ARCHIVE 73/74 Owners: Any Interest in HDPE Side Panels?

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wardharris

wardharris

10 Year
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Boise, Idaho
I am in the process of cleaning up the odious innards of my BJ73. Got some new/OEM side door panels, but the side panels and rear door cards are kind of beat up.

Planning to have some HDPE panels fabbed up, including hardware and speaker cut-outs.

I know that many guys have built some creative solutions (including storage hatches) - such as Kevin Rowland's WagonGear products. Not planning on anything that fancy, just some simple panels to replace the cardboard and plastic.

Any and all comments, questions and suggestions are welcome. Here is the first question: Are there any variations in the configuration of 73/74 side and rear cards?

Also, if anyone wants to pile on, a small production run might be possible. No idea of cost.

Here is what I look to replace, reusing the vent grilles:

upload_2014-12-19_18-4-28.webp


Here are some of Kevin's products as an example of "ultimate" solution:

upload_2014-12-19_18-6-22.webp
upload_2014-12-19_18-7-36.webp
 
I may be in for a production run if you go that route. I've been planning the same project based on Wagongear stuff too.

Dadinabarrel, I believe Wagongear stuff is steel with HDPE storage doors.

I was going to order sheets of HDPE and just cut and router it myself. Hoping to do front doors too. And I was thinking of drilling holes in the shape of the speaker instead of a cutout and mounting them behind the panels. And also cutting strips in the vent locations and losing the vent covers.

As for your question, wardharris, your side panels look just like mine.

Let me know as the project progresses
 
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I might also be in for a production run. Your panels look like mine, but I am missing the cubby cover :(
 
Thanks for the configuration confirmation, Sam. Not sure if my needs/preferences are similar to those of others. For example, I have retired the rear washer tank/pump so the round fill port will not be present on mine. In a similar vein, I will mount two rear speakers and retire the side storage bin.
 
Well, my rear wiper motor is in a box at the moment. Given the panel, I could always carefully cut out a provision for the fill point if I were to decide to keep the rear washer.

As you get closer to design, keep us in the loop. We mig be able to get enough interest to keep the unit cost reasonable ;)

Wait, what am I saying .... Reasonable priced 70 series parts in the USofA. Must still be under the influence of last night's bourbon. :rimshot:
 
elkaholic said:
I could always carefully cut out a provision for the fill point if I were to decide to keep the rear washer.

As you get closer to design, keep us in the loop.
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Will do. Once the basic panels are made up, it will be easy for end users to do cutouts for washer fill, ash tray, storage hatch, speakers, etc. I think the exterior edges are the only ones to worry about re cut and routing.

Delancy said:
Could be talked into it, pretty easily, since a feeler thread.

Had Kevin's rear gate lid for the 80 and it may be the reason the tailgate didn't deform in the roll, I dunno.
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I would never want to tempt a fellow traveller.
Kevin is awesome, as is his gear. In a perfect world, I would have WG panels in steel with a hinged door on each side. His stuff is so sweet. The world I live in is almost perfect....so HDPE will have to do and I will be happy.
 
Ward I might be able to help with this, I run a cabinetry shop so this is fairly straightforward especially considering the likely relatively small numbers.

Here is a product we use called Starboard, it is available in 1/4" thickness and is a bit more dense than a standard HPDE material. We have used this for outdoor kitchens and furniture/built in units for pools and other outdoor areas. http://www.fessendenhall.com/king-plastics-starboard.asp
 
fireball said:
Ward I might be able to help with this, I run a cabinetry shop so this is fairly straightforward especially considering the likely relatively small numbers.

Here is a product we use called Starboard, it is available in 1/4" thickness and is a bit more dense than a standard HPDE material. We have used this for outdoor kitchens and furniture/built in units for pools and other outdoor areas. http://www.fessendenhall.com/king-plastics-starboard.asp
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Ben -
That would be awesome. If there are enough 73/74 owners with crappy cards (including door panels) you could be a real popular guy.

Cut the basic shape and let the user make other cuts as needed.

Is the Starboard product available with a pebbled or other texture to reduce scratching, etc.? Also, need to measure, but 1/4 might be a little thick for this application.

I would LOVE to see someone take this on.

Delancy said:
Mine is far from, so gonna line the belly pan with HDPE so I can slither on in the rough.

What would you think of matching door cards?

Unnecessary, I realize, but might look tough
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Chris -
Belly pan, just like a Ferrari (guess it is Italia day). Seeing as I just bought two new OEM cardboard/vinyl side door panels, no need on my end, but at around $100 a pop, the supplier (Fireball Ben??) might just provide the marketplace with an attractive option.
 
My original rear panels look the same as yours.
 
JTarnow said:
I'd definitely be interested. I've been wanting to do something similar for a while but I just haven't found the time.
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Thanks, @JTarnow - are yours in the same configuration?
My sense is there are a number of current and future 73/74 owners in the same boat - a need (or want) without time, tools, expertise, etc.

cruiserdan said:
My original rear panels look the same as yours.
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Thanks, Dan.
 
fireball said:
...Starboard, it is available in 1/4" thickness...
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Ben - My old panels appear to be approx 1/8" thick, with a little more (like 1/16") of thickness at the roll on the edge - call it 3/16"

JTarnow said:
Yup, same configuration.
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JT - Thanks for the confirm

ForealBoreal said:
I would love to get a set for my 77 I should compare my Dad's 73 to my 77 panels. I really want to do something like that for my back doors.
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FB - Glad to hear of the interest, thanks. Are the rear door panels the same?
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Call me crazy, but with the coming "aging in" of 1HZ powered 7X rigs available to those of us in the USA, there is going to be demand for a bunch of replacement gear. As long as we/they keep it simple, the vendor should be able to fulfill at an attractive price point. Not much to it once the templates are developed.

Per Fireball Ben, a cabinet shop sounds like a great source for the solution.
 
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