Input on Emergency Top Design

[Rahneld]

Say I were to build an emergency top for drivers (as oppose just to parkers with emergency tops that can't be seen thru) who find their topless JLs in bad weather.

I'm talking about the type of top that would allow you, while driving, to quickly pull over to the side of the road, and deploy a relatively thick mil plastic through which objects can be seen (for road safety)--if not as clear as having nothing there at all.

I'm thinking that such a device might be stored in some spring loaded window shade like roller, to be pulled out, whereby built in neodymium magnets, maybe coated to prevent scratching would adhere to the body's non aluminum surfaces, and maybe some sort of quick connect grommets would address securing non-magnetic surfaces.

Those waiting on such product...what would you like to see in it?

Thanks.

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[Cookiedawg]

Say I were to build an emergency top for drivers (as oppose just to parkers with emergency tops that can't be seen thru) who find their topless JLs in bad weather.

I'm talking about the type of top that would allow you, while driving, to quickly pull over to the side of the road, and deploy a relatively thick mil plastic through which objects can be seen (for road safety)--if not as clear as having nothing there at all.

I'm thinking that such a device might be stored in some spring loaded window shade like roller, to be pulled out, whereby built in neodymium magnets, maybe coated to prevent scratching would adhere to the body's non aluminum surfaces, and maybe some sort of quick connect grommets would address securing non-magnetic surfaces.

Those waiting on such product...what would you like to see in it?

Thanks.

I would be interested in something like this. Coated magnets would probably work.

 

[californiajeeping]

It would be great if it would also work in the case the soft top is installed, no soft windows, and the doors are off aka safari mode. Something to keep the rain from coming in through the open doors and missing reaper and back soft windows.

Found this picture on one of the other threads to show what I mean. Sometimes get caught in the rain in safari mode and the wind is blowing the rain sideways.

 

[Cookiedawg]

It would be great if it would also work in the case the soft top is installed, no soft windows, and the doors are off aka safari mode. Something to keep the rain from coming in through the open doors and missing reaper and back soft windows.

Found this picture on one of the other threads to show what I mean. Sometimes get caught in the rain in safari mode and the wind is blowing the rain sideways.

I have a jtopusa sunshade that I will unlatch the front area and roll it back to the center top bar where the front it totally open. I use the magnets on the front edge of the sunshade to hold it in place and it does not move no mater how fast I go. I would think the same concept could be applied to an emergency top.

 

[Rahneld]

I have a jtopusa sunshade that I will unlatch the front area and roll it back to the center top bar where the front it totally open. I use the magnets on the front edge of the sunshade to hold it in place and it does not move no mater how fast I go. I would think the same concept could be applied to an emergency top.

I couldn't find the product you describe above at the Jtopusa website.

I did see something similar to what I think you described sold by Bestop for the JK:

https://www.bestop.com/retractable-sunshade-category/

Is the above along the lines of what you were thinking?

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I'm beginning to think that the best way to go about this is with a device that looks like a soft top boot (rather than a retractable window shade mechanism) from the outside. It might look like a little like this from JTopsUSA (with tailgate door on):

https://www.jtopsusa.com/wrangler-jl-sun-shade?lightbox=dataItem-jnxfp6gi

It would feature translucent plastic folding up, and wrapped around a rotating pipe. You'd pull out the plastic, which would be folded over twice (for the sides of the JL, assuming no doors), unfold the sides, and get it to adhere to the JL on magnetized surfaces (i.e. not aluminum.)

The cover, which would by design deploy faster than repack (parachute paradigm) could then be allowed to dry and get rolled back (think manual crank) up after a storm passes.

 

[Rahneld]

It would be great if it would also work in the case the soft top is installed, no soft windows, and the doors are off aka safari mode. Something to keep the rain from coming in through the open doors and missing reaper and back soft windows.

Found this picture on one of the other threads to show what I mean. Sometimes get caught in the rain in safari mode and the wind is blowing the rain sideways.

Let me ask you a question in response...

...how would you feel if the device I described, that dispenses like a window shade, and then once pulled out unfolds to deal with the exposed sides of the JL were to....

...in cases where the soft top is in Safari mode as you described...

...temporarily sit on top of the soft top--not that it needs protection, but just for ease of design..

..as if that soft top where not there?

Could you live with that..I ask from a marketing/design perspective interested in your opinion on this.

Thanks.

: - )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[californiajeeping]

Let me ask you a question in response...

...how would you feel if the device I described, that dispenses like a window shade, and then once pulled out unfolds to deal with the exposed sides of the JL were to....

...in cases where the soft top is in Safari mode as you described...

...temporarily sit on top of the soft top--not that it needs protection, but just for ease of design..

..as if that soft top where not there?

Could you live with that..I ask from a marketing/design perspective interested in your opinion on this.

Thanks.

: - )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, that would be great and easier to design if it covered the existing soft top but also covered the sides. I wouldn't expect to be able to drive it, just enough to sit out the rain storm for a while. But would need a way to get back into the Jeep after covering it. Either enough slack in the cover, or a zipper entry like a tent. So from a design point of view, a tent that covers the entire Jeep with zipper doors on each end so the drive and passenger can get back into it out of the rain as well. Or if there is a store nearby as the rain starts, cover it, can go into the store until the rain stops.

 

[californiajeeping]

Something like this but oversized so it would cover the soft top in safari mode, with a way to get into it and still be tight enough at the bottom by the doors vs flapping in the wind letting the rain in.

https://www.jeepsareus.com/sku-ymm/2019-jeep-wrangler-jl/82215371.html

 

[Rahneld]

Something like this but oversized so it would cover the soft top in safari mode, with a way to get into it and still be tight enough at the bottom by the doors vs flapping in the wind letting the rain in.

https://www.jeepsareus.com/sku-ymm/2019-jeep-wrangler-jl/82215371.html

I agree with your picture above taking on the premise of the idea with the following differences:

• I would probably not extend the cover beyond the top of the windshield, which is made of magnetic metal at its top, where neodymium magnets built into the fabric, not unlike a shower curtain, could grab on.
• I'd probably put neodymium magnets also, rather than straps, at the bottom below where the doors normally are, where contact would be made just below the door area. Unlike the aluminum doors, which may also be absent in this scenario, that area below the doors is magnetic. This would facilitate entrance into the vehicle with easy close: say with a plastic handle on the interior of the tarp allowing it to be pulled towards the vehicle with an occupant inside, even in windy rain, to let the magnets near the ground grab...maybe the same for the windshield.
• I would want to make the top drivable at all but high speeds. You may not be able to look out your side windows are know "what brand of SUV was there" through the plastic, but certainly, for safety sake, know that one was there and that a lane change into that vehicle would end badly.

 

[californiajeeping]

I agree with your picture above taking on the premise of the idea with the following differences:

• I would probably not extend the cover beyond the top of the windshield, which is made of magnetic metal at its top, where neodymium magnets built into the fabric, not unlike a shower curtain, could grab on.
• I'd probably put neodymium magnets also, rather than straps, at the bottom below where the doors normally are, where contact would be made just below the door area. Unlike the aluminum doors, which may also be absent in this scenario, that area below the doors is magnetic. This would facilitate entrance into the vehicle with easy close: say with a plastic handle on the interior of the tarp allowing it to be pulled towards the vehicle with an occupant inside, even in windy rain, to let the magnets near the ground grab...maybe the same for the windshield.
• I would want to make the top drivable at all but high speeds. You may not be able to look out your side windows are know "what brand of SUV was there" through the plastic, but certainly, for safety sake, know that one was there and that a lane change into that vehicle would end badly.

Some visibility through the front window would be extremely helpful when getting caught in the rain while going off road. It will allow you to drive just enough to get to a safe location. For example, if you are driving on a single lane mountain road and mud begins to slide down due to the rain. You could then drive at a snails pace to get out of the situation.

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