Someone Needs To Make An "Overland" Shell

[alpineovernappa]

I’ve seriously considered this. I’m a former contractor and def have the shop and skills.

The design in my head is an overland rack with removable panels so I could leave it open most of the time and pop the panels on what I’m going on a trip. I may have to give this some serious thought.

I also seriously considered this, but not with a half rack. My plan was to use thick walled rectangular aluminum welded into a cage with all 90 degree angles. Riv nuts to attach each enclosing panel, Lexan for the windows (you wouldn’t need windows for a half height). If you can weld aluminum you could build this all in for around $500. Probably closer to $1500 if you have to hire an aluminum welder. If you outsource the work I’d contact local race car cage welders and fabricators bc they’ll be most knowledgeable about strength requirements for the weight of tent and occupants. It gets a lot more complicated if you don’t stick to 90 degree angles

Sponsored

 

[MER21]

That's awesome, but it's making someone somewhere think of a third row of seats....the JL/JT Unlimited^2 XL....every soccer mom / trophy wife in town will be using it to take one stroller and one toddler to Lulu and Nordstrom's....

That's awesome, but it's making someone somewhere think of a third row of seats....the JL/JT Unlimited^2 XL....every soccer mom / trophy wife in town will be using it to take one stroller and one toddler to Lulu and Nordstrom's....

I've never understood the point of buying any truck to just put a hard shell on it and make it look like an extended SUV.

 

[tikijimmy]

Essential, it’s a soft top over my half height JCR rack with Front Runner quick disconnect mounts.

Best upgrade I’ve done and will prob ever do.

Hey, now we’re talking! This is a great idea. I looked at the soft-shell caps from Bestop and others, but didn’t like the height. Putting a soft cap over an overland rack may be the answer. I have an industrial sewing machine and can sew pretty well.
How is the cover attached to the bed rails? I’m thinking Velcro or snaps on an aluminum angle or something similar?

 

[Fpolanco]

Hey, now we’re talking! This is a great idea. I looked at the soft-shell caps from Bestop and others, but didn’t like the height. Putting a soft cap over an overland rack may be the answer. I have an industrial sewing machine and can sew pretty well.
How is the cover attached to the bed rails? I’m thinking Velcro or snaps on an aluminum angle or something similar?

I’m currently mowing the lawn but I’ll take a pic of the molding ASAP.

But to help with picturing it, if you’re familiar at all with the soft top from a JK or a JL, remember how the rear window attaches to the tailgate bar? How you had to run the bottom edge through the bar?

That same molding runs around the top of the bed.

 

[Fpolanco]

Hey, now we’re talking! This is a great idea. I looked at the soft-shell caps from Bestop and others, but didn’t like the height. Putting a soft cap over an overland rack may be the answer. I have an industrial sewing machine and can sew pretty well.
How is the cover attached to the bed rails? I’m thinking Velcro or snaps on an aluminum angle or something similar?

The lawn can wait!! ?

Out of the 4 walls of the bed, only the wall closest to the cab is actually mounted through the metal. The other 3 sides is screwed and 3M taped through that plastic molding.

I took a quick video. Let me know if it helps!

 

[tikijimmy]

The lawn can wait!! ?

Out of the 4 walls of the bed, only the wall closest to the cab is actually mounted through the metal. The other 3 sides is screwed and 3M taped through that plastic molding.

I took a quick video. Let me know if it helps!

Oh, wow. That's nice and clean. Thanks for the close up!

 

[Fpolanco]

Oh, wow. That's nice and clean. Thanks for the close up!

Def! Let me know if you need anything else!

 

[RCKLNDR]

….

 

[Zybane]

I've never understood the point of buying any truck to just put a hard shell on it and make it look like an extended SUV.

It's the only thing that works for people that need the off-road capabilities of a Jeep but more space than a JL Unlimited.

 

[Beemer533]

….

I saw this at Jeep Beach, this is exactly what I had been looking for!

Unfortunately I had already given up and got an Alu-cab by the time I saw it ...

Any idea on the weight?

 

[OffroadAlliance.com]

These will be coming out sometime this year and will make any truck a badass overland rig:
https://offroadalliance.com/SmartCap-Bed-Replacement-System/

 

[jeepers29]

I had a tonneau cover with my rack but lost so much storage space between the cover and the rack. I thought about building my own out of high density plastic...but then realized I can’t build squat. So I went a different route.

I reached out to a “fabricator” of awnings and covers for boats and told him what I wanted.

It came out amazing!!

Essential, it’s a soft top over my half height JCR rack with Front Runner quick disconnect mounts.

Best upgrade I’ve done and will prob ever do.

This needs to come to market. The rack cover combo is awesome.

 

[Fpolanco]

This needs to come to market. The rack cover combo is awesome.

I was ready to sell a kidney for a half height Alu Cab or smart cap. Good thing I didn’t.

I’ll need all my organs to sell for fuel when I drive out to Colorado next month! ?

 

[jeepers29]

I was ready to sell a kidney for a half height Alu Cab or smart cap. Good thing I didn’t.

I’ll need all my organs to sell for fuel when I drive out to Colorado next month! ?

We will be in Colorado next month as well. Pagosa Springs, Buena Vista and Ouray.

 

[Fpolanco]

We will be in Colorado next month as well. Pagosa Springs, Buena Vista and Ouray.

We’ll be in the Ouray/Montrose/Telliride area doing the major passes.

Sponsored