Bikini Top fabrication

[DPI]

I've been wanting a bikini top since I built and installed the cage. This came to a necessity during my last club run due to my 18 month daughter needing shade. After slapping a towel across the top and bungy cording it down, I decided to fab a top.

I started with black cotton duck cloth from a local fabric shop and went from there.

I had a little extra fabric left so I re-covered my falling headliner with it. The trick to this was to wire brush off all the remnants of foam that was left of the backboard. Then just followed the instructions on the can of spray adhesive. It turned out much better than I thought it would... No wrinkles or anything...

Here's a couple extra pics of the K5 with the cage and top installed.

 

[nvrenuf]

Very nice!! How's is the front fastened? To the cage or cab?

 

[boz42]

Nice, how did you sew it? I figured your normal home sewing machine would not be strong enough to do that thick of material.

 

[sarasotausmc]

That looks nice! Nicer than the one I tried.

Boz, I used a home machine on canvas with a heavy duty needle and it handled it fine. (Broke a couple needles though.)

 

[DPI]

Very nice!! How's is the front fastened? To the cage or cab?

It's fastened to the cab. I sewed (if thats a word) a continues loop across the front and double stitched it. I then bent a piece of 1" electrical condiut and drilled 4 holes to align with the holes in the cab. I then inserted the conduit into the loop and walla, a solid attachment point...The fabric is held in place the entire length of the conduit which goes slightly past the bend down.

I then sewed the 1" webbing the entire length of both sides and tied that into the webbing across the entire length of the back. I folded the fabric a couple times around the webbing to make less stress on the stitches...

I did do this using a home sewing machine...

I have a few years of custom high-end upholstered furniture making in my background. That put me through college!

 

[RockinChevy]

Looks great on your rig, Daniel! Someday, I'll take this tip and use it after my rig gets caged up.

I also like your newer front bumper design. And I have your older one on my truck

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Looky

 

[Chrisblazzer89]

I want one

 

[DPI]

Looks great on your rig, Daniel! Someday, I'll take this tip and use it after my rig gets caged up.

I also like your newer front bumper design. And I have your older one on my truck

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Looky

I understand you took quite a flop. Everybody OK?

 

[RockinChevy]

Yup, walked away without a single scratch. Some of the AZ guys and I will cut the roof off and convert it to full top soon then cage it up when money allows.

Your bumper is what kept me driving away after the roll.

 

[DPI]

Yup, walked away without a single scratch. Some of the AZ guys and I will cut the roof off and convert it to full top soon then cage it up when money allows.

Your bumper is what kept me driving away after the roll.

I am glad no-one got hurt.

 

[vortec]

I then bent a piece of 1" electrical condiut and drilled 4 holes to align with the holes in the cab. I then inserted the conduit into the loop and walla, a solid attachment point...The fabric is held in place the entire length of the conduit which goes slightly past the bend down.

i was going to try the conduit with a canvas military tarp that i have. glad to see it will work.

that top looks really great. you might have a money-making opportunity, there, especially if you make a fully-enclosed version for a decent price.

 

[k5blazerkeith]

Just thought I'd throw this out there - I have a rear cage similar to the original poster's, and I was able to use a Jeep bikini top on mine. Well, I think it might actually be more of a full top, but it doesn't have any sides to it, I forget what the Jeepers actually name it? It fits perfectly from the back of the metal cab roof to the rear of the cage...I bolted it to the cab like he did, and used the jeep straps to fasten it to my roll cage tubing at rear and sides...so, just throwing it out there for my fellow cheap guys - even new, they are not very expensive...just a thought.

 

[jamber2541]

I did the same thing with a Jeep Bikini top, just take a good look at the Jeep mounting bracket and it is soo easy to fab one up took about 30 minutes and you use the existing cab holes to hold the bracket in place.