JKSM Offroad set out to create a flagship product purpose-built for Australian Jeep Wrangler JL owners. Their goal was to solve one of the Jeep Wrangler JL’s most persistent limitations: usable storage during off-road travel.
The Jeep Wrangler JL is a highly capable off-road vehicle, but its limited internal storage becomes a real problem on longer or remote trips.
JKSM Offroad identified the opportunity to deliver a locally designed solution that matched international quality while improving availability and support.
Through their Apex service stream, CodeFish were engaged to research and develop an appropriate hardware product to launch JKSM Offroad’s brand. Additional manufacturing and packaging support was also provided to speed up the product’s journey to market.
CodeFish no longer offers industrial design, 3D scanning or 3D modelling. This project remains here as an example of past work.
Off-road campers here rely on USA products - expensive to import and often made in China. There was a clear need for an Australian option.
As JKSM Offroad’s first release, the resulting product needed to establish immediate credibility - mechanically, visually, and functionally.
Through CodeFish’s discovery phase, user research confirmed that Wrangler owners prioritised maximising usable space around the vehicle. This insight led to a window-mounted configuration as a suitable solution, that was both functionally practical and visually distinctive.
Key product considerations were identified throughout the discovery and feasibility study process with the following features used to determine product design and success:
Vehicle specific
The design had to suit the Jeep JL Wrangler two-door and four-door variant, attaching to the side of the vehicle without modification.
Shock mounted
Suitable to resist the vibrations and hard bumps experienced on an off-road adventure in the outback, protecting the vehicle and reducing noise.
Accessory supportive
Modular architecture supportive of key accessories brands in the off-road space, such as MAXTRAX and RotopaX.
Lightweight and durable
Capable of supporting 20kg of cargo without adding too much weight to the vehicle.
JKSM Offroad’s Window Side Mount was developed entirely in-house. From initial research and concept exploration through to manufacturing support and market launch.
Product development, prototyping and manufacturing were achieved as part of CodeFish’s Apex service stream framework. Maintaining end-to-end ownership of the project allowed for rapid iteration and laid the groundwork for a reusable mounting system.
User research defined the opportunity and informed the mounting strategy. Early concepts were validated through rapid physical prototypes before progressing into detailed CAD development.
CodeFish led material selection and prototyping, with a strong focus on stainless steel sheet metal construction and custom injection-moulded TPV pads to provide compression and shock isolation at critical contact points.
Manufacturing was considered throughout product development. With CodeFish supporting the initial production run, developing installation documentation and packaging, and ensuring product consistency from prototype to customer delivery.
Consumer research and workshopping
Understanding who JKSM Offroad's target market was helped shape the direction moving forward.
Rapid prototyping and iterative refinement
Quickly validating features, functionality and material selection.
Custom component development
From sheet metal components to in-house low volume injection moulded components.
Manufacturing and launch support
Liaison and handover with manufacturers to ensure a correct first production run.
CodeFish understood the brief. We weren't there to impose our style — we learned the brand and the philosophy behind it before getting stuck into design.
We also led the marketing research, to make sure the product was designed for the end customer.
The Window Side Mount: JKSM Offroad’s answer for Jeep Wrangler storage in the Australian market
April 2023 saw the birth of JKSM Offroad’s Window Side Mount. Providing the Australian market with a storage solution that didn’t damage their vehicle and instead enhanced their offroad experiences.
Key design features of the Window Side Mount that met international standards and improved functionality include:
- The clamp fastens beneath the roof and onto the rain gutters using custom shock-absorbing pads to manage vibration and protect the vehicle structure.
- Clamping was improved upon compared to international competitors, allowing consumers to easily tighten the system from the top instead of needing physical force to clamp it from below.
- The stainless steel mounting plate supports recovery tracks and fuel or water containers from major accessory brands including MAXTRAX, X-BULL, and RotopaX.
- The modular core mounting plate enables multiple accessory configurations and later adaptation to additional vehicle variants.
- Single-person installation was achieved with straightforward instructions for both two-door and four-door JL models.
The JKSM Offroad brand and product launch: built on technical credibility and a foundation for a scalable product range.
As the brand’s first product, the Window Side Mount established expectations for durability, integration, and engineering integrity. Since then, it’s continued performance across years of off-road use validated the design approach and reinforced customer confidence.
The modular mounting architecture became a repeatable platform, accelerating development of subsequent vehicle variants and future accessories. Beyond its functional role, the mount became a recognisable visual identifier, anchoring the brand’s presence in the market.
What began as a solution to a storage constraint evolved into the technical and commercial foundation of the JKSM Offroad product range, spawning future products and further collaboration with the brand.
We co-hosted an event where a group of JEEP owners came to view the product under development, together with other products part of the same catalogue, and provided their feedback. It was great seeing the interest in what we were doing.
