New K5 Blazer Soft Top Manufacturer - Guaging Interest.

[TankerCadaver]

I've been digging around on the 'net trying to find as much information about soft tops for our rigs as I can.

One link had me on a Toyota forum where I picked up on a discussion thread regarding some soft tops for the older FJs. A manufacturer of soft tops for these FJs was engaged in the discussion and I emailed him to see if he'd possibly be interested in manufacturing tops for the K5 Blazer crowd.

He is interested but cautioned that lead times on creating designs from scratch can take a while.

I'm going to forward a link to this thread to him so he can see the response.

Please post up here and answer the following questions:

01.) Are you interested in purchasing a new soft top for your K5?

02.) What is your time frame to purchase?

03.) Are there any specific features you'd like to see? (roll up sides, convertible closure, zip out windows, hard windows, etc.)

04.) If you have experience with other tops what are they and what features do you find the best/worst regarding your top?

.05) If you have a top, would you be willing to ship it to this manufacturer so they can pull patterns from it?

Thanks!

Tank'

 

[TankerCadaver]

Well, since I posted it up I guess I should answer my own questions

01.) Yes
02.) 1-3 months
03.) Roll up sides, zip out windows, convertible or fold down capability
04.) N/A
05.) Yes, I have a Kayline Snap Top (I think that's what it is)

Tank'

 

[rdn2blazer]

I've been digging around on the 'net trying to find as much information about soft tops for our rigs as I can.

One link had me on a Toyota forum where I picked up on a discussion thread regarding some soft tops for the older FJs. A manufacturer of soft tops for these FJs was engaged in the discussion and I emailed him to see if he'd possibly be interested in manufacturing tops for the K5 Blazer crowd.

He is interested but cautioned that lead times on creating designs from scratch can take a while.

I'm going to forward a link to this thread to him so he can see the response.

Please post up here and answer the following questions:

01.) Are you interested in purchasing a new soft top for your K5?

02.) What is your time frame to purchase?

03.) Are there any specific features you'd like to see? (roll up sides, convertible closure, zip out windows, hard windows, etc.)

04.) If you have experience with other tops what are they and what features do you find the best/worst regarding your top?

.05) If you have a top, would you be willing to ship it to this manufacturer so they can pull patterns from it?

Thanks!

Tank'

Hopefully they wont beat me to the punch. Im still working on it but its not an easy process.

 

[Big Blzn]

Well, since I posted it up I guess I should answer my own questions

01.) Yes
02.) 1-3 months
03.) Roll up sides, zip out windows, convertible or fold down capability
04.) N/A
05.) Yes, I have a Kayline Snap Top (I think that's what it is)

Tank'

rdn2 is looking at making them. Search his thread he started, it's pages and pages of good info.

 

[TankerCadaver]

Hopefully they wont beat me to the punch. Im still working on it but its not an easy process.

No, he's (the manufacturer I mentioned) not engaged in any work yet. I have seen your discussion but hadn't read through all (9) pages of it yet

I wouldn't want to take any wind away from your project... I know this guy will understand too if we all simply just said we're going to wait on your project. He's already engaged with the FJ stuff, so this is merely an opportunity for him... not like we'd be taking biz away from him.

Can you give me a summary or an update on your efforts either here or on your thread?

 

[supersize75k5]

its America, so do what you wish,

but we have a member on here, who is strongly pursuing this with our members input, interest and minds involved.. not to mention a quality reputation and his demands on a quality perspective are well known.


so you now want to steer all that away to someone completely outside the circle and then provide that person with our input, ideas and needs?

maybe it is, maybe it is not, but seems ass backwards or wrong

 

[rdn2blazer]

No, he's not engaged in any work yet. I have seen your discussion but hadn't read through all (9) pages of it yet

I wouldn't want to take any wind away from your project... I know this guy will understand too if we all simply just said we're going to wait on your project. He's already engaged with the FJ stuff, so this is merely an opportunity for him... not like we'd be taking biz away from him.

Can you give me a summary or an update on your efforts either here or on your thread?

It's not going to be something that happens overnight, I can tell you that. The mounting hardware I wanted to use is not going to work like I had hoped. Half of it will but I need to have the other half cast up. Im looking into that. Its going to take a while, not sure how long. I have a full time job and a family so it's not something I can dedicate all my time to. As things progress I will post up. A friend of mine is on board as a partner so thats a huge help.

 

[TankerCadaver]

its America, so do what you wish,

but we have a member on here, who is strongly pursuing this with our members input, interest and minds involved.. not to mention a quality reputation and his demands on a quality perspective are well known.


so you now want to steer all that away to someone completely outside the circle and then provide that person with our input, ideas and needs?

maybe it is, maybe it is not, but seems ass backwards or wrong

As an earlier post of mine indicates, I had no intention of disrupting a project going on here by a member. I have read through all 9 pages of his discussion and I'm all for keeping this an internal project.

I've emailed that manufacturer and told them that there is an effort within the club to develop our own top and we're going to stay on that course.

However, if we need any assistance, we might be able to get it from this guy. He is currently building tops in small quantities and there are probably things to learn from him and he seems willing to help.

I'm an industrial designer and might be able to lend a hand with this top project. I'm going to post on that discussion (already subscribed) and see what help I can lend.

Tank'