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Soft top idea....

PhoenixZorn

PhoenixZorn

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Has anyone ever considered finding a halfway decent hard top, and cutting 95% of it out?? By leaving the bottom rails (to connect to the tub) a section about 2" wide in the center, and the rear window rail and front cab rail, you'd have a bolt on hard top that can support a canvas tarp, a real window in the rear, and all the stability of having the full top if you brace it with some tube in the middle... I think I'll go this route when I start my conversion...
 
That's exactly what i was thinking, i'll be doing that in the next few weeks...
 
its been done, I think I have seen pics here before, either in posts or photo gallery.
 
I think this has been done. I know for sure we have discussed it here before. Here are some things to consider:

Pros:
-You can open the sides and/or top for open air wheeling/riding
-Way cheaper than a Can-Back
-With proper tube bracing *maybe* it could hold a luggage rack.
-Glass rear window won't scratch as quickly as vinyl?

Cons:
-You can't remove it and stow it in the truck for full-topless action (just like a hardtop).
-You still need a place to store it when it's off, (just like a hardtop).
-you now have 2 hardtops to store.
 
Yeah, there are quite a few people who have done it over the years, doubt the pictures will show up anymore since the forum change though.
Take the windows out, cut the top out like a big ass sunroof and there ya go.
I'm sure there are a few members still around who have pics or have done it, just cant remember there usernames right now. :crazy:
 
Forgot to mention the whole canvas top would be snap on, so when removed, it would just be a bar in the middle and a bar in the back, hopefully both with tube support, so it would be full top off action... roll the back window down and you are good to go with a "natural" roll cage if the tube is braced properly...

Side windows are overrated... but they'd be cheap...

On the other hand... a fast track wouldn't be too hard to fabricate...
 
When I get to that stage, I'm just gonna build a frame out of small tube and take it to a marine canvas place. There are a few places around here that custom make heavy duty canvas covers for boats for relatively cheap. (hey, anything's cheap compared to $1200) and have them do the material work to my specs.
 
i've brought it up a couple times in recent months.. i have a spare top to do it on, just no spare time... ;)
 
i've had the urge to do that, but i can't seem to make myself cut up the one that's on there, since it is in very good shape, structurally, and i don't like the idea of buying one and chopping it all up. yeah, i'm pretty cheap right now. all the guys on the forum that are giving them away free are like 1500 miles from me, so that's no good.
 
Very nice work, what'd you all use for cutting tools? Looks very cleanly done.
 
Nicely done... what's exactly what I was planning... how does it hold up to wind shear wih all that fiberglass cut out of it? I noticed you didn't brace it with anything, so what sort of strength does it have? I don't think I'd want to roll over on that without tube under it.
 
Thats sorta what I had with mine b4 I went with the hybrid.
I took a hardtop and cut straight up and over the top at the front edge of the side windows (with the glass out) then cut the back straight back from the bottom of the side window edges back to the rear. This left me with a front frame and two side rails that I could bolt on in place of my regular hardtop. (this was an 85, so had the cab roof left). I drilled and installed the snaps in the fiberglass frame, built a roll bar over the rear seat for the kids and had a boat shop make a snap on top to fit it. My back window could roll up and clip, or the sides could roll up leaving a sorta bikini top, or it could be removed completely.
I dunno if this is what you are looking for, but I can dig out some pics if you like.
mike
 
85mudblazin is the only one I remember like that. I looked before I did mine, but I did mine different. I cut everything off except the thin piece (bikini top) and the part that bolts to the cab. I wanted the top to be on all the time and not have to worry about trees etc ripping it. I haven't gotten around to doing the soft sides and back yet. I wanted to enclose it during rain (yeah we get it sometimes), and the highway drives when it's cold. Now it wheels like the top is off. I had to make a piece to hold the back up.
http://community.webshots.com/album/166226543OZiLbs
 
Post pics.... Post Pics!!!!


We like pictures, yes we do... We like pictures, how 'bout you?
We like pictures, yes we do... We like pictures, how 'bout you?
We like pictures, yes we do... We like pictures, how 'bout you?
We like pictures, yes we do... We like pictures, how 'bout you?
We like pictures, yes we do... We like pictures, how 'bout you?
YaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAYYYYYY
PICTURES!!!!
 
When you all get this built please post some photos. Sounds like a great Idea. I need to see some photos so I get a clearer one in my head. Thanx
 
I was a little leary of doing it but yours came out very clean looking. What did you use to cut it? Sawzall with wood blades? Now to find a spare hard top. :thinking: :hack: :thumb:
 
MUDBLAZIN, What material was used for that top? I am not sure if it was your or if it was one you found. Any further info would be great I like the idea of windows on the sides.
 
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