catoctinoffroad
Registered Member
Can anyone tell what brand is the best soft top to replace my hardtop. I'm looking for one I can leave on year round.
CK5
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spring is almost here. whats the best top
- Thread starter catoctinoffroad
- Start date
79bonanza
1/2 ton status
Idk what the weathers like where your from but I have a soft topper soft top and in the winter it gets pretty chilly inside.
I'm pretty sure it voids the warranty on the top if you try to roll the top when it's under 40 degrees or so outside.
You also might have an issue with snow build up on it in the winter. I had about 6" of really wet snow on mine and it was rough, I really wouldn't want that much weight sitting on top of it a lot
I'm pretty sure it voids the warranty on the top if you try to roll the top when it's under 40 degrees or so outside.
You also might have an issue with snow build up on it in the winter. I had about 6" of really wet snow on mine and it was rough, I really wouldn't want that much weight sitting on top of it a lot
xenomarine
1/2 ton status
Not sure if you get much snow where you are but my softopper is awesome. It held a foot of wet, rained on snow without collapsing. It was sagging like a mother but she held, no leaks or tears. There must have been a couple hundred pounds on it. I would recommend it to anyone. All I've done since I put it on is rolled up the sides, rear passengers seem to enjoy the shade but still gives plenty of breeze like having the top down
catoctinoffroad
Registered Member
What brand tops do you both have. I remember reading up on one last year that was rated for winter weather.
Softopper is the brand
catoctinoffroad
Registered Member
Thank you sorry long day at work and now it's on to the shop for a few more hours.
Iirc, Softtopper is the only company currently making K5 soft tops.
x 2... only one out now iirc.. it's not like there's a 1/2 dozen manny's of them.. my fastrak is long out of biz..
try buying one.. consensus around here a few yr's ago was that softtopper was the only one in production.. but I didn't pay much attention cuz I have one already..
pretty sure they are no longer around... was a pretty nice looking one too unfortunately...
that always seems to be the case, someone comes out with a decent one, the markets not there, and they're gone/bought out/sent to the Gulag, etc in relatively short order..
that always seems to be the case, someone comes out with a decent one, the markets not there, and they're gone/bought out/sent to the Gulag, etc in relatively short order..
Lucky for me, my father in law owns his own custom upholstery shop and I get to design my own and have it custom made for not much over the cost of materials. The down side is trying to not ask for too much.
At this point I'm leaning toward just a making rails with snaps that will bolt in place of the hard top, for a simple quick rain proofer that slopes from the top of the cab to the tailgate, and seals (snaps) around the edges.
It would be nice to see a few pics of others custom soft tops.
At this point I'm leaning toward just a making rails with snaps that will bolt in place of the hard top, for a simple quick rain proofer that slopes from the top of the cab to the tailgate, and seals (snaps) around the edges.
It would be nice to see a few pics of others custom soft tops.
yeah, there was exactly what your talking about out professionally a while back... actually my local friend, Wraenking in here, has one on his K5..
on a separate note, I should post that rig for sale in here, he called me about that a couple months ago...
anyway, yeah, black vinyl that slops kinda to the tailgate.. it has a little isenglass style window up near the back.. it doesn't actually straight slop from the roof, but kinda goes down, than back..
to be honest, I thought it was pretty butt-ugly.. but obviously it's effective for what it's intended for.. I've seen a couple turn up in here over the yr's, but not many..
we also had a guy a few yr's ago that did exactly what your talking about.. don't remember who, maybe if he's still around he'll chime in.. his was a lot more "flat" from the roof to the back.. I kinda liked it better than that pro one Tom has...
usually dealing with, making up, the "bows" for the softtops is the most difficult thing for people to come up with (tho it sounds like your design wouldn't run any...) and should be pretty simple for him to make up.. some snaps, couple rails, yada...
I have the ultimate "in" if I ever wanted to make one being a marine guy with a bunch of canvas guys at my disposal.. the bimini top bows on boats are ideal materials/construction for a softtop...
but I jumped on the fastrack when it came up... it was dirt cheap from a good mod here on the forum.. $250 and it was pretty perfect.. other than a few factory issues I need to work out with my canvas guys when I get the rig running...
on a separate note, I should post that rig for sale in here, he called me about that a couple months ago...
anyway, yeah, black vinyl that slops kinda to the tailgate.. it has a little isenglass style window up near the back.. it doesn't actually straight slop from the roof, but kinda goes down, than back..
to be honest, I thought it was pretty butt-ugly.. but obviously it's effective for what it's intended for.. I've seen a couple turn up in here over the yr's, but not many..
we also had a guy a few yr's ago that did exactly what your talking about.. don't remember who, maybe if he's still around he'll chime in.. his was a lot more "flat" from the roof to the back.. I kinda liked it better than that pro one Tom has...
usually dealing with, making up, the "bows" for the softtops is the most difficult thing for people to come up with (tho it sounds like your design wouldn't run any...) and should be pretty simple for him to make up.. some snaps, couple rails, yada...
I have the ultimate "in" if I ever wanted to make one being a marine guy with a bunch of canvas guys at my disposal.. the bimini top bows on boats are ideal materials/construction for a softtop...
but I jumped on the fastrack when it came up... it was dirt cheap from a good mod here on the forum.. $250 and it was pretty perfect.. other than a few factory issues I need to work out with my canvas guys when I get the rig running...
I'm trying to find pics of Tom's right now for ya...
huh.. it looks way more vertical backwall-ish, flat tonneau cover-ish than I remembered in this pic...
can't seem to find a sideshot tho...
can't seem to find a sideshot tho...
Ya he lives in Mountain Home, AR (the trout fishing capital of America) and makes a lot of heavy duty custom boat covers.
Here I just whipped this up on my phone real quick. The pic was right after I bought it, before the rebuild began. I'll either follow the contour of the roll bars to reduce flopping, and have a short flat spot, or do like the pic shows.
Here I just whipped this up on my phone real quick. The pic was right after I bought it, before the rebuild began. I'll either follow the contour of the roll bars to reduce flopping, and have a short flat spot, or do like the pic shows.
for a full vert, why couldn't you make the "snap bar" that normally screws to the windshield frame be bolted into the existing holes for the fiberglass top?
man, there has got to be a way to make a bolt-into-existing-holes frame for the top....
I know it could be done...I guess there isn't enough interest to put the effort into it
Maybe you could hide that snap bar in the valley where the fiberglass top weatherstrip seal fits...
man, there has got to be a way to make a bolt-into-existing-holes frame for the top....
I know it could be done...I guess there isn't enough interest to put the effort into it
Maybe you could hide that snap bar in the valley where the fiberglass top weatherstrip seal fits...
did you read thru that thread I sent you?
they have been made.. a couple guys in here did similar with the front.....
they have been made.. a couple guys in here did similar with the front.....
Yeah somebody answered but couldn't remember what the deal was...wish I had access to somebody who works with the same kind of stuff...I'd have a go at designing my own
Who would be most likely? a convertible top restorer or an upholsterer?
