through it in the garbage
get a soft top
get a soft top
top or no top, that is the question
- Thread starter AZ '83 fj-40
- Start date
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I have run the truck with a bikini top in AZ instead of the full soft-top
I wouldn't go without a top in the summer - you absolutely need a top to shield yourself from the sun
and does it get uncomfortably hot? sure it does
I actually vote for the complete opposite: leave the hardtop on in the summer and use the A/C, take it off in the fall and run a bikini (except for a few colder days in January it is fine, although it can get chilly at higher speeds, then use the heater) and then put the hard top on again for the next summer
I wouldn't go without a top in the summer - you absolutely need a top to shield yourself from the sun
and does it get uncomfortably hot? sure it does
I actually vote for the complete opposite: leave the hardtop on in the summer and use the A/C, take it off in the fall and run a bikini (except for a few colder days in January it is fine, although it can get chilly at higher speeds, then use the heater) and then put the hard top on again for the next summer
- Thread starter
- #23
Where did you guys store your hard tops and doors after you took them off. I am kind of hesitant to leave it out side for the summer, because I live in the desert and its a perfect place for poisionous animals. If you guys have pics that would be great.
Take it off!! If it rain put-on a rain coat!!
with no A/C the summer is hell with my hard top on. I took my hard top off and took it apart for storage. Half the bolts were rusted and broke when I took em apart. *sigh* I'm just going run with the bikini now and get a soft top later. It's just too much of a pain to keep putting that hard top back on and finding a place to store it. I don't want to eat up all my garage space with it. Even standing up it's still a monster.
The Landcruiser hardtop fits back on with no problems - IIRC there is a rubber gasket that fits on the top of the tub, don't lose it but if you don't have one don't worry about it. There is another one on top of the windshield frame, don't lose it. Otherwise, just drop the top on the tub and bolt everything up, it will fit just as well as new - There are a bolts and brackets and screws and nuts where the top joins the windshield frame, and bolts into the front of the windshield frame, a couple of posts that fit down inside the rear post of the front door openings, and a row of bolts holding the top to the tub. Just remember where everything goes and there is no problem. When I was younger I used to remove the top all by myself and reinstall it, it probably isn't smart to try it and I doubt if I could do it now.
I think that folks that say you'll have problems getting it back on right might be talking about if you take the top right apart, fibreglass/sides seperate from each other, I guess that might be a bit more of a problem to get back together and aligned properly, (but probably still no big deal for anyone with a bit of time and patience)
If you want a hard top drive an 80! 
That is Steve's sweet open top red cruiser in the snow... Poser to the newbies.
It is easy enough to take off and off, maybe a few hours for the first time or so.
Go for it. You will start to stretch the time out until you need to put it back on. First snow over 3" is when it goes back on. Once I get 3 days at 75 degrees or better it comes off.
Have fun!
Drew
That is Steve's sweet open top red cruiser in the snow... Poser to the newbies.
It is easy enough to take off and off, maybe a few hours for the first time or so.
Go for it. You will start to stretch the time out until you need to put it back on. First snow over 3" is when it goes back on. Once I get 3 days at 75 degrees or better it comes off.
Have fun!
Drew
KY854RUN
SILVER Star
Hi Brendan,
Most of the replies are from those that have not lived in AZ and don't have A/C in their trucks. I lived in Phoenix for 35 years. My daily driver, a 72 Corolla, had the A/C go out and I drove it that way for several year. It wasn't bad because I worked second shift and drove home at midnight. But, when they moved me to day shift, I got the A/C fixed because it was like driving a blast furnace.
Even in Moab, during CM, when the weather is usually very nice, the "Topless 40" guys were envious of the fact that my 4Runner has A/C.
So I agree with DSRTRDR, in southern AZ it is best to do it backwards if you have A/C. Run with the hard top and the A/C going in the summer. Then come late September or mid October, switch to a bikini top or, even better, one of Ehsan's soft tops. Then when it gets close to those triple digit temps, go back to the hard top.
As far as storing it, you might look into a U-Store-It type of rental business for your solution.
Kevin
Most of the replies are from those that have not lived in AZ and don't have A/C in their trucks. I lived in Phoenix for 35 years. My daily driver, a 72 Corolla, had the A/C go out and I drove it that way for several year. It wasn't bad because I worked second shift and drove home at midnight. But, when they moved me to day shift, I got the A/C fixed because it was like driving a blast furnace.
Even in Moab, during CM, when the weather is usually very nice, the "Topless 40" guys were envious of the fact that my 4Runner has A/C.
So I agree with DSRTRDR, in southern AZ it is best to do it backwards if you have A/C. Run with the hard top and the A/C going in the summer. Then come late September or mid October, switch to a bikini top or, even better, one of Ehsan's soft tops. Then when it gets close to those triple digit temps, go back to the hard top.
As far as storing it, you might look into a U-Store-It type of rental business for your solution.
Kevin
Poison is stuff you eat, there aren't too many 'poisonous' animals in AZ, but we do have a lot of 'venomous' critters.
I store my hardtop outside on a couple of sawhorses. Probably a bunch of scorpions and black-widows in there, but I've never actually had the top on my truck. It's not my DD, but sees a lot of general use. Use a hat and plenty of sun screen and you're good to go. Gotta be careful with timing during monsoon season, and throw on a sweater in the winter, but topless is the only way to go.
if hes worried about it not being the same he probably shoudnt let his son drive it
Meh. Now your just talking out of your ass.
- Thread starter
- #33
I think that I will do the reverse idea, it seems like it will work the best. because it seems like a waste to not use the a/c when its 110 and use it when its 75. I posted on the eshan thread about the group order. Hopefully I will be able to do it.
do you wheel much down there? i hate wheelin with the top on, but i understand if you got ac might as well use
- Thread starter
- #35
I go about two or three times a month. The hard top doesn't bother me that much, although the vision is some what limited. I was also wondering if I was to buy one of Ehsan's tops how much more work is it to switch between the hard and soft top, as compared to the other bikini or soft tops?
if you want to run a bikini and a soft top probably sticking with bestop is the best idea, uses the same channel, one or two bolts for the frame, and it's on (at least with my old snap-top, newer models may be more complicated)
got my hardtop off today, took three hours and needed to screw together a dozen or so 2x4x10's I had around, but I did it solo
got the bikini on, the full softtop is at an upholstery shop getting a couple of new zippers, couple of windows and a whole lot of restitching done.
got my hardtop off today, took three hours and needed to screw together a dozen or so 2x4x10's I had around, but I did it solo
got the bikini on, the full softtop is at an upholstery shop getting a couple of new zippers, couple of windows and a whole lot of restitching done.
matt.mcinnes
2F-ETI
All depends on what you want
I had a top that was custom made, and is all these things in one
1 full roof nice and toast in winter cool with Air con in summer
2 Bikini Top
3 Wind Jammer
Sorry No pic but my roof is in two parts So you can have a full top, or bikini top or wind Jammer
Across the top between the 2 parts is a full length Velcro strip.
It takes no time at all to take the roof off, the wind Jammer a little longer, If you wanted to have a full roof that covers the rear too that no problem either you just have to think about what you want from it.
I have to say out of all the soft tops I have seen Possum Hunter (Paul) makes the best you can buy. Hard tops are just un needed weight that increse your fuel consumption
I had a top that was custom made, and is all these things in one
1 full roof nice and toast in winter cool with Air con in summer
2 Bikini Top
3 Wind Jammer
Sorry No pic but my roof is in two parts So you can have a full top, or bikini top or wind Jammer
Across the top between the 2 parts is a full length Velcro strip.
It takes no time at all to take the roof off, the wind Jammer a little longer, If you wanted to have a full roof that covers the rear too that no problem either you just have to think about what you want from it.
I have to say out of all the soft tops I have seen Possum Hunter (Paul) makes the best you can buy. Hard tops are just un needed weight that increse your fuel consumption
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live in pa and have been taking the tops off for 36 years finally bought 2 69s and leave the tops off 1for me and 1 for wife. drive a 70 in the winter nothing like some snow wheeling with no tops just wear a snow mobile suit and have some fun good luck
In the garage
Saftey Chains
Take the top off... there are bunch of ways to enjoy your rig. Without the top is just another way.
Enjoy and good luck
Scott
You gotta take it off!!!!! the difference to driving these things, with the top off is night and day......it really is a completley different vehicle without the top!!!!! try a bikini top to keep the rain off of your head....and on cooler days try some half doors by AQUA-LU...they are the cats ass. Security will be an issue so keep the valubles OUT of it!!!!!! there is nothing like rippin around in a cruiser with the top off.......nothing!!!!!
Rusty
Rusty
