The Official DIY Soft Top Thread

[fireplug]

I've been talking about doing this myself for the past year or so. I've finally gotten around to working on it. Nothing innovative here, I'm simply using a (insert brand name here) which I already own, as inspiration.

I purchased a used top that had been installed slightly incorrectly. It worked, and pretty well, but there were a few glitches that I want(ed) to improve upon.

The first stage of the plan is to reconstruct the top with better and easily sourced materials. This is the point that I'm at now.

The second stage will be to have a pattern made for the fabric. And have a new one made for myself (out of fabric vs vinyl).

At this point I will make these available to those interested. I'm thinking either selling the top itself or plans including the pattern for the fabric so you can build your own.

This will be a snap top version for a half cab (76 - 91) which is without a doubt the cheapest to make and all the parts are easily accessible and can even be fudged with lower quality parts for those REALLY hard up . Later I will probably tackle a Fastrack type of system.

As an aside I'm not doing this as a money making venture. I'm doing this in order to improve the used top I purchased. Hopefully my work can benefit those that really want a soft top and either can't get one or can't afford the high cost.

So now I need your help. Before cutting and drilling and assembling, I want to confirm that I'm on the right track. As I said mine was originally assembled incorrectly and while I have instructions now, I want to see some detailed pics of your installed top.

Specifically;

the tailgate, the 'rail' along the roofline and the rails along the bedside. Preferably without the top attached. I'm interested in the hard ware not the soft ware.

also I'd like some close ups of the areas I've detailed below. Thanks in advance guys, this effort will benefit many next spring!

 

[BGKYK5]

Great idea. Sorry I don't have a soft top yet, so I am not helpful, just interested. Subscribed.

 

[Chrisblazzer89]

Subscribed.

 

[84CUCV]

Subscribed again

 

[lochenjons]

I started making my own too but havent gota round to finishing it. For fabric tho, I'd recommend cordura (I think its called). Its what they make backpacks out of, durable and waterproof

 

[K-5 Bomber]

Subscribed.

I've got a safari top on mine...nothing fancy. My wife made it out of military surplus O.D. green canvas, which was suitable for my ugly brown truck. After experimenting with snaps (that didn't work), I added grommets coinciding with the hard top bolt hole locations and bolted it in place. I added two smaller self-tappers at the corners to secure it there. Finally, I stretched it over my roll cage and anchored it with some nylon staps with plastic quick connects from the harware store. To keep it from flapping, my wife installed velcro straps to secure it to the roll cage. UV/waterproofing agent is available from Campmor advertised as a tent treating substance. I didn't use it soon enough though and my top faded to grey. Oh, well...it's time to build a new/better/cooler-looking top anyway. Still, I would be very interested in what you come up with for the cab header.

 

[stan1688]

Subscribed.

 

[txfiremank5]

I'll be doing something that's a mix between pre-made and homebrew. I have the softtop from my old 84 K5, but let the part that attaches it to the cab go with the K5 when I sold it. It was riveted on, and I didn't want to mess with filling the holes etc.

Anyway, I still have the top, and the scissor support part that holds the middle and tailgate end, and plan to just snap it to a cut down hardtop. I have the donated hardtop all cut down, I just have not messed with finishing it up. I'll probably have to trim the material on the soft top, and have my wife re-sew it with her commercial sewing machine. then I just need to get some snaps. I know it won't be perfectly water proof, but it will be good enough if I get caught in a shower with the "top off" or .. down.

I'll be interested to see how your turns out.

Here is the hardtop I got for free, and cut down & painted. I probably won't mess with it until I have the K5 built. So for now it's just sitting.

 

[mudboggink5]

Nice thats a great idea, I have the skyler soft top, I dont know if they make it anymore. Its a great half cab top, but i will have to redo the side rails with new velcro, and i am missing the tailgate peice, and middle supports. I am using a 2x4 for my middle support

 

[badmix]

I'll be doing something that's a mix between pre-made and homebrew. I have the softtop from my old 84 K5, but let the part that attaches it to the cab go with the K5 when I sold it. It was riveted on, and I didn't want to mess with filling the holes etc.

Anyway, I still have the top, and the scissor support part that holds the middle and tailgate end, and plan to just snap it to a cut down hardtop. I have the donated hardtop all cut down, I just have not messed with finishing it up. I'll probably have to trim the material on the soft top, and have my wife re-sew it with her commercial sewing machine. then I just need to get some snaps. I know it won't be perfectly water proof, but it will be good enough if I get caught in a shower with the "top off" or .. down.

I'll be interested to see how your turns out.

Here is the hardtop I got for free, and cut down & painted. I probably won't mess with it until I have the K5 built. So for now it's just sitting.

\


thats a pretty cool idea. no rivots or snaps or anything going into the body of the truck, jus mount the old Hardtop on.. pretty cool

 

[fireplug]

I'll be doing something that's a mix between pre-made and homebrew. I have the softtop from my old 84 K5, but let the part that attaches it to the cab go with the K5 when I sold it. It was riveted on, and I didn't want to mess with filling the holes etc.

Anyway, I still have the top, and the scissor support part that holds the middle and tailgate end, and plan to just snap it to a cut down hardtop. I have the donated hardtop all cut down, I just have not messed with finishing it up. I'll probably have to trim the material on the soft top, and have my wife re-sew it with her commercial sewing machine. then I just need to get some snaps. I know it won't be perfectly water proof, but it will be good enough if I get caught in a shower with the "top off" or .. down.

I'll be interested to see how your turns out.

Here is the hardtop I got for free, and cut down & painted. I probably won't mess with it until I have the K5 built. So for now it's just sitting.

That is slick. Are you going to keep the lip of the window channel on or trim it down? I like it.

 

[sarasotausmc]

I've already got a bestop, but wanted a bikini top for the nice days. Ended up using OD green canvas. I installed snaps to fit the snaps already in place for the real soft top, and sewed the rear of the top to slip over the rear support. I have to find some good nylon strap to sew on for the rear tie downs and to tie in the center support.

The hardest part was learning how to use a sewing machine.

 

[txfiremank5]

thats a pretty cool idea. no rivots or snaps or anything going into the body of the truck, jus mount the old Hardtop on.. pretty cool

Yeah, that's the plan. I just wanted to keep from adding all the snaps to the body in the event I didn't really use it much. I only used it a few times on my old K5, but plan to use it a little more on this one. I hated the snaps on my old K5 cause the were the "turn key" style and stuck out so far.

That is slick. Are you going to keep the lip of the window channel on or trim it down? I like it.

If you're talking about the hardtop I'm just going to leave it as is. It should only be visible if I have the softtop folded back and laying on the tailgate etc. Other wise I'll remove the whole top & run with nothing or just the original hardtop.

I got the softtop with my old K5 which came with a soft and hard top.. and the hardtop I cut down was free from a local guy getting rid of it.. so it's really not costing me anything other than some time and the cost of getting the snaps. So, I figure it's worth giving it a try to see how I like it. If I don't like it, then I can probably sell it off to someone else who wants it.

 

[fireplug]

Keep'em coming guys. Sarasotausmc could I bother you for a close up of the hinge where the two bows are attached? I've never seen one for the Bestop.

Txfiremank5 I think that will be a really sweet setup!

It doesn't fit into my idea as far as shipping or accessible parts but otherwise far superior I'd say.

How 'flimsy' is it at the open end without a roof section to support it? Is it still pretty rigid?

I look forward to seeing it on the truck.

 

[sarasotausmc]

I'll get some pics for you tomorrow.

 

[txfiremank5]

How 'flimsy' is it at the open end without a roof section to support it? Is it still pretty rigid?

I look forward to seeing it on the truck.

It's somewhat firm, but certainly not unbreakable or stout. I'm sure a couple of people could pick it up and go two different directions and break it.. lol. But, it's pretty sound. It should be just fine on the truck and bolted like normal. I plan to afix the scissor portion to the cut down top in some sort of permanent manner. Not 100% sure yet.. maybe just rivet or bolts.. or get my fiberglassing master of a brother in law to lend a hand. (not before I have determined where the softtop will lay, so I can place the snaps accordingly)) But the cut down porion is so light.. and so is the softtop. I'm sure that when it's all together it will be stronger with the extra support. I doubt I will have any trouble taking it off and on by myself.

it won't be one of the newer fancy style ones.. but I'm sure it will suit my needs. If I get the itch for a nicer one, I'll sell this one and get a new one. Here is a pic of the soft top. it's not a great pic, it's just laid over a pair of saw horses, but gives an idea. It's an older top, we got it with our 84 K5 when we bought it, and that was in 1990, so it's an oldie. It looks a lot better on the K5 than it does on a pair of saw horses... LOL

 

[84CUCV]

never thought of that. there is a canvas place for military trucks about a hour away from me. wonder if they could do one for me.

 

[sarasotausmc]

Bracket Pics for Bestop Tiger Top. If I figure out photoshop, I'll add meas. for you. These are all from the drivers side.

Side

Front to back

Back to front

 

[fireplug]

Thanks a lot! That's a better design than the Kayline. Similar but better execution.

 

[Chrisblazzer89]

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