Would You Buy a Flat Aluminum Dash For a Jeep TJ?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Would You Buy a Flat Aluminum Dash For a Jeep TJ?

Posted: 1/26/2011 7:32:45 PM EDT

I've been thinking about producing one.

It would come with a simplified wiring harness.

You'd lose heat and A/C. Defrosters could be made to work. Overall you would lose about 300 pounds and pick up a few inches of space.

Any thoughts?

Posted: 1/26/2011 7:56:39 PM EDT

[#1]

Can't say if I'd buy one but I do find the concept intriguing.

Mine doesnt have A/C anyway. Having defrost and heat would be essential (Michigan)
Losing three hundred pounds of vehicle weight would be substantial.
Any gain in interior space is definately a plus.

I'd love to see what the finished product looks like.

Posted: 1/26/2011 7:57:37 PM EDT

[#2]

Most would not and most states defrost would have to work by law technically . I say most wouldnt because most TJs are built into fat over weight pigs with bolt on crap then theres the 350 lbs (as gd would say) "tier 1" driver and most are not worried about shaving weight .

On my CJ Im tring my best to keep her under the 2700 pound mark .

Posted: 1/26/2011 8:03:11 PM EDT

[#3]

Not particularly worried about the legality of it.

I think I may have spent too much time on Pirate...

That said, it wouldn't take more than a few hundred to make a profit.

My next Jeep will sit on 37s and be lighter than stock.

It will be difficult.

But worth it.

Posted: 1/26/2011 8:04:32 PM EDT

[#4]

I love the TJ but would never lose the AC and heat.

I am sure there is a market, just not a big one.

Posted: 1/26/2011 8:06:10 PM EDT

[#5]

That's the kind of input I need.

Thanks.

Posted: 1/26/2011 8:18:41 PM EDT

[#6]

I posted it one my jeep club's site , Ill let you know the results .

Posted: 1/27/2011 5:01:08 AM EDT

[#7]

Powercoat it. I don't like the look of a bare aluminum dash but thats just me.

Posted: 1/27/2011 5:07:17 AM EDT

[#8]

Honestly I think leaving it bare would be pretty popular.

The way I see it you can add a number of things to make a Jeep sit lower and be lighter, especially towards the upper end.

If you can take 500 pounds off the top and add only 200 to the bottom, you will come out as stable as a factory rig, but on 35s...

Assuming you don't use a lift.

Posted: 1/27/2011 5:11:41 AM EDT

[#9]

NO for 2 reasons

1) I cannot have shiny things reflecting sunlight at me––medical condition––so a shiny dash is out.

2) I don't own a Jeep because they are too small for my needs.

Posted: 1/27/2011 6:09:10 AM EDT

[#10]

I personally wouldn't buy it, not my thing. That being said, make one anyway and find a guinea pig to install it on. I am sure there are some that would buy it. Just look at all the shiny armor and bling bling that some peeps put on their jeeps. That being said, I know I would want to keep my heat. The AC is over rated. A lot of people simply convert the ac for on board air. I miss the hell out of my Jeep. Good luck on your project sir.

Posted: 1/27/2011 6:12:56 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

The AC is over rated.

Come down here in August

Posted: 1/27/2011 6:35:49 AM EDT

[#12]

You mean a flat dash, like in a CJ? The bare aluminum would be a no-go for me. I had a large aluminum gauge bezel on one of my CJs and that thing would constantly blind me when out driving without the top. It ended up in the trash. Also, how do you figure 300 pounds in weight savings?

Posted: 1/27/2011 7:34:44 AM EDT

[#13]

PIRATE has that effect on people, its an addiction just like AR15.com AS far as glare from a metal dash panel, just scuff the metal with a wire brush on the end of a drill, or just paint it match the jeep.

Posted: 1/27/2011 7:44:02 AM EDT

[#14]

I havent done one for a TJ but made one for my CJ and YJ mainly so I could put my Autometer gauges where I wanted them. Neither have tops, so there was no need for the Heat/AC anyway, they are not my main transportation but I have driven them all year around. I left them bare aluminum and just went over it with a wire brush on the end of a drill to give it a brushed look. I have no need for shiny. YMMV.

Posted: 1/27/2011 9:13:33 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
The AC is over rated.

Come down here in August

+1

Posted: 1/27/2011 10:16:38 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
You mean a flat dash, like in a CJ? The bare aluminum would be a no-go for me. I had a large aluminum gauge bezel on one of my CJs and that thing would constantly blind me when out driving without the top. It ended up in the trash. Also, how do you figure 300 pounds in weight savings?

Dash, airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing, A/C, etc.

Posted: 1/27/2011 12:09:20 PM EDT

[#17]

i could see there being a market for dedicated trail rigs, not necessarily for daily driven grocery hogs...just my .02 though

Posted: 1/29/2011 3:40:19 AM EDT

[#18]

not planning on buying a TJ. nothing against them, just not in the market for another vehicle.

wouldn't want to give up airbags, heat and AC in a daily driver, probably not the radio either.

for a trail rig? no problem. but i'd probably buy a Pinzgauer before a Jeep.

don't like shiny stuff, especially where it could glare at me while driving, but they make black wrinkle paint for a reason.

Posted: 1/29/2011 6:56:30 AM EDT

[#19]

Sounds neat as a way to reduce sprung weight and keep as low a center of gravity as possible as well as offering retro/minimalist styling appeal.

But being this is the SF, from a survival/preparedness perspective I don't quite understand the wisdon or benefits of giving up a primary source of heat, safety restraints, a mode of communication, and to a lesser extent AC.

Posted: 1/29/2011 8:13:04 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
You mean a flat dash, like in a CJ? The bare aluminum would be a no-go for me. I had a large aluminum gauge bezel on one of my CJs and that thing would constantly blind me when out driving without the top. It ended up in the trash. Also, how do you figure 300 pounds in weight savings?

Dash, airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing, A/C, etc.

So why not just yank the airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing and A/C out of your existing dash?

Posted: 1/29/2011 8:15:49 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
You mean a flat dash, like in a CJ? The bare aluminum would be a no-go for me. I had a large aluminum gauge bezel on one of my CJs and that thing would constantly blind me when out driving without the top. It ended up in the trash. Also, how do you figure 300 pounds in weight savings?

Dash, airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing, A/C, etc.

So why not just yank the airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing and A/C out of your existing dash?

What would be the point in that?

I can sell the whole thing on Ebay and make back some money.

Posted: 1/30/2011 9:13:49 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:
You mean a flat dash, like in a CJ? The bare aluminum would be a no-go for me. I had a large aluminum gauge bezel on one of my CJs and that thing would constantly blind me when out driving without the top. It ended up in the trash. Also, how do you figure 300 pounds in weight savings?

Dash, airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing, A/C, etc.

So why not just yank the airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing and A/C out of your existing dash?

What would be the point in that?

The point would be that you'd save the same 300 pounds in weight, without having to buy a new aluminum dash.

Posted: 1/30/2011 9:24:08 AM EDT

[#23]

They make them for zuks

http://www.petroworks.com/Products.php?Action=ViewProduct&ProductID=206

Edit I don't have ac in my rig and just take off the top and doors to stay cool.

Posted: 1/30/2011 9:38:45 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
The point would be that you'd save the same 300 pounds in weight, without having to buy a new aluminum dash.

Except it would look like shit.

Posted: 1/30/2011 9:43:23 AM EDT

[#25]

i've got a JK on 35's and kind of like all of the *nice* things it has, heat, air, radio, etc.. not sure I would try to take any of that out. I wouldn't have done it to my TJ rubicon either (sold it either way). that kind of stuff makes a newer jeep a great DD, a trail rig sucks in traffic... since cops frown when I drive MY way

my CJ on the other hand... well, it's not going to need *nice* things. with the 304 and 35's who needs a radio?

Posted: 1/30/2011 10:03:06 AM EDT

[#26]

The oldest TJs are now 15 years old. They are now a much better deal than, say, a YJ or CJ because they have better aftermarket support and come with things like EFI and stronger parts in general.

JKs are far too new for this kind of thing.

Posted: 1/30/2011 10:36:04 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
Not particularly worried about the legality of it.

You're likely going to have to hire a law firm to draft the required disclaimer that customers will sign before you are able to sell your product. First accident in one where someone hits the dash and you're life's earnings are at risk. This specific posting would be a potential jury killer ... think about it. Crack your own head open and you're fine ... crack someone else's kid's and you've lost your house, savings, and future earnings.

I've come up with serveral ideas but would never market them because I don't want to deal with the lawyers who want their cut one way or the other.

Dash, airbags, radio, heater core, plumbing, A/C, etc

You removed the airbags?

What did your insurance company say about that?

Posted: 1/30/2011 10:47:22 AM EDT

[#28]

It's not much different than anything else people install, whether that be a DPF delete kit or a roll cage.

I've never removed air bags. But I would on my next rig, because they can kill you if you activate them at the wrong time.

Posted: 1/30/2011 2:33:35 PM EDT

[#29]

How many people have been killed by air bags activating at the wrong time? Vs. how many have been saved by air bags activating at the right time?

I can understand removing the airbags from dedicated extreme trail rig that will never see the street. But then such a vehicle would be a very poor choice of BOV, too.

Posted: 1/30/2011 2:35:34 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
How many people have been killed by air bags activating at the wrong time? Vs. how many have been saved by air bags activating at the right time?

I can understand removing the airbags from dedicated extreme trail rig that will never see the street. But then such a vehicle would be a very poor choice of BOV, too.

I disagree, but that is my opinion.

I did once talk to a fabricator who had a customer hit his head on the cage. Left him a vegetable. So these things are valid concerns.

As for how many people are killed by airbags. Well, usually they are children. But I don't know how many.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Would You Buy a Flat Aluminum Dash For a Jeep TJ?

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