Thunder_J

I decided today that I am going to get started building a rooftop tent for my xj. I will more than likely be using 1'' emt for the build. It will have a bottom support it will also fold back onto the roof for travel and have foldable stairs. I will have the plans up on here sometime this week and progress should be happening when spring turns up. Any idea's or hints are greatly appreciated. Looking forward to getting things going.

caged

nice, i'm gonna follow this thread for sure.

DJKnightmare

Done in Paint in a few min, but here is what I am planning.

In the first pic you can see that the ladder (#3) and tent folds up and tucks nicely into itself. It also has a roof rack on top that will hold the jack and shovel and some lights, but this is just a rough draft.


It is supported by gutter mounts (#1). When you are ready to deploy the tent and ladder (#3), it hinges (#4 Purple) and support rods (#2) that are stowed inside the top connect to the bumper and to a support that goes through the hood to the firewall.

Thunder_J

Thats awesome man Im going to do mine off to the side of the jeep to act as a canopy also. I will throw together something on paint for you by the end of the day. Hopefully on cad by the end of the week. What size tent are you planning on putting up there? The gutter mounts are a good idea also

DJKnightmare

Actually, not as monstrous as it looks there. I think just a decent size that I can sit up in.

I have a few different ideas, off the side was one of them. I thought about off the side because for a time I was living in Arizona, and the extra shade would help, plus you could hang bug netting down off of it and make a decent kitchen/eating area.

Then, my smallest idea was to just open the back hatch, and hang bug netting off of the three sides of that and have a small extension slide out of the back.

Thunder_J

The little red squares is where the hinges will be

Thunder_J

Thunder_J

Thats just the basic quick idea that I have. I will have a more detailed take on the actual support and materials. But I have seen these things sold for like 2 grand and im hoping to get it done for under $300 with the tent and everything.

SpooledupRacing

wow I wanna see a completed setup of this.. looks like a cool idea

XJ740

Sounds cool, I'll follow this as well. Good Luck!

Just a suggestion, instead of a support that goes through the hood (#2), what if you made it connect to the upright by the mirrors or a angle cut that goese from the #2 at the bumper up to it? As in a Triangle if that makes any sense. But again just a suggestion, I personaly have no clue

mericanwit

Try using 3/4" pvc to build, "awning," style supports. The lengths for the supports/legs canbe made with threaded connections (think 2 peices @ 5" long for a 10" high clearance to drape a tarp over them and tie into roof racks thus creating awning for shade weather protection) and the foot pads then can be made to suit your needs. Also, you can clean the pvc and spray paint any color, usually the supports are sprayed fluorescent yellow/orange to see them. But anyway, an idea to try we use this set up on pick up truck roof racks when tailgating.
Good luck.

Thunder_J

I don't think the pvc would work on the main part of the frame because it has to be more structural than anything. But I was thinking about adding something that even slides off the main fram to make an awning, and the pvc would work great for that. Thanks for the idea next time you setup the pickup you should post some pics of that setup

mericanwit

Defintely, but that's gonna have to wait til the fall. E-A-G-L-E-S!!!!!!

Thunder_J

Fly Eagles Fly!!!! E-A-G-L-E-S

projectmayhem

thats a pretty cool idea im wanting to see it when its done, how is the tent part gonna actually work, is it gonna have to be set up when you fold it out or is it gonna unfold ready to sleep