Cheromanche question

[Eagle]

I have a couple of old XJs cluttering up the yard. They'll probably be sold for scrap, but before they go I'm toying with the notion of cutting the rear windows and back part of the roof off to make a short Cheromanche. Not the type that mounts a Comanche bed behind a Cherokee cabin -- I'm considering the type that just opens up the cargo area of a Cherokee.

 

Has anybody done this, or seen one? If so -- what's the best way to close off the back of the cabin? Is there a way to graft in a Cherokee lift gate to make a rear wall for the cabin?

[Muncher]

I've seen it before on xjs and wjs actually. You just have to make sure to stiffen up that body.

[howeitsdone]

Lots of them out there. Some good, most are cobbled together. I suppose you've got quite a few options for the rear cabin. Modified hatch, MJ rear window, open with soft top, etc... Generally see them with the MJ tailgate though. There was a thread on Cherokee Forum where lots of people posted theirs. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/how-chop-back-your-xj-2365/

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Eagle]

Mine are all 4-doors, so the white one in the second photo is what I'm after. Leaving it open to weather isn't an option where I am.

 

[howeitsdone]

I do like the chopped hatch feature 

[DirtyComanche]

Getting a 97+ lift gate, which is steel, and then welding it in place is probably the better option.

 

Lots of haaaaaaaaack ones out there with the fiberglass lift gate just glued or screwed on.

 

It's one of those projects that's kinda neat, but not neat enough for me to want to do.

[Pete M]

I would totally do it to a jeep I was otherwise going to scrap.  sounds like a fun project.  

[Jesse J]

definitely! that was my original plan before I bought my mj

[75sv1]

I'd like a bed and passenger compartment like a Chevy Avalanche. Probably a ton of work. But that is what the MJ is for.

[Limeyjeeper]

There is an outfit called RSD Fabrication based in South Carolina who builds a lot of crewmanches as he calls them. They are on Instagram #rsd_fabrication. Not sure if he has done a conversion like you are looking for.