Thinking INSIDE the box...

[WhatExit?]

Congrats on your work and dreams - keep going forward!

The creativity is nice to see. I hope you're successful.

Just know that SEMA is coming the first week of November and there will be tons of new Gladiator products shown there. The avalanche of new products to the market will flow after that.

I hope your product is nothing but successful for you (and us)

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[12BNNT]

It’s said that “necessity is the mother of invention”. This is soooo true.
I’ve fabbed up a few things over the years because all the commercially available products missed my needs in one way or another so I took one companies product design and tweaked it with design elements from another to make a custom product that fit MY need. Sound to me like you’re doing the same thing.

prime example....converted a cargo trailer into a toy hauler/camper and had several people asking questions about how/if they could do it also the last couple times we’ve used it. I also needed a decent size trailer that weighed less than 1000lbs but could haul plenty if needed. Looked around and found lots of 5x10’s and 6x12’s for $1200-$1500 made with angle iron frames that flex when you stand on the corner. Light weight but not strong. Others were heavy duty but tipped the scales on weight and more expensive. In the end, I built my own 6x11’ trailer with .120 wall 2” square tube fully welded with parallel 12” high sides that form a ladder style reinforcement front to back and even made a tilt bed out of it. I’ve parked my Kubota on it with no flex and it weighs 710lbs total. Best part was all the receipts added up to $830. AND I can say “I made that”.
I’ve had a few people ask if I could build a custom sized one like that for them but as pointed out earlier in the thread, to sell commercially you get into the whole warranty/sales/support realm. Not for me but if you can do it and you enjoy doing it I applaud you and wish you much success!!

I’ve got a few ideas for what I’m going to fab up for the bed of Big Blue (once I get to order it and take it home) again taking the basic concept of one commercially available product and changing this and that so the functionality fits my needs.

Keep creating and inspiring others to do the same!!

 

[WhatExit?]

It’s said that “necessity is the mother of invention”. This is soooo true.
I’ve fabbed up a few things over the years because all the commercially available products missed my needs in one way or another so I took one companies product design and tweaked it with design elements from another to make a custom product that fit MY need. Sound to me like you’re doing the same thing.

prime example....converted a cargo trailer into a toy hauler/camper and had several people asking questions about how/if they could do it also the last couple times we’ve used it. I also needed a decent size trailer that weighed less than 1000lbs but could haul plenty if needed. Looked around and found lots of 5x10’s and 6x12’s for $1200-$1500 made with angle iron frames that flex when you stand on the corner. Light weight but not strong. Others were heavy duty but tipped the scales on weight and more expensive. In the end, I built my own 6x11’ trailer with .120 wall 2” square tube fully welded with parallel 12” high sides that form a ladder style reinforcement front to back and even made a tilt bed out of it. I’ve parked my Kubota on it with no flex and it weighs 710lbs total. Best part was all the receipts added up to $830. AND I can say “I made that”.
I’ve had a few people ask if I could build a custom sized one like that for them but as pointed out earlier in the thread, to sell commercially you get into the whole warranty/sales/support realm. Not for me but if you can do it and you enjoy doing it I applaud you and wish you much success!!

I’ve got a few ideas for what I’m going to fab up for the bed of Big Blue (once I get to order it and take it home) again taking the basic concept of one commercially available product and changing this and that so the functionality fits my needs.

Keep creating and inspiring others to do the same!!

I like what you posted and I'm intrigued - I'd like to see your trailer design - do you have a link to it posted somewhere online? What are you thinking about making for your Gladiator?

 

[12BNNT]

Trailer was fabbed up from a sketch I made on paper. Cut the tubing, layed it out on the garage floor, tack welded, checked for square and level, then welded the rest of the way. Figuring out the geometry for the axle placement and tilt connection placement was the toughest part (wanted exactly 10 percent tongue weight empty) had to calculate the tubing weight of the frame and tongue pivot portion and such. But the extra headache was worth it. Pulled that thing at ”more than the speed limit” and follows straight as an arrow.

 

[12BNNT]

As far as ideas for my Gladiator.... one thought I had was for a bed cover made of metal that would be strong enough to stand on or strap a large item on top of yet would split down the middle allowing me to raise the two sides upright, add a few cross braces, and essentially have a solid sided ladder rack when needed.

 

[Papalecki]

Sounds cool - would consider something to transport my football tailgating gear.

 

[steffen707]

Sounds cool - would consider something to transport my football tailgating gear.

i totally wussed out on brining my JT and trying to mount my 270deg awning for this packer game........maybe i'll git'r'done before the next game i go to.

 

[cgflyer]

Watching this thread...I have also purchased a bunch of stuff for my Gladiator...most I like, but I come across other builds that I also like...I went with an Ace Engineering "Upper Decker" which I like so far, but with my RTT on it, it is too heavy for the shocks and I can't lift it to get to the back of the bed. Once I begin to build my kitchen, I think a bed slide is a must. I don't want to pay the $1100+ for one and have been designing some in my head. I actually think I have a prototype figured out and plan to start building very soon...I am curious to see how yours turns out and see if maybe I can't either share some ideas with you or steal some of yours.

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

Thanks for all the replies folks. This whole process has been taking a lot longer than I thought/hoped. But it's been a fun ride for sure. I love my new garage/workshop and using some parts of my brain that have been dormant for a bit.

As I've been riding around and using the slide and base, I've discovered some adjustments I needed to make to my base structure. Since that's the foundation of everything, I need to be able to get that around 90% correct before reveal/launch. I've been working on that, and beating up on v2, and I've got some v3 changes I'm working on this week. Perhaps by early November I can do an actual reveal on that base and get some more feedback.

In the meantime, I'm going to start another thread on some interior stuff I've been working on. Much simpler, easier to get to market stuff. I want to see how interested people might be in it and see if some of that helps fund my other R&D

 

[steffen707]

Thanks for all the replies folks. This whole process has been taking a lot longer than I thought/hoped. But it's been a fun ride for sure. I love my new garage/workshop and using some parts of my brain that have been dormant for a bit.

As I've been riding around and using the slide and base, I've discovered some adjustments I needed to make to my base structure. Since that's the foundation of everything, I need to be able to get that around 90% correct before reveal/launch. I've been working on that, and beating up on v2, and I've got some v3 changes I'm working on this week. Perhaps by early November I can do an actual reveal on that base and get some more feedback.

In the meantime, I'm going to start another thread on some interior stuff I've been working on. Much simpler, easier to get to market stuff. I want to see how interested people might be in it and see if some of that helps fund my other R&D

Sell a dash defrost bar to even out flow.

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

Sell a dash defrost bar to even out flow.

I've thought about that - actually I really need like a sun deflector in the lower part of the dash. Man when I drive in the morning the reflection off the hood is soooo bad sometimes.

 

[steffen707]

I've thought about that - actually I really need like a sun deflector in the lower part of the dash. Man when I drive in the morning the reflection off the hood is soooo bad sometimes.

could serve as a sun deflector/defrost smoother-outer.

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

Here's some interior stuff I'm working on:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/interior-mounting-options-rails.23493/

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