like many tops have a layer of glass, then air, and another layer of glass.

Just wondering.

Thanks

 

[jscherb]

Will the parts, IE top, sides, etc etc be two layers, or will they be one solid piece? It seems like many tops have a layer of glass, then air, and another layer of glass.

Just wondering.

Thanks

My current plan is to make them single layer, mostly to save weight and but also to reduce cost and complexity.

The inside would be textured, probably with a light colored tinted bedliner or similar coating, and there would be a fabric/insulation/sound deadening headliner on the inside of the roof (which would also serve to cover the reinforcing structure in the roof).

BTW the first generation CJ-7 hardtops (1976-1979/80?), like the one I used to make the Gaucho half-cab, were single layer.

 

[jscherb]

If you're wondering why I haven't posted in this thread for a while, it isn't because I've stopped working on this project... I'm still moving ahead with the design and expect to start construction of the first pieces of the mold masters in the next few weeks.

Since the first top I'm planning to build is for my LJ, and if these tops are commercialized, the first top to come to market would probably be for a TJ or LJ instead of a CJ, I've been posting this project over on the jeepforum TJ board to get feedback there.

If you'd like to follow along, it's at http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/safari-cab-custom-hardtop-project-952157/.

 

[jscherb]

Here's the latest concept drawing for the Safari Cab, along with a few photos of the progress on the mold master for the roof panel.

 

[mrachal]

Great work!
I cannot wait to see the finished product.

Mike Rachal

 

[donaghy]

very nice..

very nice work jeff....

If I didn't know this was a jeep website and just stumbled across the pictures.. and if you squint.. you might think its a mold for a jon boat for midgets..

really bad.. I know.. should be flogged..

matt

 

[Bugman]

My gosh! The quality of even the wood work is phenomenal. I'm envious of your shop as well. I have two boys and it's hard to keep our HOUSE looking that clean, let alone a shop. I like the looks of the top very much and I'm beginning to realize the work you need to put into these tops from concept to finished product. Very nice indeed.

 

[Randyzzz]

Very nice, Jeff!

 

[jscherb]

very nice work jeff....

If I didn't know this was a jeep website and just stumbled across the pictures.. and if you squint.. you might think its a mold for a jon boat for midgets..

really bad.. I know.. should be flogged..

matt

Oh forget the Jeep hardtop project, I think I'll make an Everglades Airboat out of it.

 

[98JPTJ]

Amazing!

Jeff! its been a while since I've stopped by to check out your handy work but you have impressed again!!!!

I love the low roof with the big window! and I agree with the slight angle on the rear panel rather than having it be pure vertical.

If I lived closer I'd let you have my TJ for a prototype!

Looks amazing, Keep it up!

-John

 

[jscherb]

Jeff! its been a while since I've stopped by to check out your handy work but you have impressed again!!!!

I love the low roof with the big window! and I agree with the slight angle on the rear panel rather than having it be pure vertical.

If I lived closer I'd let you have my TJ for a prototype!

Looks amazing, Keep it up!

-John

Thanks

It would be nice to have an extra Jeep or two lying around as development prototypes. I'll be using the Gaucho to prototype the CJ/YJ half cab version and my LJ for the TJ/LJ hardtops, but since the LJ is my daily driver it will be a little inconvenient. I guess I'll have to drive the Retro more, I haven't been driving it too much lately because I put so many miles on it in the first year

 

[Bad Karma]

Thanks

I haven't been driving it too much lately because I put so many miles on it in the first year

you built it... drive it!!!

nice work as usual!!!

 

[jscherb]

you built it... drive it!!!

Yeah, I drove the Retro all over the place yesterday after driving the new LJ for about a month. I had forgotten just how cool and fun it is to drive the Retro. Of course my wife still hates riding in the Retro because she doesn't like being stared at.

Also, going from the LJ to the Retro made me appreciate how much nicer the Retro rides/drives than a stock LJ... must be the longer wheelbase and the extra sound deadening I added to the Retro

nice work as usual!!!

Thank you very much.

 

[jscherb]

The master modules to assemble various tops are coming together... the first photo below shows the TJ version of the top.

And here's two half cab versions, the first is the same size as the Scrambler/Gaucho half-cab, and the second matches the size of the Retro Wrangler and the Brute, also shown are the Gaucho and Retro for reference.

The TJ top image at the top of this post is the result of some digital editing - you can see in the photos of the half cabs that the extra bracing around the roof master won't let it assemble onto the sides but Ii fixed that with Paint Shop Pro .

Next up is to get the LJ sides done.

 

[Randyzzz]

Wow...those look great, Jeff. Fantastic to see your progress.

 

[jscherb]

This set of photos shows four different lengths of Safari Cab made from basically the same parts, just different center side panels. The roof has been digitally shortened, but the same roof master would be cut/shortened to make new masters for the different tops, so the digital process isn't that much different than what will happen to the actual masters.

Top left, a half cab the same length as the factory Scrambler half cab; also the same length as the Gaucho cab.

Top right, a half cab the same length as the Retro Wrangler cab; also the same length as the Brute cab.

Middle - TJ/YJ/CJ full cab (same photo I posted yesterday).

Bottom - Wrangler Unlimited LJ full cab.

Unfortunately I ran out of plywood before I could make the center side panel module for the Scrambler full cab.

 

[jscherb]

I've been in discussions with a company that is interested in bringing the Safari Cab hardtop to market, and we've put an online survey together so we can gather market interest and feature desires as input to the company's decision about whether to bring this top to market, and which features are important.

If you're interested in the Safari Cab hardtop project, please take a few minutes to respond to the Safari Cab market survey.

Thanks for a few minutes of your time.
Jeff (and the company)