U.S soft top possibility version 2 east coast (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter highlandcruzer
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Status
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2008
- Threads
- 67
- Messages
- 1,887
- Location
- El Salvador and Washington, D.C.
- Website
- www.facebook.com
Bows
Guys I have a question and I don't think that this really a bad highjack. How close are the Kayline or the Bestop bows to the OEM ones? Given the passage of time between these guys getting a product out and waiting for Ehsan to get back to me I have begun to look for bows with the hope that if and when I hear from someone I'll be a step ahead and just need fabric. I have a line on a set of each type of bows but I really don't like the look of the Bestop and Kayline went belly up. So it would only make sense to pursue the purchase if the Kayline or Bestop bows are the same size and shape and there are the same number of bows as the OEM ones. Let me know. (possible hijack over)
Guys I have a question and I don't think that this really a bad highjack. How close are the Kayline or the Bestop bows to the OEM ones? Given the passage of time between these guys getting a product out and waiting for Ehsan to get back to me I have begun to look for bows with the hope that if and when I hear from someone I'll be a step ahead and just need fabric. I have a line on a set of each type of bows but I really don't like the look of the Bestop and Kayline went belly up. So it would only make sense to pursue the purchase if the Kayline or Bestop bows are the same size and shape and there are the same number of bows as the OEM ones. Let me know. (possible hijack over)
Nope - got it primer sealed. Have that, the better 3/4 tub, hood, bib, skirts and a few other odds and ends to get to work on - busted my rear to get my Orion HD, gears and some busted stuff fixed for GSMTR - and been working on the kids Westfalia. Will get it there, maybe these tops will be priced by then
.
85roktoy
SILVER Star
Subscribed! Man I sure hope this pans out. If so and for a reasonable price then this guy will be busy for years!!
- Thread starter
- #308
Sorry for the delay.....Life's been pretty hectic for everybody involved here lately. Work, sick, family stuff, etc...blah blah...
I should have some pictures and updates Sunday/Monday-ish. I'm heading down to Raleigh to help out this weekend in person.
I should have some pictures and updates Sunday/Monday-ish.
I'm heading down to Raleigh to help out this weekend in person.
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
How close are the Kayline or the Bestop bows to the OEM ones? Let me know. (possible hijack over)
Not even close .....worlds apart....especially around the doors.
Its like taking a Yugo and trying to fit Ferrari rims on it...it will take quite a bit of work...and will look odd when done
you can make a set of oem bows from an oem hardtop...there is a link to it in one of the previous posts...not too hard just time consuming.
**** OR *****
make your own bows to fit around the canvas once you get it...there is some posts about new style bows on this thread also.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2008
- Threads
- 67
- Messages
- 1,887
- Location
- El Salvador and Washington, D.C.
- Website
- www.facebook.com
Not even close .....worlds apart....especially around the doors.
Its like taking a Yugo and trying to fit Ferrari rims on it...it will take quite a bit of work...and will look odd when done
you can make a set of oem bows from an oem hardtop...there is a link to it in one of the previous posts...not too hard just time consuming.
**** OR *****
make your own bows to fit around the canvas once you get it...there is some posts about new style bows on this thread also.
JohnnyC,
Thanks for the heads up. Appreciate you saving me time and money.Now I'll just stand in line with the rest who really want an OEM replica soft top and bows.
I have OEM bows - just missing a few spreader pieces - the ones that are easy to make. Am also getting a pair of old hard top sides and plan on seeing how hard it is to mod ... I'll be using the link referenced. Bottom of the project list for me - but I'll post up when I do it.
- Thread starter
- #312
Here's where we are in a nutshell.....
It sounds like Greg [southerncruiser62] got a bit of a run around from a couple of metal fab shops regarding the frames. I understand that there is still one that is confident about making them efficiently, but is too busy to get to them in a timely manor.
So...this past weekend I went back to square one and looked into an alternative design that is simple to produce. Because of how promising the reproduction's sounded, I never actually sat down to work on an alternative prior to this.
Bear with me.....this is a VERY,VERY rough Sunday-afternoon-from-scratch piece. ;p A big thanks to Ramon and his wife [MTWELLER] for the use of his garage and tools!
I was only interested in producing this to portray my idea. Very rough measurements!! Just tacked together......I just wanted the general form to show softtopguy what I had in mind.... Nothing but Lowes and Ace hardware was open Sunday to buy metal, and they didn't really have what I needed, so I had to make do. I'll get what I need, and take my time with the next one and make it to installation standards. Hmmm, it's so rough that I hesitate to show it to you at this point!
I've really wanted to just wait and show the finished product, but as we've hit some setbacks that have delayed us, I don't want you to think that we've dropped the ball. We're dedicated to see this through to completion!
I'll throw in a couple of teaser fabric pics as well. Again, these are just made with random material for a pattern......
It sounds like Greg [southerncruiser62] got a bit of a run around from a couple of metal fab shops regarding the frames. I understand that there is still one that is confident about making them efficiently, but is too busy to get to them in a timely manor.
So...this past weekend I went back to square one and looked into an alternative design that is simple to produce. Because of how promising the reproduction's sounded, I never actually sat down to work on an alternative prior to this.
Bear with me.....this is a VERY,VERY rough Sunday-afternoon-from-scratch piece. ;p A big thanks to Ramon and his wife [MTWELLER] for the use of his garage and tools!
I was only interested in producing this to portray my idea. Very rough measurements!! Just tacked together......I just wanted the general form to show softtopguy what I had in mind.... Nothing but Lowes and Ace hardware was open Sunday to buy metal, and they didn't really have what I needed, so I had to make do. I'll get what I need, and take my time with the next one and make it to installation standards. Hmmm, it's so rough that I hesitate to show it to you at this point!
I've really wanted to just wait and show the finished product, but as we've hit some setbacks that have delayed us, I don't want you to think that we've dropped the ball. We're dedicated to see this through to completion!
I'll throw in a couple of teaser fabric pics as well. Again, these are just made with random material for a pattern......
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #313
Last edited:
85roktoy
SILVER Star
I'm feelin it man! Top looks good. Just need to get the bows mass produced. Shouldn't be hard with the exposure this thread gets and will keep getting. Someone here HAS to know someone that can get the ball rolling. Please keep us posted and thanks again for taking the steps and time to get this top produced.
it is really coming together.....nice job..
Without the side windows added, the pattern looks like a rover soft top. Looks like a good start though.
What about making the bows out of a combination of metal and fiberglass or composite. Then you just use the poles and the steel channel with a couple steel braces in a mold and pour a composite in. Might give you the look and strength and make it easier to reproduce on a small scale.
- Thread starter
- #318
That sounds like a good idea....I might have to give that a shot too. Shouldn't be too much trouble to do.
I'm actually looking into getting a plasma cutter, tube bender, and some tools now..... I'm thinking about fabbing the frames myself here in VA, at least until we can get something more efficient going.
As rough as that door frame piece looks
, I feel pretty confident that I can make it work, and look pretty darn close to OEM from the outside.
Your work on the bows look pretty darn good to me. Seems like the fiberglass would be an option. Maybe a little easier to mass produce.
Have you given an approximate price yet?
Have you given an approximate price yet?
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2008
- Threads
- 67
- Messages
- 1,887
- Location
- El Salvador and Washington, D.C.
- Website
- www.facebook.com
That sounds like a good idea....I might have to give that a shot too. Shouldn't be too much trouble to do.
I'm actually looking into getting a plasma cutter, tube bender, and some tools now..... I'm thinking about fabbing the frames myself here in VA, at least until we can get something more efficient going.
As rough as that door frame piece looks
highlandcruzer,
I have been lurking hopefully, watching your progress in the development of a U.S. soft top. I can heartily echo what others have said and that is this looks really good. As I look back and think back on the posts I think that I discern a pattern. It seems that you and softopguy actually have the soft top really pretty wel sorted out. Some issues remaining with seams and buckles etc, but mostly worked out. It also seems that everytime you guys are on the verge of the final breakthrough problems locating and aquiring the services of a good metal fabricater seem to stumble you guys up. I have two suggestions that I'd like you to consider. The first is go forward on the part of the project that is doable, the soft top. Offfer that aspect of the deal, just the top for sale. There are a fair number of folks who have bows already and really don't want to sit in line for 2 years just for the top. Take the orders from us. Get some product out and also work the inevitable kinks out of the business end, taking the orders, payment processing, shipping, etc. After you get the soft top aspect of the project off the ground and you have a demonstrable client base it may help you convince a metal fabricator that there is a market there and that it makes good business sense for him to offer bows at a reasonable price.
Second I am going to pm you with the name of a guy who is not too far from you who has a growing reputation among mudders for his metal fab skills. It may be that you know him and pitched the idea and it didn't work out or maybe he'll be new to you. Either way I want to try to help you out, if I can, with this more nettlesome aspect of the project. Regards,
John
- Status
