Custom modular JK hardtop
12-09-2014, 08:12 PM
#13
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Roseburg, Oregon
Posts: 138
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Very nice work! 
Amazing talent.
I am kind of surprised that you would post this on the internet before it was in production what with all the idea thieves running around.
Keep up the good work. This looks like one idea that will pay off.
Amazing talent.
I am kind of surprised that you would post this on the internet before it was in production what with all the idea thieves running around.
Keep up the good work. This looks like one idea that will pay off.
12-10-2014, 03:17 AM
#14
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
Thank you.
I always do my designs very publicly - I find that the input and criticism I get during the process helps me make the design and end product much better than if I were doing it in secret. And these are complicated things to do well, and for most companies would take a significant investment in pattern making and design, not to mention being very time consuming to perfect, so the chance that a company will jump right in, copy my design and get something to market quickly is very small.
I did my LJ/TJ Safari Cab design the same way, and nobody's copied it, and I did both of my Jeep trailer designs this way too, and nobody's copied them. Both are on the market. And even now, despite the fact that the trailers are the only successful fiberglass offroad trailer kits ever to come to market, nobody's copied them.
Sometimes I don't reveal a construction detail or two if I feel there's a risk of a knock-off, for example, the side-mount jerry can holder seen on my LJ in the photo below I developed online, but I never showed the detail of how the receiver it mounts in bolts to the frame, which is something that's never been done before. That was the right move, because a company has now licensed the design for production, and they've filed for a patent on it because it is a unique design. They introduced the jerry can holder at SEMA last month, and they'll have them on the market very shortly, and it'll be the only thing like it on the market.
(BTW the CJ Grille Kit front end on my LJ is also a fiberglass project I did completely online.)
Anyway, I find that the advantages of doing design publicly to get input, feedback and criticism from everyone far outweigh the risk that someone will copy me. And everything I design ends up being a better product because I did it online, everything I do ends up having features and details that come from that feedback.
I did my LJ/TJ Safari Cab design the same way, and nobody's copied it, and I did both of my Jeep trailer designs this way too, and nobody's copied them. Both are on the market. And even now, despite the fact that the trailers are the only successful fiberglass offroad trailer kits ever to come to market, nobody's copied them.
Sometimes I don't reveal a construction detail or two if I feel there's a risk of a knock-off, for example, the side-mount jerry can holder seen on my LJ in the photo below I developed online, but I never showed the detail of how the receiver it mounts in bolts to the frame, which is something that's never been done before. That was the right move, because a company has now licensed the design for production, and they've filed for a patent on it because it is a unique design. They introduced the jerry can holder at SEMA last month, and they'll have them on the market very shortly, and it'll be the only thing like it on the market.
(BTW the CJ Grille Kit front end on my LJ is also a fiberglass project I did completely online.)
Anyway, I find that the advantages of doing design publicly to get input, feedback and criticism from everyone far outweigh the risk that someone will copy me. And everything I design ends up being a better product because I did it online, everything I do ends up having features and details that come from that feedback.
12-10-2014, 06:50 AM
#16
Thank you.
I always do my designs very publicly - I find that the input and criticism I get during the process helps me make the design and end product much better than if I were doing it in secret. And these are complicated things to do well, and for most companies would take a significant investment in pattern making and design, not to mention being very time consuming to perfect, so the chance that a company will jump right in, copy my design and get something to market quickly is very small.
I did my LJ/TJ Safari Cab design the same way, and nobody's copied it, and I did both of my Jeep trailer designs this way too, and nobody's copied them. Both are on the market. And even now, despite the fact that the trailers are the only successful fiberglass offroad trailer kits ever to come to market, nobody's copied them.
Sometimes I don't reveal a construction detail or two if I feel there's a risk of a knock-off, for example, the side-mount jerry can holder seen on my LJ in the photo below I developed online, but I never showed the detail of how the receiver it mounts in bolts to the frame, which is something that's never been done before. That was the right move, because a company has now licensed the design for production, and they've filed for a patent on it because it is a unique design. They introduced the jerry can holder at SEMA last month, and they'll have them on the market very shortly, and it'll be the only thing like it on the market.
(BTW the CJ Grille Kit front end on my LJ is also a fiberglass project I did completely online.)
Anyway, I find that the advantages of doing design publicly to get input, feedback and criticism from everyone far outweigh the risk that someone will copy me. And everything I design ends up being a better product because I did it online, everything I do ends up having features and details that come from that feedback.
I always do my designs very publicly - I find that the input and criticism I get during the process helps me make the design and end product much better than if I were doing it in secret. And these are complicated things to do well, and for most companies would take a significant investment in pattern making and design, not to mention being very time consuming to perfect, so the chance that a company will jump right in, copy my design and get something to market quickly is very small.
I did my LJ/TJ Safari Cab design the same way, and nobody's copied it, and I did both of my Jeep trailer designs this way too, and nobody's copied them. Both are on the market. And even now, despite the fact that the trailers are the only successful fiberglass offroad trailer kits ever to come to market, nobody's copied them.
Sometimes I don't reveal a construction detail or two if I feel there's a risk of a knock-off, for example, the side-mount jerry can holder seen on my LJ in the photo below I developed online, but I never showed the detail of how the receiver it mounts in bolts to the frame, which is something that's never been done before. That was the right move, because a company has now licensed the design for production, and they've filed for a patent on it because it is a unique design. They introduced the jerry can holder at SEMA last month, and they'll have them on the market very shortly, and it'll be the only thing like it on the market.
(BTW the CJ Grille Kit front end on my LJ is also a fiberglass project I did completely online.)
Anyway, I find that the advantages of doing design publicly to get input, feedback and criticism from everyone far outweigh the risk that someone will copy me. And everything I design ends up being a better product because I did it online, everything I do ends up having features and details that come from that feedback.
I hope to get a chance to see the LJ in January. Love the safari top.
12-12-2014, 09:13 AM
#17
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
Here's another variation of the JK Safari Cab I'm thinking about.
Many of the details I already have prototyped - earlier this year I made a tilt-up top for my Jeep-tub trailer and sewed a tilt-up canvas camper surround for it. The canvas parts for the JK Safari tilt-up would be almost the same, differing only in dimensions and a few details.
Many of the details I already have prototyped - earlier this year I made a tilt-up top for my Jeep-tub trailer and sewed a tilt-up canvas camper surround for it. The canvas parts for the JK Safari tilt-up would be almost the same, differing only in dimensions and a few details.
