91SCK5
1/2 ton status
Hey everyone. I used to own a 99 Z71 and after graduating college I bought my dream car, a 2002 Camaro SS vert Sunset Orange Metallic. I love the car, got a great deal (only had 9k miles), but I missed my chevy bad. I ended up buying a couple K5s and have finally found one I'm sticking with. Its a 91 and its in great shape. I started to mod it right away, and decided I would love to have a soft top for the rear and remove that heavy fiberglass top. Well, it seems every company that made soft tops for them ( Kayline, STC, Skyler, etc.) went out of business. I know Bestop is making tops still, but they are not really visually appealing and I am told they are halting production on first gen K5s.
Well, I did some research and came upon Can-Back soft tops. They are very well built and look great. They come with many options including light bars, racks for basket racks, etc. They were producing them for a few years with sunbrella fabric, which is used in high end marine applications like bimini tops, etc. Well, as it is in this specific business, it became hard to keep producing with the demand so low, and so they switched to a little cheaper fabric. Then a large fire broke out and detroyed the factory just a short time later. The users on the internet, including some on ck5.com have said that the can-back tops were of such high quality and looked great on their rigs, that even though they were a little pricey, they were worth the investment.
Well, the good news is that as of mid-2007, Can-Back was re-opened under new owner-ship and began production again. They have gone back to the high quality sunbrella fabric, and are working hard to furthur improve the earlier great Can-back design. The frame will be stainless steel, possibly powdercoated. The frame set up will no longer require the 4 holes drilled on the outside of the tailgate, but will substitute a mounting bar on the inside of the tailgate. The stitching has been upgraded to a new polymer with teflon to last decades. Can-backs goal is to make a top that will last 10-20 years, not just 3-5 years. I have been personally in contact with Can-Back as I am interested in their product for my 91 K5. You can visit their website at www.can-back.com to look at pictures, etc. I am arranging on doing some group purchases if the administrators allow it once production has begun. I have also posted this on fullsizechevy.com .
The K5 tops should be done with R&D and ready for production in two months. It will then be about 3-4 weeks of production before the first batch is ready for shipping. Many model truck tops are already out and available. I am really trying to drum up some interest in these so that another great soft top company does not go out of business. Thanks, Ryan B.
p.s. here is a pic from ck5.com of an earlier can-back installed on a k5 with a yakima load warrior rack, courtesy of steve I believe
.
http://www.coloradok5.com/reviewpics/canbackinstalled2.jpg
Well, I did some research and came upon Can-Back soft tops. They are very well built and look great. They come with many options including light bars, racks for basket racks, etc. They were producing them for a few years with sunbrella fabric, which is used in high end marine applications like bimini tops, etc. Well, as it is in this specific business, it became hard to keep producing with the demand so low, and so they switched to a little cheaper fabric. Then a large fire broke out and detroyed the factory just a short time later. The users on the internet, including some on ck5.com have said that the can-back tops were of such high quality and looked great on their rigs, that even though they were a little pricey, they were worth the investment.
Well, the good news is that as of mid-2007, Can-Back was re-opened under new owner-ship and began production again. They have gone back to the high quality sunbrella fabric, and are working hard to furthur improve the earlier great Can-back design. The frame will be stainless steel, possibly powdercoated. The frame set up will no longer require the 4 holes drilled on the outside of the tailgate, but will substitute a mounting bar on the inside of the tailgate. The stitching has been upgraded to a new polymer with teflon to last decades. Can-backs goal is to make a top that will last 10-20 years, not just 3-5 years. I have been personally in contact with Can-Back as I am interested in their product for my 91 K5. You can visit their website at www.can-back.com to look at pictures, etc. I am arranging on doing some group purchases if the administrators allow it once production has begun. I have also posted this on fullsizechevy.com .
The K5 tops should be done with R&D and ready for production in two months. It will then be about 3-4 weeks of production before the first batch is ready for shipping. Many model truck tops are already out and available. I am really trying to drum up some interest in these so that another great soft top company does not go out of business. Thanks, Ryan B.
p.s. here is a pic from ck5.com of an earlier can-back installed on a k5 with a yakima load warrior rack, courtesy of steve I believe
.http://www.coloradok5.com/reviewpics/canbackinstalled2.jpg
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