Funny meeting you here...again.
Hey JS!
Well....I think you need to provide more info for the masses in order for us to offer a more direct line of opinions. Mainly, what are the intended uses of this as a Expo...US/Mexico/Canada regions of mostly road/fire road/light trails? Or something a bit more, say, Camel Trophy-ish?
Is this for your personal use as an Expo rig or is the wife (HI! waving to her as she sits on the porch in the picture...heehee) and maybe others coming along for the adventure? I'd offer that at your height that sleeping in the LJ is not an option....let alone trying for two adults! On the roof is, really, a next best option. If your worried about sway, windy or stormy conditions...well, some leveling jacks can cure much of that. But that at least keeps it all inclusive. The only other real options are...2?
-Toss a tent in the back and set it up/take it down each time or
-Build a drag-a-long, tent carrying trailer.
There is a 3rd psuedo option that I don't see much on but has some warrant depending on season/weather. Buy a tent cot. I have one and it serves me well for shorter, weekend treks to the woods. Sets up fast and is pretty nice to sleep in. Just not much in the way of extras.
But while running the risk of having my Jeep membership revoked and stones of various sizes and shapes hurled at my noggin'...I like the idea offered of incorperating the LR Defender ideas...Well, most of them. In my defence I offer that LR started life by using a jeep as their beginings...ahem.
But these are well, WELL documented and extremely traveled rigs. They have seen (and usually concoured) almost every surface on the planet. So taking some cues from them is hardly a bad idea.
One thing you may be forced into is that which I know you really don't want to do. An external roll cage. Room inside our Jeeps is already at a premium. And after so much love, sewat, and fiberglass shard derrived tears poured into your beautiful top...I'd hate to see it mashed against a rock! And the Exocage can serve to solve several important duties.
Saftey first and foremost. One never knows when a roll will happen. And should it in an unprepared rig..well, that can quickly turn a little bodywork and bruised ego accident into an emergency situation...
It also offers you a pletheora of places to add...well, lotsa stuff! From additional lights (360 degrees of lighting is nice!) to secure (remember the saftey note!?!) attachments for stuff like recovery jacks, sand ladders, extra fuel, spare parts...you know. All the stuff you really may or may not need but is a darn good idea to have when exploring. That frees up the secure, inside space for commonly used or valuable items that need to be kept from the elements or are needed regularly. Stuff like a fridge/freezer...extra clothes, commonly used camp items..etc...
Ok, enough rambling on my part...I'm going back to bench building my own Expo-8 Scrambler...until I get home and the real build starts!
Cheers!