Possible new source for OEM soft top bows (1 Viewer)

[G-Cat]

I thought I'd start this here though I realize it will be moved to chat.

I was looking around on Real Steel Cruiser Parts website at:

Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 FJ45 Steel Body Parts

I went ahead and clicked on the "contact us" link and let them know that, if they ever decided to produce OEM soft top bows, the line would likely form to the right.

The reply I received was:

We should have them ready in about 4 weeks.

 

[alkarich]

Any idea of price?

 

[slvrbck]

oooohhhh, oooooohhhh, I want some!

 

[John Smith]

I thought I'd start this here though I realize it will be moved to chat.

I was looking around on Real Steel Cruiser Parts website at:

Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 FJ45 Steel Body Parts

I went ahead and clicked on the "contact us" link and let them know that, if they ever decided to produce OEM soft top bows, the line would likely form to the right.

The reply I received was:

We should have them ready in about 4 weeks.

I wish them the best of luck, but I will believe it when I see it. Over the years a lot of people have talked about mass producing them but Ehsan is the only one who has delivered anything.

 

[JohnnyC]

interesting

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

I wish them the best of luck, but I will believe it when I see it. Over the years a lot of people have talked about mass producing them but Ehsan is the only one who has delivered anything.

I agree.

interesting

Yes, very interesting. I'd like to see what their pricing will be.
They charge $425 for a dropdown tailgate on eBay.


On a related note, would anyone be interested in a make your own bow kit from Ehsan? He would provide the difficult door parts and you'd need to bend and weld the round tubes. Pricing would be somewhere around $350, but shipping would be less than a full set.

 

[G-Cat]

Any idea of price?

I asked about pricing in my follow-up...waiting for reply.

 

[G-Cat]

I wish them the best of luck, but I will believe it when I see it. Over the years a lot of people have talked about mass producing them but Ehsan is the only one who has delivered anything.

I agree, however, if they are really only 4-weeks-out form completion, I would have to think that the process for producing them has been long-since finished.

Their other parts are reasonably priced, but I've heard mixed reviews on the quality of their parts.

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

I asked about pricing in my follow-up...waiting for reply.

I just spent 52 minutes on the phone with Tony. Looks like he is for real and he is making the dies for the bows as we speak.

Preliminary pricing is below $500. But that could easily change.

Fascinating story to how he got started...an old Vietnamese guy made all the dies for CCOT. After CCOT contracted him, they tried to make him sign a non-compete letter saying that he would not make the dies for anyone else. He refused, and CCOT fired him. Later, he perfected his dies and hooked up with Tony who in turn bought the dies and went into business.

 

[Weedhopper]

Smart guy. Hope it works.

 

[65swb45]

On a related note, would anyone be interested in a make your own bow kit from Ehsan? He would provide the difficult door parts and you'd need to bend and weld the round tubes. Pricing would be somewhere around $350, but shipping would be less than a full set. [/SIZE]

That would leave only 4 pieces for Eshan: the ones that go around the front doors themselves. THese happen to be remarkably similar to the pieces found on hardtop 40s, with the addition of channels for the canvas welts.

There is a write up online somewheres on converting the hardtop pieces over. I thought it was Charlie [pinhead] that did it, but Charlie said it was Jeff Zepp [rzeppa]. Certainly could be done for less than $350.

I set aside a dozen sets of this stuff years ago in case someone not me] wanted to take on a short production run of converting these hardtop subsections over. One set of pillar posts has been in the fs section for a while now.

Best

Mark A.

 

[Coolerman]

"There is a write up online somewheres on converting the hardtop pieces over. I thought it was Charlie [pinhead] that did it, but Charlie said it was Jeff Zepp [rzeppa]. Certainly could be done for less than $350."



FrontBow is the link to this....

 

[Pin_Head]

It was I that made soft top bows from hard tops, but it was Jeff that mentioned the remarkable similarity of the soft top bows to the hard top pieces that put the idea in my head. I made 4 sets of bows and sold them. I got the time down to 4-5 hours for the front bow set, not counting the paint and finish work, but still is isn't enough to make money on compared to my day job. $500 for a good reproduction set is a good deal.

 

[Fast Eddy]

$500 for a good reproduction set is a good deal.

I agree.

I thought 1/2 doors were expensive until I helped Otterav make a set for my rig. We've got 30+ hours into them. One still needs latches and the door panel and they both need paint.

 

[Roberto]

There is an article about real steel cruiser parts service and parts quality, take it with grain of salt. I still have a bent up shady piece of work of a tailgate I bought new from them in which was damaged in transit in which Tony/ Real Steel would not do anything for me!!! search and read up prior to? I may be posting my late model FJ40 brand new Eshan softtop bows shortly since I sold the sofftop already, still wrapped in twine never installed!

R

 

[natvet]

Any word on production/price...??????

 

[grant5127]

Last week Tony called Me in need of a windshield top retainer and canvas for a pattern ,I sent him mine so he should be closer to getting things together soon.......

 

[nuclearlemon]

does he have the actual door pieces done? if that's done, than it will most likely happen, but i loaned mine out to stc when they wanted to see about reproducing the bows and they found there's no way they could do it cost effectively.

 

[fj40_73]

Why do the photos of all their products look like crap?

They always have, and I have never understood why.

 

[natvet]

Any word on this???? Not looking good but I still have hope.