Calling all soft top owners...I need your help.

The summer is almost here and I need a soft top.
I am going to build one of my own but I need some help.
Will everybody who owns a soft top please send me as many pics of the thing as you can!!!

I have never seen one in person, only in pictures.
So I want a better understanding of how everything works,
so I can take things I like and think up the rest.

I already know that I want to support a roof rack and use the rear power window.
I plan on sharing every step of the process with the board.
So please send me pics of what you got, or better yet,
if you live in the dfw area(and I know someone has a soft top around here!)
let me take my own pics of your top.


I need pics that show the side of the truck, pics of how it connects to the body,
pics of how the roof rack connects, the straps that secures it when you roll it up, etc.
If you are willing to send me some pictures, please pm me for my email address.
Thanks in advance.

 

the easiest way i found was going hummer style by streching canvas from the cab opening (buttoned to an aluminum guide i made up to keep teh rain out), over the top of the roll bar and down to the tailgate. and riggin up some quick disconect attachments to teh sie so it doesnt hit on the freeway. its quick on and off, easy to do, inexpensive, and pretty useful. definetly keep us updated with whatever style you use.

 

Have you check out thewild yoats site yet? He has a write up on there that shows you how to make one from scratch.

 

I don't think you could use the rear power window with a soft top. I would be afraid the glass would break since you don't have the hard top on, which supports the glass when it's rolled up. It would be too loose and might crack from moving around.

 

I am definatly going for the most professional made top that will be secure in the parking lot and in the rain. Something that if I wanted to, I could leave it on all year round.


I have seen the wild yoats(prime inspiration).


The rear glass will need to ride in tracks the same way it does with the hard top. I have already planned on fabing that part up. The only problem I have with the glass is that it is sloped toward the front of the truck. All soft tops I have seen are straight(90 degree angle) in the back. So far, it's a work in progress.

Pics. I need pics. Or somebody local with a top!

 

Come On!

 

is this what you are looking for?


and the rear

 

try this site, www.specialtytopco.com

 

Yes YES MORE!

Can you give me close ups of where it connects to the body?
Also close ups of the rear ties.
Are the sides sewn into the top?
More pics please.

 

dude youre scaring me!


The side are sewn to the top. There is nylon rope sewn inside the top for the rear. It attaches to the frame .Thats how it is kept tight.No close ups of the rear ties or the front part of the frame. ( my camera is broken ) These are actually in another thread here on YT. It is a really simple setup. If I get a new camera soon I wil take more pics.

 

I have some info on my soft top page:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...op/index.shtml

I've looked into making a soft top to retain the rear window, but fashioning a compound curved channel for the glass to slide into is tricky. My plan now is to put the hard top back on, cutting out the sides, then putting in a frame in the opening. A pivoting, removeable Lexan window will fill the side panels. Easy to open for the trails, let lockable and secure when needed.

 

Anyone remember the 4Top soft top from like 15 years ago? I think it had a track that the rear window ran in. I may have a brochure in my files.

It would be interesting to hack a hard top and have removeable sides. A soft top would be nice, but noisy and not very secure.

 

Hmmmmm chris if this works out you might have some DFW customers!!!

 

Yea I thought of that. Man I am so pumped! I wish I had the time to just do it all right now! Gotta have some patience though.

 

i went to a upholstry shop and they made this for me for 300 bucks.

 

Pics?


I am working out how the rear will work but I need some metal to start experimenting. All the metal places are open while I am at work

 

Ok. So a little progress...

A couple of days ago my teacher was sick so I had a little time off.
I went down to Garland Steel and bought up some metal.





------------------------------*Story*---------------------------------
I knew that I wanted square metal for the supports and I was thinking that my o ˟˟˟˟˟ bars were 1.5" when in reality they are 1.25". So I'm in this warehouse with 60ft ceilings and tons of metal everywhere, my blood is pumpin, I'm looking around and the guy asks me, "What do you want." So I point to some square pipe that looks about what I need. Well, to make a long story short, I bought lots of 1.5" square tube. The guy who wrote the article on how to do it uses 3/4".




So now I have lots of big ass metal pipes, and let me tell you, this stuff doesn't bend.

Example


All it does is fold.







Soooooooooooo.
I have to cut lines into the pipe every .5" to make the bend.
Then I go through and weld up all the cuts.
Then I grind all the welds smooth.
Then I sand all the grind marks off.
Then it looks like it was milled that way.

My practice piece.


I chopped off the top to check my welds.
All in all it is pretty easy, just tedious.

I think my soft top will be the strongest one ever made.
Strong enough to get one of these.



Haven't given up on the window either.
I'll keep you posted.

 

Ok, so chris, any updates !?!?!

 

Hey, I didn't even see your reply!
I have been so straped for time with finals and everything that I haven't done anything... but never fear, I am OUT OF SCHOOL and my free time is finnaly here. Stay tuned.

 

hey im in the same boat. i want to make my own. but i need pics.

seaflea, i want to use can-back as my model. so if you could post more detailed pics of if you could email me some. my email is filter@tfb.com
that is of course if you get a new camera soon or can borrow one from a friend. im looking for some pics on how the steel frame is made and how it bolts to the truck, how the fabric is connected to the front of the truck and how it is stiched together, but mainly how the fabric i connected to the metal frame. words help but pics would be best. i really need some pics. thanks

p.s. if anyone else has a can-back please email me some pics.