FEELER: M416 Soft Top

[Living in the Past]

Any news on this project? I have an BT3C project on hold waiting for a soft top solution of some kind.

Thanks.
Dan

Having a few FJ40 soft tops I followed the OCD drama. Unless I'm mistaken OCD has sold his equipment and no longer making anything. He was banded from this site a long time ago. A few members on mud, Mark being one of them tried hard to help OCD make a go of it and he let them down. To bad because when he did make a project quality was never a problem.

Earlier this year Adventure Tool Company was looking at making these. Good people with a great set of products. See post #114.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/adventure-tool-company-tool-gear-bags.781230/page-6#post-9326344

Not sure what is pictured is just a cover is he thinking of making a top with bows and top?

I do see a possible problem with bow design Mark had. The military M101s and M105s have a very stout bow the was added to stake sides. The height of the bow is pretty short. The front canvas is supported by the stake side across the front. While I think that bow design would be fine off road but driving down the highway don't think it would hold up. Soft top vehicles have windshield and covers like this on pickups have the cab to deflect air at high speeds. The old military vehicles were limited to 55MPH as I remember. I tow my M416 at 75MPH. Would think some sort of solid plate in the front with angle bracing for the bows at the very least. Stake sides and shorter bows would probably be better.

 

[woytovich]

You are right, this was to be a topper like the Can-Backs, not a flat cover.... I agree that the bows would need some significant help to withstand towing at speed. My design never got that far.

 

[the gimpey one]

Harass trollhole. His seamstress could make them in her/his sleep.