OEM soft top option opinions (1 Viewer)

[curtislow]

Looking for some input from people who have bought a trollhole soft top recently.I'm in the process of ordering and am torn between spending the crazier money for the higher end material opposed to the crazy money for the pvc one.
Anyone's opinion is appreciated,I'm sure the higher end one is somewhat nicer but is it worth the upgrade and cost. ( it's quite substantial )I'ts tough making these decision having never seen either in person and the first one I'll see will be mine.
My truck is pretty decent ,but no icon.By the time I'm done putting together this top and frame I will have more into this top than what I paid for My 73 fj40 back in the day. Thanks. Truck should be worth about a third of what I'll have into it, so that's always a comforting thought, but hey it is a landcruiser.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Doesn't Bestop make a soft top for the FJ40 any more?

 

[curtislow]

They do,and I have one that I'll be selling in alittle bit.It makes your 40 look like a cj7. Good price though and it seemed to be well made.

 

[jvincig01]

I have an original OCD canvas top and it's tight as a drum. It really is a perfect fit and incredibly well made. I have treated the top with a UV protectant to slow the fading down. However, OCD tops are a thing of the past and I believe Trollhole purchased the pattern from OCD. So, with that said, you will no doubt get a great top from Trollhole.

Regarding your question, I believe its personal preference. I personally like the canvas look on my 67 which is mostly stock. The PVC is sweet as well but I don't believe it forms to the factory bows as well as canvas. With that said, canvas tightens up like a snare drum while PVC does not. This means there could be some light sagging with PVC. Of course, I could be wrong and I am sure people will let me know if I am.

 

[curtislow]

Thanks for your reply, I'll bet that that canvas does a good job tightening on the bows and frame. And I'm sure that I'd probably be satisfied with canvas, but when options are thrown out there it gets too confusing.
One of the problems I've found rebuilding a vehicle I fell in love with as a young man is that when I bought my first 1976 fj 40 brand new I had one option offered ,rear heater.
Now I have so many options it's dizzying.Thats probably a good thing but when you purchase everything sight unseen it gets scarey with the big purchases. I've made some good purchases and some poor choices and I'm very confident in my choice of the vendor I'm buying from having bought a couple of items in the past.
With that said, I'd still love to hear from someone to talk me into spending the additional money for the one with the superior material.

 

[thecrazygreek]

I purchased a pvc top from trollhole and I currently have a n OCD canvas top on my 73. If I had to choose between the two I would take the PVC all day. The ocd canvas is great, but the PVC low maintenance wins the race for me. And the pvc really does look like canvas from 5 ft. I don't know about the fancy fancy one, but if you can afford it, I would bee inclined to go for the best...

 

[jvincig01]

I purchased a pvc top from trollhole and I currently have a n OCD canvas top on my 73. If I had to choose between the two I would take the PVC all day. The ocd canvas is great, but the PVC low maintenance wins the race for me. And the pvc really does look like canvas from 5 ft. I don't know about the fancy fancy one, but if you can afford it, I would bee inclined to go for the best...

Good info. I should have mentioned that I will prob go with PVC next time. But that will be in a few years.

 

[knightowl]

I have an original OCD canvas top and it's tight as a drum. It really is a perfect fit and incredibly well made. I have treated the top with a UV protectant to slow the fading down. However, OCD tops are a thing of the past and I believe Trollhole purchased the pattern from OCD. So, with that said, you will no doubt get a great top from Trollhole.

Regarding your question, I believe its personal preference. I personally like the canvas look on my 67 which is mostly stock. The PVC is sweet as well but I don't believe it forms to the factory bows as well as canvas. With that said, canvas tightens up like a snare drum while PVC does not. This means there could be some light sagging with PVC. Of course, I could be wrong and I am sure people will let me know if I am.

View attachment 1643739

Nice 40 man, I’m converting my 40 to a soft top as well and was wondering how many twist fasteners does the factory soft top require on each side? I have seen some pic with only 4, and the person I bought my bows from had 7 on each side which one is correct. I hope you can help me thanks

 

[69LC]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb question (after a few beers and an alternator swap), but what is a PVC top?

I am working to resurrect my 40 and the Kayline/STC top I bought back in the mid 2000s was never great.

I’d like the option to switch between a nice working soft top for warm months and a solid hard top for the winter.

I have a family cage Luke Porter built for one of his 40s and gave to me. Will the OEM style soft tops work with a custom cage?

 

[jvincig01]

Nice 40 man, I’m converting my 40 to a soft top as well and was wondering how many twist fasteners does the factory soft top require on each side? I have seen some pic with only 4, and the person I bought my bows from had 7 on each side which one is correct. I hope you can help me thanks

I have 6 on each side. I just used the factory drilled holes that were already there. I also went with OEM twist fasters.

 

[oregon fj]

My ‘64 FST has 6 factory holes per side for twist locks as well. Plenty of other holes drilled by the drill-happy original owner as well, but that’s another story.

 

[knightowl]

I have 6 on each side. I just used the factory drilled holes that were already there. I also went with OEM twist fasters.

This is the tub that I bought the bows from, what bran soft top is the pvc?

 

[thecrazygreek]

@Trollhole has the pvc. Pvc is what its made out of. Like plastic.... but not plastic. . Lol... its the way to go...

 

[thecrazygreek]

I think you can get a sample off the pvc material sent to you too look at.

 

[stock]

I have a family cage Luke Porter built for one of his 40s and gave to me. Will the OEM style soft tops work with a custom cage?

I plan on making a full roll cage and using the cage as my bows for the factory soft top. I'm sure someone has done it, but I've not seen it.

 

[jim land]

I plan on making a full roll cage and using the cage as my bows for the factory soft top. I'm sure someone has done it, but I've not seen it.

Good idea , but the bends on the cage have bigger radius than a fst bow,
You can weld a smaller tube with a tight bend , over the main cage

 

[curtislow]

Good info here, but I was hoping someone was familiar with the 3ply more expensive tops and their likes or dislikes. I'm sure both are very good.

 

[FixedIt]

@curtislow , I actually first bought Trollhole's PVC top in black, and regretted my decision on the color. I never mounted it on my OEM bows but the material was terrific quality. All the corners were well supported and it felt like it would last forever. Sold it pretty quick.

I then bought his canvas top (in tan this time) and love it. Construction seems very good. I think it looks a bit more retro (the black one had his larger windows) and fits very well. Good luck!!!

 

[curtislow]

@curtislow , I actually first bought Trollhole's PVC top in black, and regretted my decision on the color. I never mounted it on my OEM bows but the material was terrific quality. All the corners were well supported and it felt like it would last forever. Sold it pretty quick.

I then bought his canvas top (in tan this time) and love it. Construction seems very good. I think it looks a bit more retro (the black one had his larger windows) and fits very well. Good luck!!!

Thanks for your reply. I know the feeling I reallly love the tan color on a red 40. I don't know what color your truck is but that's an awesome color top.
The main reason I'm goin with the black is I hope to use my best top doors that are black. I'm glad to hear you thought the black pvc was of good quality and I really have no doubt it is,I was just trying to get some feedback on the two choices available now ( pvc and 3 ply material )
I kinda hate when too many choices are out there because I'm a horrible choice maker.

 

[FixedIt]

Right on man! I think the high end one (with magnets) was just coming out at my time. My main point is you can't go wrong with either of @Trollhole 's products. An amazing attention to detail and a great dude all around.

My 1970 FST was originally Capri Blue so we stripped off quite a few coats of paint and primed it and sprayed it with an industrial urethane enamel, close to Capri but with a little more white to it.

Either way, great luck with your 40!