U.S soft top possibility version 2 east coast

[SouthBostonFJ40]

wasnt Paul aka ' Lomusass ' selling the oem bows for $750 and that was tru TLC4x4 and Heritage Heritage Sheet Metal

can totally be done for under $1000

i had heard that TLC4x4 and Heritage are no longer selling the bows ? ....but you may be able to get bows from Lomusass directly now....without the markup?

Again, not made in the USA.

 

[JohnnyC]

Again, not made in the USA.

people have been making factory bows in the USA for along time:
FrontBow

very cheap also

and again you can make bows that you design a top around....that is like a bestop bow around the door...not too hard to a metal fabricator or anybody to do...just bending some tubes...

roll the canvas under and use 5 snaps on top bow and roll the canvas around the inside door bow with 5 snaps.

 

[MDH33]

if you make a top that is in the same style of oem but has a bow set-up like in a bestop around the door....and the middle bows and rear bow being like oem bows...it would make for amn easy on easy off top....which is a big complaint to oem bow owners...you have to remove the bow over the door to get the canvas out....

making tube bows is realatively easy...and there are plenty of bestop bows around to see...and reverse engineer....

there is a large # of people just looking for canvas right now...and there is a really good place in pakistan that makes the bows

No way, I think this would be a bad choice. I've run a Bestop and the parts around the door and the attachment of the top was awful.

Although the OEM bow door parts make removing the top slightly more difficult, they are a huge reason that the OEM top is superior. The sturdiness and strength given by the method of attachment around the doors is what makes the OEM top so much quieter, weatherproof and stronger than a bestop or stc top. Also, the OEM bow door parts allow you to run stock doors and actually have them seal properly. I have no complaints about the effort it takes to remove the top. In fact I only remove for winter. During summer, with the windows rolled up (or hopefully zipped out) and the doors off, it's almost as nice as being topless with the benefit of shade for the baldness.

 

[shelfboy1]

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

that will be good but we still have to pay shipping from paki and then from bc and maybey custom charges .not to mention hangups at the border and your mark up .the final price will hold my intrest as i could use 2 fsts .good luck please post as soon as you are stocking again thanks

 

[JohnnyC]

No way, I think this would be a bad choice. I've run a Bestop and the parts around the door and the attachment of the top was awful.

Although the OEM bow door parts make removing the top slightly more difficult, they are a huge reason that the OEM top is superior. The sturdiness and strength given by the method of attachment around the doors is what makes the OEM top so much quieter, weatherproof and stronger than a bestop or stc top. Also, the OEM bow door parts allow you to run stock doors and actually have them seal properly. I have no complaints about the effort it takes to remove the top. In fact I only remove for winter. During summer, with the windows rolled up (or hopefully zipped out) and the doors off, it's almost as nice as being topless with the benefit of shade for the baldness.

i dont mind the issue (door bow) at all either...as i incorporated the kayline door bow bar that you slide out to remove the canvas above the door...this would be a great upgrade to any oem top produced...


making a top is in style to oem and using a different bow set-up is just an idea...for those who want oem replacement making a removable system as stated above on my top works great.

making a different bow set-up would be a much cheaper alternative to making a oem copy bow set-up

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

people have been making factory bows in the USA for along time:
FrontBow

very cheap also

and again you can make bows that you design a top around....that is like a bestop bow around the door...not too hard to a metal fabricator or anybody to do...just bending some tubes...

roll the canvas under and use 5 snaps on top bow and roll the canvas around the inside door bow with 5 snaps.

I like that, he does really nice work, but here's what stuck out to me...

"It takes about 8 hours to do the two front bow pieces, not including finish work or going to the refrigerator."

At the $75hr that most machine shops charge, that's $600 in labor just for the area around the doors.

I am not being negative, just stating what I know from experience.

 

[JohnnyC]

I like that, he does really nice work, but here's what stuck out to me...

"It takes about 8 hours to do the two front bow pieces, not including finish work or going to the refrigerator."

At the $75hr that most machine shops charge, that's $600 in labor just for the area around the doors.

I am not being negative, just stating what I know from experience.

this is for DIY ....thats what makes it cheap...we get the idea...it takes time and cost $$$ (most peole know that)SouthBostonFJ....but....there are choices...and possibilities to have things done....6 years ago there was no ehsan to make bows...or paul in panama 2 1/2 years ago...and one day somebody will make bows here...just a matter of time.

before this people would search out for years never to find oem bows

 

[MoCoNative]

I've thought about the bow contstruction some. That tutorial is pretty informative, but it requires hacking up a pretty good set of hard top sides. Even my destroyed hard top from a roll would not work on the damaged side, as it bent that area of the side.

I think the best alternative, but will be heavy, not as smooth as stock would be to build the uprights with rectangular tubing. Start with a certian width for the lower narrow part, then a wider width on the upper section. Weld together in the middle. Then on the door sealing area it will require a flange of flat stock welded on, and then take another peice of flat stock and weld in at an angle to the flange and tubing.

Over the door could simply be angle iron with a peice of flat welded in at an angle.

I'm not sure of demensions or anything else, but seemed like an easy way for me to recreate bows of some sort from readily available generic steel.

They could be done in aluminum also for that matter. Big catch is time again, and lots of grinding to get the same results of stamped steel, and a good seal around the doors.

 

[JohnnyC]

neat idea MoCoNative...i likie

you can make it heavy duty also...i had a rollover many years ago...and my door pillar bow was trashed...i removed the tube and put in solid stock bar as my tube ...it runs the same distance down the door as oem ...and it's added pertection incase another roll over

you can leave those in and not worry about a tree denting it like I used to do before the rollover

that would be a cheaper alternative...and the canvas would be OEM is size and dimension...so it would be able to be put on oem bows or bows like you posted....nice job

 

[82cruiser]

Soft top loaner

highlandcruizer & softtopguy,

I have an older style OEM soft top that you could use. It's made of thick canvas and no zippers. All twist lock fasteners. The three window panels are removable as well as roll-up. Due to the age of this top it has shrunk quite bit, but still fits on the truck.

Not sure if this is what folks are looking for but it is oem. It flaps in the wind a lot less that the later style oem tops which were made from the thinner material.

Let me know if you want better pics.

 

[82cruiser]

window removed

 

[JohnnyC]

that is a GREAT TOP Randy

and you can always make it a 7 window...look at this photochop of a 5 window...back window...that would be reallllyyy cool

this was a rush job....the 1/4 windows would be a bit more squared off than round at top....would look better to me


BTW your top randy doesnt look all that tight mine is tighter than yours....the great part of canvas is that you can stretch-it to fit-it...my denim kayline would rip...canvas is life time...your top is what randy 35 years old?

 

[highlandcruzer]

highlandcruizer & softtopguy,

I have an older style OEM soft top that you could use. It's made of thick canvas and no zippers. All twist lock fasteners. The three window panels are removable as well as roll-up. Due to the age of this top it has shrunk quite bit, but still fits on the truck.

Not sure if this is what folks are looking for but it is oem. It flaps in the wind a lot less that the later style oem tops which were made from the thinner material.

Let me know if you want better pics.

Egggsellent!!....... Cruiser candy !

We have a local offer From Olde North State Cruisers for a loaner 40...and the factory bows.......[no fabric as of yet].....if this pans out....your top may be ideal , if you're willing to ship it.

I 'm pretty sure Softopguy can make adjustments to that design if a different factory configuration might be more desirable to most people, but I'll let him confirm that.

 

[82cruiser]

and you can always make it a 7 window...look at this photochop of a 5 window...back window...that would be reallllyyy cool

JohnnyC - nice photchop work. That looks great and would get my vote fo sho.

.....if this pans out....your top may be ideal , if you're willing to ship it.

Sure thing! Just let me know.

 

[79fj40moneypit]

Nice top looks great for a 35 year old top!

 

[softtopguy]

Hey guys. The response has been phenomenal, and right now I'm just trying to catch up on all your comments and suggestions. My brother-in-law, Scott, and I will be working feverishly over the next several days to get everything I need in hand to be able to produce an actual product. Thanks to all of you that have offered your "parts". We'll be contacting some of you through PM as soon as I finish catching up. Btw, I have access, immediate access, to everything that you're asking for. Thanks again for the support you've shown, as it looks like this is something very promising for all! Check back with you soon!

 

[motoloco]

tops made here I will anywhere to go get one!!!!!!!!!

 

[JohnnyC]

hows this randy?

 

[BigRedFJ40]

Great photo chop work John

I like it!!!!! I can see one of these tops in my future if it comes together....

 

[softtopguy]

Great photos!!!!! any photos available w/ exposed frame work? Are the bows welded to the frame?

would also love feedback on what you guys think about the best confiuration of windows ie # of them on the sides and back

Keep the ideas comming