Builds Intro: Ugly Betty(so far) (4 Viewers)

[tmarx]

When I told some friends that I was planning a Rollbar/cage cum bikini top type setup I was immediatelly ragged for building an overweight scaffolding piece of junk. Well most of you have seen the result of the cage and now that I have my G-string top, those sourcrouts can just kiss my "parson's nose" sitting pretty ontop of the predicted scaffolding....

I also fitted the FM noise reducer

Almost ready ....

 

[slickrock]

More info on the bikini top~ Who made it? Deminisions? Fabric used? How is attached in the front? It looks like it is not attached to the top of the windshield.

 

[tmarx]

More info on the bikini top~ Who made it? Deminisions? Fabric used? How is attached in the front? It looks like it is not attached to the top of the windshield.

It is DR 250 ripstop canvas. It was made by a company about 5 mins from me(Canvas World) using my truck as a template and it cost me just less than $100. It is attached via a piece of aluminium "ropemould" that was bolted to the Windshield using only the existing OEM captive nuts.
I wanted the mould the "wrong way" around, in order to create tension the correct way around From there it is just the 4 strings with quick-release clips as planned for, during the cage building. These guys didn"t even see the cage etc before the time


If you need pics of that "ropemould" then just shout ...

 

[crushers]

<<shouting>>

 

[tmarx]

Wayne if you ever make that trip to ZA, in Cape Town your accomodation is sorted

Be warned though, your brain will be picked

 

[crushers]

that won't cost much, i drink about a beer a month...

i would love to make the trip someday...

that is a kickin rig buddy, just sweet!! good luck on your wheeling trip and keep the shiny side up!!

 

[jimd4x4]

That is one sweet ride love the colour.

 

[bsmith123]

top

God, almost a shame to wheel that pretty thing! (almost)
The top is great ---would you consider having some made for others for a bit over the price?

Your rig looks better than new

 

[tmarx]

Thanks guys, much appreciated !

..The top is great ---would you consider having some made for others for a bit over the price?

No need to inflate the price. The only problem would be dimensions. AFAIK there are no OEM softop bows in this country so ...

 

[Adolf]

Looks great Theo!

See you on Friday evening in Keimoes!

Make sure you drive to Keimoes on Gravel in front!

 

[tmarx]

Only the Valies are meeting in Keimoes Adolf. I will see you at Pella mission station on Saturday
Cannot wait

 

[tmarx]

Some pics(some borrowed) from our recent 40's trip to the Road To Hell and the Richterveld Transfrontier Park ...

 

[Adolf]

Very nice Theo. How was the trip??

 

[dancar]

That scenery looks fantastic.

Great looking 40's.

 

[crushers]

very nice, thanks for posting.

 

[sloanstavern]

Howdy Theo,
I followed you over here from the "what have you done this week link " WOW do you have a great looking rig. Glad to se you out and enjoying it is such beautiful country.

Seeing your transformation reminds me of the saying "making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear" I have seen evidence of that a lot on these pages. Nicely done!
Scott (sloanstavern)

 

[tmarx]

Thanks mate, much appreciated !

 

[twoturtlesracing]

This rig only continues to get better... Thank you for making such a work of art... It does my heart good!

For some reason I can't get some of the pictures to load. Is it just me/my computer?

Can't wait for more pics!

Also, how high are the mountains that you were climbing in the pictures?

 

[bursabaju]

Nice adventure

Nice adventure, hoping that can join there..
But I am in Indonesia..

Good Luck, everyone there..

 

[KY Longhunter]

I have always believed that the drive in a topless 40 is better than with a hard top on and therefore I was in no particular rush to fix my roof’s gutter. I also always thought that a 40 without a decent roll cage was a serious danger in a rollover situation. When the upcoming J4 series "Legends" trip suddenly hit me I saw it as an opportunity to "kill 2 birds with one stone" - I could get a roll cage for safety and fit a bikini top so I could still make the most of the last bit of our summer, on the looming trip .

We considered importing Metaltech cages from the US but they were just too bulky, resulting in exorbitant import costs, so I had to go custom and local. The additional problem was finding someone who actually knew what they were doing when it came to cage building. Enter Cris Ingram from R&D Off-Road. I rang him up and from the onset I could sense how keen he was to do this. He had many years of experience in building and racing Challenge type vehicles(including building cages) which was an obvious plus factor. The problem was that we had nothing to use as a template and therefore had to basically start from scratch altogether. I had a few requirements e.g. no drilling or welding to the chassis etc and I wanted it to be removable even though it must still work with the hard top back on. Armed with some “stolen pics" from Metaltech et al, we started the long process. The pics tell the story ….

I am totally stoked with the the way it turned out ! Cris and his guys really came through on this one

Theo

I cant see your rollbar pictures ??? Does the front cage go all the way to the floor or did you tie into the floor?

By the way I plan on painting mine the same Olive Grey color someday. Very nice looking 40! Love it.

Alex