I agree with Cruiser_Nerd. If you can make it happen for 1k or less I'm on it.
U.S soft top possibility version 2 east coast
- Thread starter highlandcruzer
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The bows will cost you another $1K. So you'd spend $2K for a US made top? That's crazy. Not to mention that with one man working in his shop making tops, the delivery times would start to climb as demand increases.
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- Thread starter
- #23
How much is not waiting a year worth?
Having a supplier that can stand by his product , and repair if needed? IN AMERICA.
How about custom options i.e color , tinted windows , material types, window configurations ?
Again he doesn't need this to pay for his equipment/shop ,which is state of the art I might add...as well as ready access to commercial wholesale material's.
It may not be as inexpensive ..... especially at first [ are we restoring Landcruisers or trying to get an old rusty chevy to pass inspection?
]
Most of us bought Landcruisers because we appreciate quality.
Step up! Let's give this a shot.
I think you'll be impressed with what he can produce , and at what cost....[ I don't think he expects to make his millions off of these things
].....hey I'm not rich either!!
Did I mention not waiting a year?
Having a supplier that can stand by his product , and repair if needed? IN AMERICA.
How about custom options i.e color , tinted windows , material types, window configurations ?
Again he doesn't need this to pay for his equipment/shop ,which is state of the art I might add...as well as ready access to commercial wholesale material's.
It may not be as inexpensive ..... especially at first [ are we restoring Landcruisers or trying to get an old rusty chevy to pass inspection?
] Most of us bought Landcruisers because we appreciate quality.
Step up! Let's give this a shot.
I think you'll be impressed with what he can produce , and at what cost....[ I don't think he expects to make his millions off of these things
].....hey I'm not rich either!! Did I mention not waiting a year?
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- Thread starter
- #24
We don't expect that this will pull the rug out from under Ehsan.
But it may be competitive.
And give our community some real options!
I know I would like some , and I don't think I am alone.
But it may be competitive.
And give our community some real options!
I know I would like some , and I don't think I am alone.
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
need pics? 
- Thread starter
- #26
need pics?
Sure!
Might be a nice starting point , before he gets one in his hands.
He's just started browsing previous threads tonight.
- Thread starter
- #27
" Not to mention that with one man working in his shop making tops, the delivery times would start to climb as demand increases.[/quote]"
This 'aint a one man show......It's a well established buiseness..
I've worked with him on many occasions...one of these tops would'nt take very long to produce , once the prototype is produced...He's very well equipped....and not in a 3rd world country.
This 'aint a one man show......It's a well established buiseness..
I've worked with him on many occasions...one of these tops would'nt take very long to produce , once the prototype is produced...He's very well equipped....and not in a 3rd world country.
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It is a free market society. You may not be able to match the price, but you might be able to beat the delivery. For speed, people will pay a premium (Bro-in-law). People willing to wait will look for the best price (Eshan). I say give it a go.
Just thought I would chip in my .02 cents, competion is a good thing for everyone.
Ehsan's delivery times will start to be a minor issue shortly as I will be stocking his tops in BC, Canada. just thougth I would mention this....
Good luck though.
Cheers
Graham
Ehsan's delivery times will start to be a minor issue shortly as I will be stocking his tops in BC, Canada. just thougth I would mention this....
Good luck though.
Cheers
Graham
- Thread starter
- #30
I have a partial OEM bow set - and the doors (not that it matters). I'd love to ship it up and get consideration for a free top, or would be interested in buying one made of high grade materials.
What I have: Front and rear bows and the frames that go over the door. What I don't have: front channel, spreader bars and mid hood that attaches to those - both of which are easily made, and then the hard part - the rear frame assembly that technically creates the rear upper door frame or as with most cases, the roll up portion.
Either way I'd be interested - but if you've made jeep top before, you know the size, thus material usage - what was the cost - considering I really like an original khaki canvas look.
I've owned two of Ehsan's soft tops - one on MDH33's 40 (nice), and then a Khaki canvas sold to my good friend Brother Bullfrog - who just happens to have it and the bow set in NC - very close to you - could might work a deal yet
What I have: Front and rear bows and the frames that go over the door. What I don't have: front channel, spreader bars and mid hood that attaches to those - both of which are easily made, and then the hard part - the rear frame assembly that technically creates the rear upper door frame or as with most cases, the roll up portion.
Either way I'd be interested - but if you've made jeep top before, you know the size, thus material usage - what was the cost - considering I really like an original khaki canvas look.
I've owned two of Ehsan's soft tops - one on MDH33's 40 (nice), and then a Khaki canvas sold to my good friend Brother Bullfrog - who just happens to have it and the bow set in NC - very close to you - could might work a deal yet
I have a Paki top and I can't find any quality in it!.... the window material, zippers, stitching and the hardware all suck...
... the bows and frame work I am OK with, they did a good job there....
I'd be willing to pay around 800$ for a good canvas cover with tinted windows........
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
the manufacturer of my top charged me $750.00 (canvas alone) the buisness was sold to another canvas shop ...far from me...so i never was able to get more made...but...the current owners are interested in making tops...but they need an example rig to make more tops...for fitment issues and repossitioning some things that are different from an oem top...and that was 'shipped' for $750.00 and if they make some that will be about the price.
they have been dragging because they are swamped with m-37's and mutts right now its been over 3 years since i've tried to have them make more...sooo...it may never materialize....there has been many people contact me about my top ....in the hope to make tops for sale....10 different people over the past 3 years...so far no tops being manufatured here in the usa
mine is a thick military canvas 22oz and coated...double walled over all bows...weather flaps over the zippers...heavy duty large zippers ( not like the kayline/bestop garbage) and uses cotton webbing and heavy steel buckles and turnlocks...they even made the bow over the top of the door accept a bar to slide in to hold it like a kayline oem replacement top....so much easyer to remove that way.
here are a lot of pics:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/159334-****canvas-maintenance-****-oem-soft-tops.html
i do have many more and also...i can take any pics of my current top that you may need.
they have been dragging because they are swamped with m-37's and mutts right now
its been over 3 years since i've tried to have them make more...sooo...it may never materialize....there has been many people contact me about my top ....in the hope to make tops for sale....10 different people over the past 3 years...so far no tops being manufatured here in the usa mine is a thick military canvas 22oz and coated...double walled over all bows...weather flaps over the zippers...heavy duty large zippers ( not like the kayline/bestop garbage) and uses cotton webbing and heavy steel buckles and turnlocks...they even made the bow over the top of the door accept a bar to slide in to hold it like a kayline oem replacement top....so much easyer to remove that way.
here are a lot of pics:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/159334-****canvas-maintenance-****-oem-soft-tops.html
i do have many more and also...i can take any pics of my current top that you may need.
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
this is an old email from 5 years ago...from the canvas manufatuer that made my top:
>>>>>>>>>>Thanks, John, for your email on the Toyota Landcruiser tops. It looks like a neat top. It reminds me of the military jeeps tops. We could do it in canvas. Do you have any photos of original ones that came with the vehicles - or do you think the Pakistani top is a pretty close copy of what Toyota made originally? We like to get as close as possible to the original when making a new pattern. Most collectors and users want something close to the original, so if that's what we aim for, we have the largest market.
I don't understand why there are so many tie down straps in the back. I know that Landcruisers are similar in size to the later CJ's, so 8 straps
across the back seems like a lot (jeep uses 6). I guess the windows are plastic? not plexy? Are the doors canvas too, or metal? I see that your Landcruiser already has doors.
We currently have olive drab and 383 green canvas of the military type. 383 green is the modern US military green, sometimes called NATO green. I also have a tan canvas in the same weight as the military canvas (22 oz/square yard) with a suitable finish for tops. It's more of a gold-tan than a khaki-tan. I'm hoping to get gray canvas in one weight lighter (14 oz/square yard) to use on the early CJ's. They used a slightly lighter weight canvas than the military jeeps. You might think that is a bad thing, but it makes the top easier to handle and quicker to dry. I think it's more appropriate for the small vehicles that have a lot of corners, zippers, fasteners, etc. as compared to 2-1/2 ton truck cargo covers which are 14 foot square tarps with a few buckles and ropes. Finally, we also have synthetic boat top canvas that is available in a lot more colors.
I think the price to make something like the Pakistani canvas for the Landcruiser would be about $700-750 including shipping. That would be from any of the fabrics listed above, using military quality hardware (buckles, snaps, zippers, etc.) and webbing, 0.040" thick window vinyl in clear or smoke. That's just going from the pictures you sent. The more details there are (zippers, fasteners, rollup options, interior hold downs, screens in the windows, etc.) the more it costs. The simpler the design is, the cheaper it will be. With something like this, there's a lot of expense in labor and not so much in materials. That's where we can't compete with the cheap labor (and low cost of living) in the Third World. But we do have superior materials and possibly better quality control. Also, we can accommodate requests for custom features (window size or location, varying strap locations, different fabrics, etc.) often at no extra cost.
Right now I'm scheduling work for mid-July. So, that's the earliest we
could consider working on it.
Please let me know if you need any more information or would like fabric samples. Thank you for your interest in our canvas!>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Thanks, John, for your email on the Toyota Landcruiser tops. It looks like a neat top. It reminds me of the military jeeps tops. We could do it in canvas. Do you have any photos of original ones that came with the vehicles - or do you think the Pakistani top is a pretty close copy of what Toyota made originally? We like to get as close as possible to the original when making a new pattern. Most collectors and users want something close to the original, so if that's what we aim for, we have the largest market.
I don't understand why there are so many tie down straps in the back. I know that Landcruisers are similar in size to the later CJ's, so 8 straps
across the back seems like a lot (jeep uses 6). I guess the windows are plastic? not plexy? Are the doors canvas too, or metal? I see that your Landcruiser already has doors.
We currently have olive drab and 383 green canvas of the military type. 383 green is the modern US military green, sometimes called NATO green. I also have a tan canvas in the same weight as the military canvas (22 oz/square yard) with a suitable finish for tops. It's more of a gold-tan than a khaki-tan. I'm hoping to get gray canvas in one weight lighter (14 oz/square yard) to use on the early CJ's. They used a slightly lighter weight canvas than the military jeeps. You might think that is a bad thing, but it makes the top easier to handle and quicker to dry. I think it's more appropriate for the small vehicles that have a lot of corners, zippers, fasteners, etc. as compared to 2-1/2 ton truck cargo covers which are 14 foot square tarps with a few buckles and ropes. Finally, we also have synthetic boat top canvas that is available in a lot more colors.
I think the price to make something like the Pakistani canvas for the Landcruiser would be about $700-750 including shipping. That would be from any of the fabrics listed above, using military quality hardware (buckles, snaps, zippers, etc.) and webbing, 0.040" thick window vinyl in clear or smoke. That's just going from the pictures you sent. The more details there are (zippers, fasteners, rollup options, interior hold downs, screens in the windows, etc.) the more it costs. The simpler the design is, the cheaper it will be. With something like this, there's a lot of expense in labor and not so much in materials. That's where we can't compete with the cheap labor (and low cost of living) in the Third World. But we do have superior materials and possibly better quality control. Also, we can accommodate requests for custom features (window size or location, varying strap locations, different fabrics, etc.) often at no extra cost.
Right now I'm scheduling work for mid-July. So, that's the earliest we
could consider working on it.
Please let me know if you need any more information or would like fabric samples. Thank you for your interest in our canvas!>>>>>>>>>
Very Interesting...
I'd love to get my hands on a set of Bows to have reproduced locally by a great fabricator that I work with. I bet they could do it cheaper, with higher quality, and in greater quantity than any shop that sews the tops themselves.
Hey JohhnyC, nice talking with you the other day. We'll have to meet this Spring and check out your rig.
I'd love to get my hands on a set of Bows to have reproduced locally by a great fabricator that I work with. I bet they could do it cheaper, with higher quality, and in greater quantity than any shop that sews the tops themselves.
Hey JohhnyC, nice talking with you the other day. We'll have to meet this Spring and check out your rig.
Can I suggest marine grade hardware. Stainless is always a plus for us S. Florida guys. I'm very interested to see how this whole thing goes down. I think one of the biggest issues will be the price.
I think he has to get one made, post it up and get a pretty accurate price together.
- Thread starter
- #38
JohnnyC....Thanks for the input , and the pics!!
This thread is less then 24 hours old at this point. We appreciate the enthusiastic responses so far!!!
All input is welcome!! I'm sure Travis will use this thread as a reference.
So fire away with your suggestions i e "stainless hardware" or "things you do and don't like about your top" So he can take them into consideration.
Where we are..........Ideally we need to borrow a factory original complete top in good condition!!.......
If that is not an option , we need an" OEM style" [Sputnik40??} top that has proven satisfactory . And improvements can be made to it as needed.
Don't forget , the person willing to do this gets a free top for his time and trouble!!
[sell it , trade it , have 2]
This thread is less then 24 hours old at this point. We appreciate the enthusiastic responses so far!!!
All input is welcome!! I'm sure Travis will use this thread as a reference.
So fire away with your suggestions i e "stainless hardware" or "things you do and don't like about your top" So he can take them into consideration.
Where we are..........Ideally we need to borrow a factory original complete top in good condition!!.......
If that is not an option , we need an" OEM style" [Sputnik40??} top that has proven satisfactory . And improvements can be made to it as needed.
Don't forget , the person willing to do this gets a free top for his time and trouble!!
[sell it , trade it , have 2]
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JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
82cruiser here on mud has an oem od green canvas 5 window top with removable rear and side curtins...it is not currenly on his rig ...he got an ehsan top that he runs everyday
you may want to PM him
- Thread starter
- #40
82cruiser here on mud has an oem od green canvas 5 window top with removable rear and side curtins...it is not currenly on his rig ...he got an ehsan top that he runs everyday
you may want to PM him
Will do , thanks!
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