DIY Ragtop Cherokee?
 

ok after 2 hours of researching online, I've come to ask on this forum. I've already seen several links of other people doing similar things and I've even read a thread where someone once wanted to also put together a ragtop sunroof for their jeep xj but apparently they never got around to it.

So here it is, any advice on putting together a ragtop sunroof? I want it to run from the front of the car to the back seat. I dont want it to pass over the cargo area. I do know that our jeeps are unibody and that its preferable to reinforce the roof. A bit of a 411, I live in florida...Miami, FL....tis pretty flat around here...most of what I'll be doing is blazing thru muddy farm fields LOL.

My idea is cut a big ol' hole into the roof after pulling the headliner off. Buy some steel bars and create a frame to place into the square area to reinforce it a bit and then use a tonneau cover from a pick up. I'm still trying to figure out what to do for drainage. I live in florida and rain is an issue. I want to keep this is cheap as possible lol

I'm not looking for anything fancy. I've already checked out all the ragtop kits and i refuse to pay $800; its not an option on a jeep that cost me $600 lol. The lift kit and tires I'm putting on it already cost me more than the jeep :rofl:

find an old renault le car and cut the roof off and just weld it into your xj roof.

years ago old vw bugs had a design similar to what you are trying to do maybe searching them could help with an idea for drainage issue

heres one

http://image.automotive.com/f/images...r_top_view.jpg
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:D...600la1.jpg&t=1

there was a really nice black xj that did this but i cant find the pic, id go find a wrecked newer liberty and take one off that and mod it to fit

i have been thinking of doing this as well; one thing i cant solve. i cant figure out how to replace the cross members without building an internal cage...this is a critical item as the provide lateral/torsional strength to comparment area....

some one here suggested etruded t slot to form a frame around the opening, but that doesnt tie into the structure of the factory cage...so i dont know about that

as far as rain goes, Auveco has rolls of weathersrtipping like this one
Auveco Item#4688

i was thinking some hi performance epoxy to bond it to the cut side of the metal to form a "rubber rain channel" than have the cover extend over it and apply pressure to it and help keep air from coming in....

go to your local convertable shop and see what they suggest...

I was also thinking the tonneau cover route. Along the edge, put on some universal door molding, and that should make a decent seal (decent, not waterproof!) and seal out the debris.

Do a member search on here for Detour. He did what you're talking about to his. He owns his own fab company and all his stuff his amazing. He'd be the one I'd talk to for this.

Post #213
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/bl...24701/index15/

I was wondering the frame idea as well if it would help give rigidity back to the truck. I was just wondering..what's wrong with having an aluminum pipe welded across from one B pillar to the other?

I meant to write steel, not aluminum lol sorry.

Thanks for the suggestion. I used to own a bmw with sunroof and that car had two small channels on either side that ran to a rubber drainage tube that ran down the inside of the car and would drain out by the window seam by the door frame to the outside of the car lol. Im thinkin about doing that but im still trying to concoct a way to do it.

Thank you everyone for you suggestions :-)

Check it out. Just google'd rag top XJ and found this company

http://www.slidingragtops.com/17.html

I would'nt even consider the mod without some sort of cage in the vehical, you'll be removing 2 roof supports, not a big deal if the XJ had a frame, but it dosent.
I tied my cage up into the roof line and pillar areas prior to opening the roof........Streetbeatcustoms & slidingragtops seem to be the same product, I think mine cost around 4 bills in "canvas" not vinyl...

Attachment 391125

I could see geting one from a bone yard, but price out the replacement fabric for the model chosen before cutting. ($$$)