Ok here's a little background...I started working on my XJ about a year ago and I'm loving the progress. It's VERY addicting! Once I finish a project I'm ready to start another one. About a month after I built my rack and installed it I found this kick ***** thread...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=557715
Now I'm not saying that I wanna make my roof "removable". Once I cut it off it's gone. I want the end result to look like the picture below but I'd tweak the cage to my liking. Now here's my issue...when I pulled up these pics side by side my XJ just looks so much more bad ***** mean with the rack and everything as compared to the chopped top.

Now this came about when we went on the annual Jeep Jaunt and my wife saw all the Wranglers going doorless and topless. She quickly said that she wanted to do something like that and me seizing the opportunity told her I could do this to my Jeep. She said she wanted it done for next years Jeep Jaunt...

What I'm looking for is your opinion on what I should do and why. Give me personal experiences or any other reasons why I should or should not do this. I already know the majority of the work involved in this type of build but feel free to add anything I miss. To get it done I was planning on adding frame stiffeners and a roll cage that tied into the frame or tied into the 2x6 rocker replacements that will also tie into the frame. No, I can't weld but I have people that can do that for me while I learn. The rack you see on my Jeep was designed, measured, and cut by me and welded by my dad. No touch ups, re-cuts, or do-overs were needed during the process of that build so I am fully confident in my abilities.

Now onto the important point of this thread. This would be a permanent roof removal. To protect it from weather I'd have a bikini top and a Wrangler style soft top with vinyl windows made. Here are the options:

1. Leave as is...why?
2. Leave roof but go doorless...why?
3. Cut off roof and go doorless...why?
4. Cut off roof, go doorless, and make brackets to be able to re-install my rack but also be removable when I wanna take it off...why?

Onto the pics of the Jeeps in question...
Green XJ is mine (obviously) and the primer colored is what I possibly wanna do... Again, feel free to give ALL opinions to this! Thanks!!!

 

I personally find chop top XJ awesome when done tastefully. I dont see why people move the tailgate up behind the back doors and keep it all closed, thats just wasted space

 

i totally agree but i still don't like the way they look when 1/2 the roof is left on. i'm going for a full chop with only the windshield frame being left and a roll cage to support the rest. check out that pirate4x4 thread. dude is insane!!!

 

i like the chop with the cage. and the full chop not just the rear glass. it looks like an old bronco. with out the cage you will look like your driving a huge convertable. like your 50 smokin a stogie with some flip flops on. lol

 

lol but with 3 kids the cage would be not only for structural integrity but also safety. i REALLY wanna do it but i just think it looks really sick mean as is so i have no clue what i'm gonna do yet.

 

Trail rig with some daily grind, go for it. A daily driver, I would keep it in one piece.

 

a cage is always for safety

 

3 an heres after with 33sstill work in process eventually all tubed out with flat bed back

 

it's my dd but not really. i have a "company vehicle" for everyday use. this gets used on my days off to bring my kids to and from school and to do my stuff. the vinyl top would be used for bad weather days so not worried about that. great input tho! thanks!

 

no question about that!

 

i just can't get used to that short back end...remember the 4 door short bed S-10's they came out with? i hated them! but to each his own

 

^^ not a big fan of the "baby" bed.

 

maybe Im a bit biased...but I love the full 2dr chop look...if i dont sell her Im puttin a cage in next before the tire upgrades. shes already locked with an onboard air setup




and a small clip of it on the trails (others had to use a winch hehe)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http:...?v=cbELUoULm2s

 

I kinda like the chop top look. 2 or 4 door, but the 4 door would look better with a little longer bed, but you can't have everything.

But, I've thought it would be interesting to chop the rear end off a Cherokee and close it up like a crew cab, and add the rear end of a Comanche so it has a decent bed, but that might look like crap. I'd love to see it though, it may look awesome.

Another thought I have is that the chop top reminds me of an Avalanche, and it would be sweet to have it work like one too with a hinged tailgate, removable back glass and make the back portion of the cab onto the back seats, so that when they fold down they create a larger bed and whatever you throw in there doesn't tear up the fabric. Maybe even have a removable cover for the bed too.

 

No questions asked if I had a 2 dr then I woulda chopped the back windows off immediately! BUT I think it looks funny on a 4 dr. Nice jeep btw!!!