Soft Top without Drilling the Tub

[Fast Eddy]

Anyone have a copy of the pics that OCD Jim had on his FB site that showed the OEM twist lock measurements?

This is two pieces of HW store aluminum bonded together with an advanced metal adhesive.






I've got some of these twist locks that will get riveted to the outside surface as soon as I find the measurements.

 

[DSRTRDR]

the newest bestop models use the existing tub holes and do not require drilling

considering the wind forces on a softtop, that aluminum glue better hold really well

 

[Fast Eddy]

considering the wind forces on a softtop, that aluminum glue better hold really well

It's JB Weld on both surfaces, which I sanded with a dremel tool. Pretty sure it will never come apart, even if you wanted it to.







I used measurements from an fj25 thread. Good enough, right?

1-1/8 from the B-pillar seam to the center of the first one, and another one every 6-5/8. 6 total. Note there are 7 on there now. I'm pretty sure it's one whole twist lock (6-5/8) too long right now. There's certainly not one right above where the strap connects to the footman loop. I'll cut it down when I get the top on it.

 

[cjgoode]

I like that idea, most of the time once I get a soft top done it will be off and kids climb over the sides on the jeep so I know they will do the same and do not want the twist locks on there when the top is off. I played with sewing the small srtong magnets into the material and was shocked at how hard it is to pull the cloth off or even slide it, but this looks like a real good solution. Keep us informed on how it works on the road.

I think the cloth will rip or these screw pull out before that bond between that full length of metal would come apart.

 

[Splangy]

the newest bestop models use the existing tub holes and do not require drilling considering the wind forces on a softtop, that aluminum glue better hold really well

X2. You may want to find a set of BestTop rails. They'll bolt right on and look good.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I played with sewing the small srtong magnets into the material and was shocked at how hard it is to pull the cloth off or even slide it.

I didn't realize you sewed them into the material. I'm going looking for a post about that.

You may want to find a set of BestTop rails. They'll bolt right on and look good.

What are you saying about how mine look?

I'll take them all apart and paint them to match when I paint the tub.

 

[myquestoyota]

I did not sew mine in, I just taped them to a strip and slid it into the top. Looks good eddy

 

[antFJ]

i like it - that should work well

 

[cjgoode]

It is Neodymium magnets Here is the thread it came up on. I got some small ones off ebay to play with. It is crazy how strong they are, I got some that are about as thick as 2 nickels and half the size of a penny. Put one on the fridge and it is very hard to get back off. I would probably do the straps on the inside like mentioned by trollhole post #9

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/585213-oem-repro-softtop-question.html