Frankenstein: FWC or Flippac plus ’95 Bronco?

[kjp1969]

So will someone please talk me out of this idea: Grafting the top of a Flippac or 4WC to the half-roof of my '95 Bronco, and build out the cargo area into a mini-camper, a la baby Earthroamer.

The FWC Falcon’s 5' “box” would just about fit the general footprint of the Bronco’s fiberglass removable top, and the bed area would extend over the cab. A roof rack would still work as well as it would on a regular FWC.

The Flippac would be rotated 180 degrees, mounted in the reverse of the normal configuration, so that it opened up over the rear tailgate (baby ER again). A skirt would turn the rear of the Bronco into an additional room. There would be a bit of fiberglass work necessary to fill part of the "hole" that would otherwise be over the pickup bed.

Either way, I would probably build out a space-efficient sideways sofa that would make into a kid-sized bed, across from a counter top/storage cabinet that would also serve as a foul weather kitchen.

In both cases, it could be seriously ugly, but I can’t seem to think of a good reason not to consider it.

Please criticize this idea so that I can go back to work.

[RocKrawler]

do it

[xcmountain80]

Certainly do it. As I read the post I envisioned what a cool *** not to mention functional vehicle that would make.

Aaron

[Northern Explorer]

How do you plan on supporting the bed section of the flip pack when it is in the open position? On a regular flip pack the bed area is held up with support struts extending down to the top of the hood/fender area, and on the Earthroamer the loftop is held up with a cantilever mechanism.

[kjp1969]

I think the Flippac is self supporting, and the struts that go down to the fenders are for lateral support. Either way, I would probably fab up some brackets on the bumper or base of the fiberglass half-top, and run longer struts down on the diagonal. I'd obviously talk to the Flippac people first and confirm that that would do the job.

[motomech]

Ive always wanted to do this with my suburban.Although I'm really scared about cutting a big hole in the roof lol.Never thought of the flippac idea, i was thinking more like a pop up....but i like your idea better.
Having it flip open towards the back and hanging a curtain on it....Way cool!

[RocKrawler]

Ive always wanted to do this with my suburban.Although I'm really scared about cutting a big hole in the roof lol.Never thought of the flippac idea, i was thinking more like a pop up....but i like your idea better.
Having it flip open towards the back and hanging a curtain on it....Way cool!

Yours would be way easy... cut the back & splice on a Blazer section, normal height when you're daily driving with a stock Blazer hardtop (or go cool & put on a softtop) and when the trip comes around slide a Chalet rear shell on - instant poptop when needed! I was looking at doing the same thing with a centurion (Ford version of a Burban, most with 1Ton running gear), and already had the Bronco removable rear roof shell stock, then slide in the FWC setup pictured above originally meant for the Bronco

[motomech]

A suburban with a chalet on the back would look cool.I've seen pictures of suburbans with the blazer tops grafted on, but i really don't want to loose my barn doors.A flippac would be the way to go for me since they fold up so small
And they are not as heavy as a chalet,and more aerodynamic.

[kjp1969]

One of the import model Flippac is likely narrower and would fit better on my top where it tapers in. I've never liked the boxy look of the actual shell, but canibalizing one for the flippy part would be a-okay.

And if I totally screw up my fiberglass half-top, another is just a few hundred bucks. Maybe I buy one in advance and work on it in the garage while the other is covering up the truck. Oh, there goes my free time. . .

[RocKrawler]

One of the import model Flippac is likely narrower and would fit better on my top where it tapers in. I've never liked the boxy look of the actual shell, but canibalizing one for the flippy part would be a-okay.

And if I totally screw up my fiberglass half-top, another is just a few hundred bucks. Maybe I buy one in advance and work on it in the garage while the other is covering up the truck. Oh, there goes my free time. . .

I saw a guy in Fountain Valley graft a small wildernest pop up into a 1st gen 4runner fiberglass top, almost bought it but it needed a lot of finishing I wasnt willing to do at the time.