if you know where to look you can get solid works 08 on a 30day trial........over and over and over

Im not guna lie its not a program for drunks

if you know where to look there are all kinds of programs out there

I'm actually just starting and AutoCAD class this semester. My instructor is supposed to e-mail me a link to downloadable version of AutoCAD 2009.

I have used sketch-up before, I'm just not that good at it.

But for the time being, I just have paint to work with. (no sense in downloading sketchup when I can get autocad soon)

Here is the new drawing, but not much has changed. I might add some heavy duty springs to it as well, but Im not sure. I still need to draw up one with it open.

the problem with that is the shocks wont have enough force to "pull them up" so to speak. Shocks push not pull, although they would be good for helping it stay up there. now are you going to put a spring like the ones found on Garage doors built into the pivot point of carrier? I know you want them seperate, but for the sake of easy it probably would be easier to just attach the carrier to the hatch and run your shocks coupled with your stock ones inside, that should be plenty?

but great idea. I like the thought of it all. keep it up

anyone get anywhere with this?

This is very true, however it may take a day to download depending on computer and connection speed. I have Autodesk Inventor 2009 ......Great stuff!

u can find damn near any program you'll ever want on utorrent

I had a job interview on Friday, and it was more of a "get to know you/ get to know the company" type deal. So I am very hopeful about getting this job. If I get this job, and when I get some money flowing, I will start building this. But until then (which hopefully won't be long) I am stuck borrowing money from my parents for gas, and my tax return from last year is already tied up in paying for classes/books and car insurance.

Well if you didn't mind, and maybe had the fab skills, you could build your own custom hatch. This would take away the issue of strength, and you could possibly make your own mounting points. While in the process make your own hinges that could support the weight of it all. Plus doing it like this you could make it look however you want. Also could you do like a gas shock for the assist? I'm kind of a newbie to all of this.

I'm still a newbie to this concept a bit too lol, which is why I need to build it this way.

I'm not very good at working with fiberglass, or thin sheetmetal yet, so I'm gonna try doing it out of heavier stuff. I also don't have the workspace needed to properly make my own hatch, whereas the frame type deal I'm planning on making could be thrown in a corner if need be until I could get back to it.

This setup could also be easily made to work with any vehicle with gutter mounts, but that vehicle would probably just be another XJ

oh kk well i hope you find a design that will work for ya :

X2, I'm a little confused, are you planning on using springs to pull up, and shocks to stop it from denting into your roof or destroying your hatch on way back down?? I've looked at this thread several times and was just wondering, or were you planning on just manually pushing up the carrier

I would have to build the thing and experiment different positions for the shocks, I might actually buy some shocks that are made to lift stuff like Overland suggested.

Just a thought, how about a system similiar to a garage door...big spring coiled around the roof rack between the 2 tire carrier mounting points, just wind it up and lock down the tension, you could eliminate all the shocks and such...just wind the spring up and set it to lift as much or as little as you want.....just an idea.