New World Cabs?
- Thread starter jscherb
- Start date
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
It's a manufacturing company, not a retail place, so even if you did live close to it, you probably couldn't get them to do one-off work for you anyway. This is a company that will be able to manufacture these side curtains for sale by "the company" with high accuracy/repeatability, if the company decides to offer them as products.
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
Here are a few photos from today, we made great progress on the side curtains. We've nailed the fit perfectly, and now we've just got some finishing details - a few minor adjustments to some of the Velcro flaps, a few tweaks to how the fabric fits in the retainers, things like that.
For this next photo I asked Kit, the Jeep-driving engineer on this project, to stand in front of the window so I could get her reflection in the photo.
The sides fit very snugly, you can see by the reflection in the window that there's little to no distortion of the windows. There's a few little wrinkles in the bottom canvas panel below the windows of this prototype but we know what caused them and they won't be in the final prototype we'll do tomorrow. Also in the above photos, the velcro flap above the window is a bit short and not secured flat by the velcro, that's on our punchlist for tomorrow too, as is the rear corner velcro flap, and the bottom retainer strip on the corner of the rear panel, that's not secured in these photos either.
Also on tomorrow's list are the straps for holding them while rolled up, we've got the design for them but just didn't get to that detail today. We've tested rolling them up, and they unzip/roll up very easily because the canvas and clear windows are more flexible than the factory soft tops.
Overall I'm thrilled with the look, fit and function the side curtains.
I'm also very pleased with the CAD-driven production process this shop has, I have no doubt that they would be able to manufacture these side curtains with very high accuracy/repeatability/interchangeability.
Tomorrow I expect to be able to drive the LJ Safari to my next destination with the side curtains installed and the hard sides stowed in the back of the Jeep. It's forecast to rain where I'm going next (in another state), so the side curtains will get a good workout!.
For this next photo I asked Kit, the Jeep-driving engineer on this project, to stand in front of the window so I could get her reflection in the photo.
The sides fit very snugly, you can see by the reflection in the window that there's little to no distortion of the windows. There's a few little wrinkles in the bottom canvas panel below the windows of this prototype but we know what caused them and they won't be in the final prototype we'll do tomorrow. Also in the above photos, the velcro flap above the window is a bit short and not secured flat by the velcro, that's on our punchlist for tomorrow too, as is the rear corner velcro flap, and the bottom retainer strip on the corner of the rear panel, that's not secured in these photos either.
Also on tomorrow's list are the straps for holding them while rolled up, we've got the design for them but just didn't get to that detail today. We've tested rolling them up, and they unzip/roll up very easily because the canvas and clear windows are more flexible than the factory soft tops.
Overall I'm thrilled with the look, fit and function the side curtains.
I'm also very pleased with the CAD-driven production process this shop has, I have no doubt that they would be able to manufacture these side curtains with very high accuracy/repeatability/interchangeability.
Tomorrow I expect to be able to drive the LJ Safari to my next destination with the side curtains installed and the hard sides stowed in the back of the Jeep. It's forecast to rain where I'm going next (in another state), so the side curtains will get a good workout!.
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
Thanks, I'm glad you like it! The top and all of it's components (like the roll-up side curtains I'm working on at the moment) are designed to fit the CJ-8, as well as the TJ/YJ/CJ-7 and the LJ. It's up to "the company" (Gr8Tops) to decide which versions to bring to market. I don't think that's been determined yet, it will depend on the demand they perceive for each version.
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
The roll-up side curtains for the hard bikini configuration are pretty much complete, I just have a few minor adjustments to do to the retainer hardware and there are some very small changes I want to do to the canvas pattern, but I'd say it's 98% there (the tailgate bar needs a bit of change to smooth out the back panel, for example). Here's some photos.
They're really easy to zip and unzip, roll up and down, because all of the zippers are straight.
The best thing might be the noise level, they're as quiet as many hardtops. This is partly due to having the hard roof panel with a headliner, but also due to the tightness and smoothness of the panels themselves.
They're really easy to zip and unzip, roll up and down, because all of the zippers are straight.
The best thing might be the noise level, they're as quiet as many hardtops. This is partly due to having the hard roof panel with a headliner, but also due to the tightness and smoothness of the panels themselves.
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
One of the other nice things that's exceeded my expectations about these side curtains is how easily they open. This morning when unloading all the stuff out of my Jeep from the trip I unzipped the vertical zippers and flipped the rear and side curtains up on the roof. I actually unloaded most of the stuff out of the side of the Jeep.
I would never consider removing the factory soft top side windows to unload the Jeep, it's just too much hassle. And the factory rear window doesn't easily flip up on the roof to get it out of the way for loading/unloading.
Quiet, weathertight, easy access to rear and sides... oh and storage is easy too - if you leave the roof panel on the Jeep year round and just swap out hard sides for soft sides depending on the season, you don't have much to store in the warm season:
I'm really starting to like the roll-up side curtain option
.
I would never consider removing the factory soft top side windows to unload the Jeep, it's just too much hassle. And the factory rear window doesn't easily flip up on the roof to get it out of the way for loading/unloading.
Quiet, weathertight, easy access to rear and sides... oh and storage is easy too - if you leave the roof panel on the Jeep year round and just swap out hard sides for soft sides depending on the season, you don't have much to store in the warm season:
I'm really starting to like the roll-up side curtain option
.
- City
- Suwanee
- State
- GA
One of the other nice things that's exceeded my expectations about these side curtains is how easily they open. This morning when unloading all the stuff out of my Jeep from the trip I unzipped the vertical zippers and flipped the rear and side curtains up on the roof. I actually unloaded most of the stuff out of the side of the Jeep.
I would never consider removing the factory soft top side windows to unload the Jeep, it's just too much hassle. And the factory rear window doesn't easily flip up on the roof to get it out of the way for loading/unloading.
Quiet, weathertight, easy access to rear and sides... oh and storage is easy too - if you leave the roof panel on the Jeep year round and just swap out hard sides for soft sides depending on the season, you don't have much to store in the warm season:
I'm really starting to like the roll-up side curtain option
It's funny that you mention unloading everything from the side with your new top design. I find that I do the same thing with my full size tigertop. I almost never get into the back because I have to move the tire carrier. The sides are much more accessable for most things...and being able just to just flip the side up on the roof makes it so easy.
I am so very impressed with everything that you have shown us...I would definitely want the solid roof with the roll up sides for my scram.
- City
- Colorado Springs
- State
- CO
Great job..!!
JS...as always you have done exceedingly well. I often wonder what would happen if you had been around when Probst and team did the Jeep the first time...haha.
I love the idea of the Safari being modular with the Hard top and being able to leave the hard roof in place and simply swap out the soft or hard sides as weather dictates.
I know you don't "speak for the company..etc..." But I would like your opinion based on your interaction with them. Do you "feel" like they are listening to us old relics with Cjs? Is it worth holding on to the dream that they may evolve a top for use on our Scramblers? And I am curious as to what price range the Full hard with safari options (soft sides and hard as a package) would cost...I have pretty good kidneys too...
JS...as always you have done exceedingly well. I often wonder what would happen if you had been around when Probst and team did the Jeep the first time...haha.
I love the idea of the Safari being modular with the Hard top and being able to leave the hard roof in place and simply swap out the soft or hard sides as weather dictates.
I know you don't "speak for the company..etc..." But I would like your opinion based on your interaction with them. Do you "feel" like they are listening to us old relics with Cjs? Is it worth holding on to the dream that they may evolve a top for use on our Scramblers? And I am curious as to what price range the Full hard with safari options (soft sides and hard as a package) would cost...I have pretty good kidneys too...
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
Thanks, I'm glad you like it!
They're trying to run a business, so they need to make appropriate return on investment decisions. They'll need to weigh the cost of producing a Scrambler version with the potential profit. I don't know and can't predict what the answer will be. Because of the modular design of the Safari Cab, it is much more economical to produce different versions than it would be for a conventional one-piece hardtop, but I'm sure the company will be evaluating demand for the Scrambler version before making a decision.
And I am curious as to what price range the Full hard with safari options (soft sides and hard as a package) would cost...I have pretty good kidneys too...
Here's what I think (not speaking for the company, as usual):
The Safari Cab does involve more work in manufacturing than the other "one piece upside-down bathtub" aftermarket tops on the market, and these tops offer premium features, so I would expect them to be priced slightly higher than the other tops on the market. I don't think it will be all that much more than the other tops, but I do expect it will be a little bit more. I could be wrong, that's just my guess, the company will have to decide the pricing after they finish building their engineering prototype top.
No other top on the market offers all of this:
- Unique styling, not like any other top on the market
- Modularity allowing the top to be disassembled and stored in a minimum of space
- Ability to support heavy loads on the roof, including roof top tents
- Opening side windows
- Easy access to the cargo area through the swinging "barn door"
- Ability to run as a hard bikini without the side panels
- Optional roll-up side curtains for use when running in the hard bikini configuration
- Optional rear window wiper (no other aftermarket top offers this)
- A range of wiring options that are plug-and-play compatible with the Jeep's factory wiring, whether or not you've got the optional factory hardtop wiring installed in your Jeep.
If price is #1 on your list of decision criteria, then a Safari Cab probably isn't the choice you'd end up making.
- City
- Colorado Springs
- State
- CO
Value isn't cheap...
JS...
I agree that these would never be touted as a "cheap" or "loest price" top available. Hope I didn't sound like I said that. We here all know the amount of love,sweat, and tears that went into them. And while it may take me getting a loan, well that is only because its a big purchase. I would have no problem doing so since I know there is great Value involved. These are niche group specialty tops which of course has a slim profit margin as it is.
I can only hope that the powers that be will smile on us ol Scrambler owners and make a run for us...
On a different line of questions...how would you suggest reinforcing a factory (old fiberglass can be brittle) hard top to allow me to mount my RTT? Thanks!
JS...
I agree that these would never be touted as a "cheap" or "loest price" top available. Hope I didn't sound like I said that. We here all know the amount of love,sweat, and tears that went into them. And while it may take me getting a loan, well that is only because its a big purchase. I would have no problem doing so since I know there is great Value involved. These are niche group specialty tops which of course has a slim profit margin as it is.
I can only hope that the powers that be will smile on us ol Scrambler owners and make a run for us...
On a different line of questions...how would you suggest reinforcing a factory (old fiberglass can be brittle) hard top to allow me to mount my RTT? Thanks!
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
I know you weren't suggesting that, I just wanted to set everyone's expectations that the Safari Cab probably will be a little more than other tops on the market.
What factory hardtop on what Jeep?
- City
- Colorado Springs
- State
- CO
Mr Speedy!
Wow...you must have been hoveing over the computer...Haha!
I don't know which top it is to be honest. The rear window is pretty small and above it it has the word "Classic" embossed into the fiberglass. Not the greatest thing in the world IMHO but it does the job. I would like to have some way to mount the RTT as close to the top as possible as the Jeep is already taller than I like. And if I could incorperate some kind of hook deal to make it easier to remove using a hoist that would be nice too. Let me see if I can add a pic...
Wow...you must have been hoveing over the computer...Haha!
I don't know which top it is to be honest. The rear window is pretty small and above it it has the word "Classic" embossed into the fiberglass. Not the greatest thing in the world IMHO but it does the job. I would like to have some way to mount the RTT as close to the top as possible as the Jeep is already taller than I like. And if I could incorperate some kind of hook deal to make it easier to remove using a hoist that would be nice too. Let me see if I can add a pic...
- City
- Columbia
- State
- MO
Just FYI if you haven't been keeping up with the thread over on jeepforum.com this was posted by Matt (owner of "the company") on the 4th of this month:
Its been a busy week and a whirlwind of activities here in SC aside with just trying to keep up with our existing production and all the great legwork Jeff is doing with the side curtains and the other manufacturers of hardware etc.
I'll try and answer a few questions real quick and get some more pictures over the weekend of a few different/additional items.
a. full length scrambler version - we are not going to rule this out just yet, but I will say its quite further down the huge list of priorities right now to try and see if we can feasibly get some of these tops in peoples hands for testing.
b. Our biggest 3 priorities in no particular order is the TJ full, LJ full, and TJ/LJ halfcab. All of the "rework" of the original version of the roof you saw posted is being transferred to all the other models. We have already spent a considerable amount of design and engineering time trying to develop a good method for production to integrate the roof and the drip rail which has been no simple feat. We've made some headway on that in the last few days and I'll see if I can post up some pictures of that without giving away too much. And unfortunately all of that work is not easily visible in the end product but I must say it is very cool knowing the inner parts of it.
c. because of those factors above, as we mentioned in previous posts we don't have any release dates yet or pricing because we simply have not produced several to know our real costs in this yet. As soon as we do get close, you'll be the first to know here on jeepforums as you've been our faithful, loyal crowd.
d. we've been a bit distracted this week even more than normal with the announcement and we've also been moving into some new offices and expanded into the existing part of our building. Growth is good but its just painful getting to point a to point b (especially when you don't have internet access in the office for about 4 days) :+(.
Thanks for all the support and bear with us and I'll try to get some more pictures over the weekend.
Matt @ GR8TOPS
Its been a busy week and a whirlwind of activities here in SC aside with just trying to keep up with our existing production and all the great legwork Jeff is doing with the side curtains and the other manufacturers of hardware etc.
I'll try and answer a few questions real quick and get some more pictures over the weekend of a few different/additional items.
a. full length scrambler version - we are not going to rule this out just yet, but I will say its quite further down the huge list of priorities right now to try and see if we can feasibly get some of these tops in peoples hands for testing.
b. Our biggest 3 priorities in no particular order is the TJ full, LJ full, and TJ/LJ halfcab. All of the "rework" of the original version of the roof you saw posted is being transferred to all the other models. We have already spent a considerable amount of design and engineering time trying to develop a good method for production to integrate the roof and the drip rail which has been no simple feat. We've made some headway on that in the last few days and I'll see if I can post up some pictures of that without giving away too much. And unfortunately all of that work is not easily visible in the end product but I must say it is very cool knowing the inner parts of it.
c. because of those factors above, as we mentioned in previous posts we don't have any release dates yet or pricing because we simply have not produced several to know our real costs in this yet. As soon as we do get close, you'll be the first to know here on jeepforums as you've been our faithful, loyal crowd.
d. we've been a bit distracted this week even more than normal with the announcement and we've also been moving into some new offices and expanded into the existing part of our building. Growth is good but its just painful getting to point a to point b (especially when you don't have internet access in the office for about 4 days) :+(.
Thanks for all the support and bear with us and I'll try to get some more pictures over the weekend.
Matt @ GR8TOPS
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
Do you just have the factory Scrambler roll bar or have you added a cage that also covers the back of the tub? The reason I ask is that in my opinion the best way to support weights like RTT's on a hardtop is actually not to support them with the fiberglass, but to support them on the roll cage. What I did for the Safari Cab is I built brackets that mount to the roll bar, and the roof rack bolts to these brackets through the hardtop. That way all of the weight is directly transferred to the roll bar, and the roof of the hardtop carries no weight - it's just sandwiched in between the brackets on the bottom and the roof rack on the top.
I really don't recommend trying to reinforce the fiberglass hardtop alone to support the kind of weight a RTT requires (over 500 lbs with two people inside).
One other consideration for some hardtops - some have a dual wall - an outer wall and an inner wall (the factory TJ hardtop is dual wall construction). There's a gap between many places in the inner and outer walls, so if you are going to sandwich that type of hardtop between brackets and a roof rack, you'll need to fill that gap or you'll crack the fiberglass. Your top looks like it's probably single wall construction so you wouldn't have to worry about that.
- City
- Colorado Springs
- State
- CO
Single wall..
Yeah, no extended cage for me and the top is single wall. I see what your saying about sandwitching the top though. Not sure how I can pull it off so I suppose some head scratching is in my future....Lol! THanks JS!
On a different issue...I tried to set up an account on JForums but I can't make it work. I tried the "forgot your password" thing and it was a no-go. Tried sending them an email but no response there either...any ideas?
Yeah, no extended cage for me and the top is single wall. I see what your saying about sandwitching the top though. Not sure how I can pull it off so I suppose some head scratching is in my future....Lol! THanks JS!
On a different issue...I tried to set up an account on JForums but I can't make it work. I tried the "forgot your password" thing and it was a no-go. Tried sending them an email but no response there either...any ideas?
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