Enclosure between sail panels to open bed - thouhgt

[theavalanchedude]

This is an awesome sight.

I wouldered if anyone has had this thought and done any research on it.

If you take out the back window and take off the strorage covers, could you develop an enclosure that would; fit snugly around the inside contour of the aft (45 degree slope) part of left and right sail panels and roof panel, latch where the aft of the #1 cover anchors, provide a seal for the front of the #2 cover, anchor to special sail panel window inserts and provide a rear window. You must envision something like a large plexiglass window insert that lays at a 45 degree angle to eliminate the rear window and cover panel #1. It should be air tight and require sail panel window enclosure.

With this set up, you could lay down the midgate and use the bed when you camp (or park). With the midgate and back seat up (may need a latching mod), you could have rear passengers and access to things in the bed (like pets) from the inside.

Any research done on this that anyone knows of? It may take some tooling and trials. But, it could be a less expensive way to add use of you bed.

Love my avy,

theavalanchedude

 

[Hound]

Hey Dude, what are those rims? 20's? What make/model?

 

[theavalanchedude]

They are 17x8.5 inch MB Motoring wheels (MB Precise (199) 6-139.7HC10MM) sold by Discount Tires for $135 ea. Original tires on the Z package fit. I'm too cheap to invest in new tires for larger expensive wheels.

 

[StrobinAvalanche]

It's been done already.

Pretty Cool.

Notice The 45 degree angle oh the enclosure.

I also like the amps in the storage bins and how they come up.

 

[BlazerPride]

Hey, dude, I like this idea. It would negate the need to remove the midgate, for access. This has been discussed before.

But, your idea sounds pretty good.

If memory serves (ya right), doesn't someone make a bed cap for the AV? If so, cutting a section out of the middle of this cap, and moving the back section forward, might accomplish your goal.

Just some thoughts. IMHO

 

[jimmyk]

This may interest you, it's called the SnugTop XUV:

http://www.snugtop.com/p_xuv.htm

 

[theavalanchedude]

Wow! That set up on the MobileDydnamics Escalade looks sharp. I wouldn't care to give up the room for the speaks myself. However, it looks like some tooling was done to create the external panel for the enclosure. It is hard to see the fit from the external photo. Any better photos? If the tooling is durable, I bet there would be a good market for the basic enclosure.

The SnugTop XUV is expensive and disables the saddle bag storage.

Great info and interesting options here.

 

[skerly]

Here's a link to how MobileDynamics build that box between the sailpanels on the Escalade. Pretty sweet but I don't know if I'd give up my rear visibility.

http://www.mobiledynamics.com/escalade.html

Link to the motorized Amp rack install in the side storage compartments.

http://www.pasmag.com/gear/techtalk.asp?section=audio&ID=11

 

[theavalanchedude]

Thanks for the links.
I see that the back visibility is gone and the access I mentioned is not accomplished with the Escalade design. It does bring up the matter of stiffness that would be needed if my idea was just a flat (or slightly contoured panel that was mostly clear plexiglass) panel. It would probably need to have at least a stiffener in the middle. I'll attach a rough scetch of what I envision. The side view is rough, but indicates some anchoring to the sail panel window. There would probablyu need to be a couple of point created as "jams" around the contour also. I suppose a fiberglass frame around the window areas would be a hot ticket. A mold for this would be some key tooling.