The first Installment of the PopTop Builder Series goes in depth on the Westfalia Conversion! Check it out Here: www.jakegrovephoto.com/Jeep/PopTop-Builder-Series/Poptop-Builder-Series-I

I can’t believe it’s holding together so well without the cage! I also can’t believe this is possible. Two of my absolute favorite vehicles in one.

I live in my xj , I'm seriously considering this !

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Nice! Actually just started watching your channel. I'm totally slipping on his name but I met a guy last weekend at a van-life meetup here in san diego, said he knew you and told me to look you up for XJ living. Good stuff!

I have a 2016 4 door jk....and I want to do what you did to your Cherokee....glad I found your video....but am gonna build my top and fiberglass the outside of it ....nice job you have done so far .

wow.. seen a lot of xj mods... NEVER seen this one... It would make me think twice without a full cage already installed...

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

I’m the second I know of to do it. Learned a lot and can second that a cage is crucial to do it proper. It is stripped and currently getting the cage built actually now. Updated Vlog to come...

Really digging this idea, awesome work man!

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks dayton! This is just the start! Can't wait to get it caged and start on the interior designs

I love your xj project. Looks great and fully functional. I have a 98 cherokee with 308k miles on it and love it.

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks mike! This is my second XJ, and just hit 228k on it. Great reliable vehicles, and is proving to be a practical expedition rig with this conversion.

For the last two years, this has been an idea in my head. I am about to purchase a lifted XJ and this video cam up as a suggestion. Thank you for the write up and mentioning the other person who has complete this. How has it been holding up?

Great video. Look forward to your channel man!

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks @pra3t0rian! Excited to share more content

Did the same to a 99 4Runner and KZread it lol Dude I love it!

@craftsmancollaborative

6 ай бұрын

Yeeeeew!

Dope idea !!!!

@craftsmancollaborative

Жыл бұрын

🏁🏁🏁🙏

You should add a Westfalia decal to your Jeep, great mod 👍🏼

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

johnydecali thanks! Definitely need decals!

Rad setup dude mt. Palomar is awesome

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Gary. Palomar is definitely an SD gem

Smart! Great addition to a Jeep, those top tents are like 2500 min. Could grab that VW top at a wreckers for nothing

Nice Idea! I'm not going to do it to Hope. Will keep an eye out for you since it looks like we're in the same area

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Definitely would be rad to see your build one day. What part of SD? I live up around poway, but work in la jolla and go to school downtown - really all over.

What type of Westfalia pop up is that. That's awesome. I will buy a Zj 5.2 with gas. It will get a lt230 tcase and Dana 44s of Jeep Wrangler. And it will get a manual transmission nv3550 with hydraulic torque converter in front of the clutch. Like heavy duty trucks.

@craftsmancollaborative

Жыл бұрын

Nice plan! It's from a 70's split window bus

Do NOT do this unless you have a roll cage before hand. Chopping up a major portion of the unibody ruins the structural integrity. Looks awesome though!

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks man! Its a work in progress. Although I still feel it's a debate on the unibody aspect. I didn't chop any of the pillars or corners, and the metal above the drivers head is still intact. Does the 20 gauge 4' x 6' sheet metal roof really add that much integrity?

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

That said, the stock unibody construction definitely brings up a weak point, and I would not recommend doing the full chop without plans for a cage (or wheeling a solid XJ hard without a cage for that matter). Would be interested to see how much different sections of the body actually contribute to integrity and the engineering behind it.

@ooVEXXXoo

5 жыл бұрын

@@craftsmancollaborative fun fact as many believe the doors dont add much of any structural integrity however the back hatch does if that is removed you will crumble.

@austinpowers1514

5 жыл бұрын

ooVEXXXoo I’ve seen a video of an XJ running without a hatch and you could see his car wobbling about 6 inches to a foot on each side.

@ooVEXXXoo

5 жыл бұрын

@@austinpowers1514 You should have told them to behave

Great job man and very innovative idea! I'm seriously considering this but I'm living in Europe. Did you get any stability issues after cutting part of your roof?

@craftsmancollaborative

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Vincent! I did not specifically notice greater issues, but even my intact unibody had issues with hatch and door alignment from offroad. Since cutting it all the way I have had structural fabrication work to solve this. New video in the works for this week!

This is a dream of mine, to add a poptop to my minivan camper. I'm looking at the comments, at the advice to add a roll cage, etc. One question: did the jeep have side air bags? The Grand Caravan I have does and that makes me leery of messing aroud with the roof/pillars areas. I'll have a look at the other videos and I have subscribed to hear more in the future

@craftsmancollaborative

5 жыл бұрын

This is a 2000 and only has a drivers steering wheel and passenger dash airbags. I have never worked on a newer vehicle with such a setup. Most of the roll cage comments were geared to this jeep having larger tires and being in heavier offroading. I would research more specific to vans, because although they are typically a unibody as well makers like westfalia and others have been converting them without major reinforcements for years.

@averysmallcampervan

5 жыл бұрын

@@craftsmancollaborative of course, cars were much easier to modify back before the got so smart. Thanks for the feedback.

Great job.market it. I want one.👍👍👍

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I wish I had the time to make the jeepagon a marketable thing haha, for now it will have to stay DIY. Who knows one day though...

I looked at the ursa j 30 tops and yes that is a much cheaper way to have the same look as a j30 top....and save 8500.

This is fucken rad 🤙🏾

@craftsmancollaborative

9 ай бұрын

Yeeeeew! 🙏

I think I need that just for some extra head room driving.

@craftsmancollaborative

5 жыл бұрын

It definitely opens up the drivers cab. Since this video I've posted another detailing my cage and roof chop and test fitting the top now opens up the xj a good bit all around.

Hey dude what gears ratio ona tire size

@craftsmancollaborative

Жыл бұрын

32' on factory 3.55. It does have the AX15 which alters ratios vs. stock auto 👍

How many miles on this XJ?!? any mechanical problems or issues? or reliable none the less?

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Just hit 235,000 miles. Was a reliable daily driver but in the garage now overhauling the tired cooling system. Good ‘ol straight 6

The biebe got poptop!

Makes it look like a van

@craftsmancollaborative

6 жыл бұрын

Right? I've been told it looks like a funeral car too haha. Super comfy though!

What front bumper is that

@craftsmancollaborative

5 жыл бұрын

ooVEXXXoo it is a Dirtworx XJ Bumper, had the fab guy widen it a few inches to align with the XJ front end better.

@ooVEXXXoo

5 жыл бұрын

@@craftsmancollaborative I have been trying to find a bumper i like for my xj but none of them look good in my opinion they look like they dont belong I actually like the original bump a lot but I need tow points and this on looks pretty cool

I love the diffence between US and France to modify a car... US: let's cut off this roof and it works ! France: If I cut the roof, I need the approval of the brand with a letter, the approval of the governement check car (difficult to pass), it can be refused because it's not cut by a professionnal who give you a letter as well, you have to buy a new car registration because you change the category as campervan... sigh -_-" if not, nice roof !!

@craftsmancollaborative

4 жыл бұрын

Wow interesting to read! Have heard of all sorts of regulation difference between the US and Europe. Out where I'm at in California Smog/emissions are the biggest regulation (different in majority of vehicles from the other 49). Some states more along the east coast have physical/visual inspections that take account more of fenders, body condition, etc but I have no experience there...

I love taco's... ;)