From the Experts: Why the 2018 Jeep JL Wrangler MAY come with a Fixed Roof
- Thread starter wayoflife
- Start date
JamesWyatt
Member
I'd be interested in a fixed roof, but I hope they offer it in addition to the convertible, not in place of it. For example: if I were to buy an old Defender, I'd want one of the fixed roof models - they just look cooler.
Also - if they didn't offer the convertible, then maybe they will make several fixed roof options: 2 door, 4 door, 4 door crew cab pickup, and maybe even an extended wagon like the Defender 110. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be nice to have choices.
With the launch possible pushed back to an 18 model released in 17, maybe the chances will go up to see a stateside diesel before the switch.
hogtyed
Member
:cussing: One of the reasons that I own a Jeep is that one of my options is being able to go topless. As I am a motorcycle rider also. Motorcycle riders have been going through the same type of problems with the safety nanny's over the right to wear helmets or not. Let those who ride decide... I for one am sick & tired of the government trying to keep me safe in every aspect of my life with mandates. Some of these mandates often cause deaths. If we leave it all up to our government we will all be driving Priuses, eating salad pills while wearing helmets inside our bubble suits. Now leave me alone & let me trail & ride what ever the hell I want. :twocents:
Just had to vent a little.
Just had to vent a little.
That's probably because Robert Sheaves is an engineer :crazyeyes:
Yup. Those guys love to speak in technical jargon.
jesse3638
Hooked
My thoughts exactly. Seeing how it's still going to be body on frame not unibody you could cut the top without compromising the rigidity of the vehicle that would cause it to sag or bend in the middle. Sure it would take away from all the structural stuff mentioned in the article that I couldn't finish reading because it was written in engineering jargon...haha. But hey it would give Bestop a new project. Aftermarket removable hard top or soft top that requires more body modification than a Hollywood A-lister. Maybe wild boar would jump on board too. It would give them less time to create future generations of their Neanderthal grill.
nmwranglerx
Caught the Bug
Me too. I consider the ability to put the top down a key Jeep Wrangler feature. I love the open feeling and views it allows when off-roading. Much like the wranglers iconic grill, it's something that distinguishes the jeep brand. I also can't stand the look of that tilted back front grill but suppose I would get used to it.
Along similar lines I just read an article about how the latest versions of Chargers, Challengers, Cameros, Mustangs etc. will be the next great collector cars.
It is in part due to their retro styling which were "classic" to begin with but also because they have the HP guts to match. The power options have been unparalleled these last ten years or so and the amount of power available in that number and differing price ranges of vehicles hasn't happened since the 60's. It has been a unique decade as there was a market for all this that drove the designs and power (aka the baby boomers who had the money and wanted cars from their childhood.)
But, according to this article that's about to come to an end with gradual but certain EPA restrictions coming that make it nearly impossible to engineer that kind of power.
Modifications will always be possible but even the base power plants will likely not be as conducive for it. And of course all that means more desirability for the pre strict EPA rules vehicles.
Anyway, interesting. The V's, LS1, and new Hemi's may be well be a last great show of American muscle. Might be a good time to buy one of the aforementioned vehicles.
Of course you'll have to keep it another 30 years to see if this article is right.
Still, the government involvement has a huge bearing on all this...just like this issue discussed here with the NHTSB and Jeeps being open tops.
It is in part due to their retro styling which were "classic" to begin with but also because they have the HP guts to match. The power options have been unparalleled these last ten years or so and the amount of power available in that number and differing price ranges of vehicles hasn't happened since the 60's. It has been a unique decade as there was a market for all this that drove the designs and power (aka the baby boomers who had the money and wanted cars from their childhood.)
But, according to this article that's about to come to an end with gradual but certain EPA restrictions coming that make it nearly impossible to engineer that kind of power.
Modifications will always be possible but even the base power plants will likely not be as conducive for it. And of course all that means more desirability for the pre strict EPA rules vehicles.
Anyway, interesting. The V's, LS1, and new Hemi's may be well be a last great show of American muscle. Might be a good time to buy one of the aforementioned vehicles.
Of course you'll have to keep it another 30 years to see if this article is right.
Still, the government involvement has a huge bearing on all this...just like this issue discussed here with the NHTSB and Jeeps being open tops.
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I feel that way about my LJ too. Don't get me wrong I like the JK's for sure but I'm a 4.0 fan and like some of the simpler TJ era designs as well.
But either way...TJ or JK may end up being rigs that are truer to the Jeep pedigree than what's coming next. Or, we will all be blown away. Time will tell...
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I'm with you on both points. I don't really even like the JK grill that much (or the fenders but that's another discussion.)
I think so much of this even outside of the government regs will be market driven though to an extent as well. Even with those regs the engineers can and will find ways around it IF numbers drop.
I mean a lot of Jeep guys cried when they put the minivan engine in the JK but it was still a great rig overall and unique in the market and the numbers stayed the same and even went up. So if your Chrysler / Jeep then that's what you watch. Saving money on one less engine to produce and no damage to the bottom line. Why not?
But if guys start leaving the brand for the competition because of too many changes and the numbers drop then that's a problem. It's a balance. A hardtop wrangler really isn't as distinct in the market and the competition starts to look more enticing. It'll be a numbers game to see what it is about Jeeps that make people spend their hard earned greenbacks for them. One way or another we will vote with our dollars.
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BlueBox
New member
Wow that is quite a technical post. As an engineer I really enjoyed reading that, as it put things into perspective. Fwiw my take is that if they do go fixed roof it will be to allow themselves design flexibility to meet whatever the regulations end up at without having to go back to the drawing board. I would guess that if it does go this way it would be sort of a transitional gap while they let the legislation work out and refine from there. Pretty sound engineering choices I think.
That said, stuff like this just reaffirms why I bought my 2015. Looking forward to several years of modding and wheeling this thing while the 'next-gen' works itself out.
The Jeeper in me is with the rest of you guys, I'm sticking with my JK for quite awhile! :yup:
That said, stuff like this just reaffirms why I bought my 2015. Looking forward to several years of modding and wheeling this thing while the 'next-gen' works itself out.
The Jeeper in me is with the rest of you guys, I'm sticking with my JK for quite awhile! :yup:
BlackHawk08jk
New member
I think that the government should take those rules and shove them. If you want to drive a wrangler it should be up to you to just assume the risk of it.
BlackHawk08jk
New member
It's also good that there are so many aftermarket parts for jeeps haha. So I don't need to buy the new one
NFRs2000NYC
Caught the Bug
You guys may think Im crazy, but I would LOVE a fully intergrated metal roof with 1/2 doors and pillarless glass. That would be my perfect wrangler.
Engineers throught process
An engineer thinks differently from the normal thought process. His would be something like:
We want to be at G but can't because of B, C, & D; so the space-time continum E skips F and we are back at A.
Or so it appears.
I think I am going to keep my JK for a long time as well. I am also in agreement with the reasoning of motorcyclist and the helmet laws, let those that ride decide. This should also be true for the Jeep vehicles. The driver option roof choice is a big part of the Jeep appeal as is the off road capabilities.
Basically the 2016 'er 2018ish Wrangler had better come out swinging and blow our minds.
That's probably because Robert Sheaves is an engineer :crazyeyes:
An engineer thinks differently from the normal thought process. His would be something like:
We want to be at G but can't because of B, C, & D; so the space-time continum E skips F and we are back at A.
Or so it appears.
I think I am going to keep my JK for a long time as well. I am also in agreement with the reasoning of motorcyclist and the helmet laws, let those that ride decide. This should also be true for the Jeep vehicles. The driver option roof choice is a big part of the Jeep appeal as is the off road capabilities.
Basically the 2016 'er 2018ish Wrangler had better come out swinging and blow our minds.
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bOLsAK3
New member
There are several patent drawings out there that indicate this subject is true. I've seen one, which I can't currently pull up which shows a calapsing and stackable hard top convertible is being worked on. I did find one picture of that top but it does little to explain the complete complexity of the idea behind the top.
Here's the link to the patent drawings http://www.google.com/patents/US8408623
Here's the link to the patent drawings http://www.google.com/patents/US8408623
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