(SOMEHOW THE PICTURES AT THE START OF THIS THREAD HAVE VANISHED.... THEY START AGAIN aT PAGE 7 IN THE THREAD. PLEASE START THERE)
Here's a home made roof top tent for XJ.
My basic objective is to carry 4 people over dirt tracks and modest rocks thru 3 days with all food, water, shelter, etc. I'm located in San Diego and enjoy California's deserts to the east.
The pics below show the in-work vehicle. I chose XJ due to its relatively small size, reputation for toughness, availability of after-market parts, and really low value as a used vehicle. Mine is a '92 4.0 auto tanny with 216K.
Mods on this vehicle that aren't apparent in the pics are drivetrain. Truetrack posi in the front, Tracklock (crummy but cheap) in the D44 in the back. Ratios changed appropriate to the 30" tires. Undercarriage armor. only 1" of lift. Heavy duty leafs.
Tent takes advantage of a Conferr roof rack. A strong rack to begin with but modified with a couple of extra transverse steel tubes to provide support for the 1/4" abs plastic deck added to the rack. Access via steps welded into the stock Jeep external tire carrier.
Tent is designed to place roof rack deck up into the arc so tent supports actually are slid into tubes on a rail attached to, and below, Conferr rack attachment. Sorry you can't see this in the pics. Supports are 1/4" fiberglass rods, continuous 10 feet length. Main tent is simply a 10' X 7' square of boat awning material with sleeves sewn on to hold rods. There are 4 transverse rods supporting the arch and 3 lengthwise rods, one centered at the top and two symmetric on sides. Ends are semi-circles and zip to the arc material. Forward has two zippers and so a port can be opened for vent. Rear is one continuous for doorway. Fiberglass rods have lots of give and so allow tent to change shape in response to very strong winds without breaking. Survived 50 m/hr gusts once so far. Mosquito net (not shown)velcros to inside of tent when in bug country.
Packup is easy. No packing the bedding material or pads saves effort. I hate setting/clearing camp everyday. Unzip ends out and lay on bedding. Pull rods collapsing tent onto bedding. Fold to within rack. Camp picture shows table under awning. This is actually two aluminum tables made specially to fit within roof rack. Tables lay face down on top of tent. This provides a deck so that cargo can be loaded above.
Within XJ rear cavity is a special made aluminum rack. This has two drawers containing spoons, pans, various kitchen. There's a pull out counter top for sandwich making at noon stops. Right side has heavy duty sliders and platform and allows ice chest to be slid in and out like a drawer. Central cavity holds 2 tanks (blue cubes) of 14 gal total water. Outermost of these can be tilted over providing a spigot off the rear bumper. Middle zone has three plastic tubs which hold dry goods. Top is shelf which is dedicated to hats, coats, and similar cargo needed at hand by passengers.
Tools, spare parts, recovery, go into special aluminum boxes located in triangular cavity just forward of rack and aft of rear seat back. Accessable by folding seat back forward.
Unfortunately 2 of 4 must sleep in tents in the traditional way. Tent, bedding are packed and carried on top as cargo.
There are various electronics for navigation.
All that is shown in pictures was carried by Jeep, plus tent, and three persons besides the blonde...
Hope something here can give ideas for mods of your own Jeep!
Here's a home made roof top tent for XJ.
My basic objective is to carry 4 people over dirt tracks and modest rocks thru 3 days with all food, water, shelter, etc. I'm located in San Diego and enjoy California's deserts to the east.
The pics below show the in-work vehicle. I chose XJ due to its relatively small size, reputation for toughness, availability of after-market parts, and really low value as a used vehicle. Mine is a '92 4.0 auto tanny with 216K.
Mods on this vehicle that aren't apparent in the pics are drivetrain. Truetrack posi in the front, Tracklock (crummy but cheap) in the D44 in the back. Ratios changed appropriate to the 30" tires. Undercarriage armor. only 1" of lift. Heavy duty leafs.
Tent takes advantage of a Conferr roof rack. A strong rack to begin with but modified with a couple of extra transverse steel tubes to provide support for the 1/4" abs plastic deck added to the rack. Access via steps welded into the stock Jeep external tire carrier.
Tent is designed to place roof rack deck up into the arc so tent supports actually are slid into tubes on a rail attached to, and below, Conferr rack attachment. Sorry you can't see this in the pics. Supports are 1/4" fiberglass rods, continuous 10 feet length. Main tent is simply a 10' X 7' square of boat awning material with sleeves sewn on to hold rods. There are 4 transverse rods supporting the arch and 3 lengthwise rods, one centered at the top and two symmetric on sides. Ends are semi-circles and zip to the arc material. Forward has two zippers and so a port can be opened for vent. Rear is one continuous for doorway. Fiberglass rods have lots of give and so allow tent to change shape in response to very strong winds without breaking. Survived 50 m/hr gusts once so far. Mosquito net (not shown)velcros to inside of tent when in bug country.
Packup is easy. No packing the bedding material or pads saves effort. I hate setting/clearing camp everyday. Unzip ends out and lay on bedding. Pull rods collapsing tent onto bedding. Fold to within rack. Camp picture shows table under awning. This is actually two aluminum tables made specially to fit within roof rack. Tables lay face down on top of tent. This provides a deck so that cargo can be loaded above.
Within XJ rear cavity is a special made aluminum rack. This has two drawers containing spoons, pans, various kitchen. There's a pull out counter top for sandwich making at noon stops. Right side has heavy duty sliders and platform and allows ice chest to be slid in and out like a drawer. Central cavity holds 2 tanks (blue cubes) of 14 gal total water. Outermost of these can be tilted over providing a spigot off the rear bumper. Middle zone has three plastic tubs which hold dry goods. Top is shelf which is dedicated to hats, coats, and similar cargo needed at hand by passengers.
Tools, spare parts, recovery, go into special aluminum boxes located in triangular cavity just forward of rack and aft of rear seat back. Accessable by folding seat back forward.
Unfortunately 2 of 4 must sleep in tents in the traditional way. Tent, bedding are packed and carried on top as cargo.
There are various electronics for navigation.
All that is shown in pictures was carried by Jeep, plus tent, and three persons besides the blonde...
Hope something here can give ideas for mods of your own Jeep!
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