Bought a Soft Top...
 

I broke down and bought a soft top from Softtopper. I had the truck listed on ebay and it didnt sell so I decided to go for the soft top to be able to enjoy it more this spring. A friend of mine owed me a favor so he did the install. I will get more info from him as to how it went. He just brought the truck back and I snapped these pics with my cell. Ill keep you posted to any issues both positive or negative that I deal with going forward ... :)

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Nice!!! i wouldn't mind one, but it'd really only see winter....

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Looks nice! A soft top in the summer is a great thing to have.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

how long did the install take? how did it fit?

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also what kind of fabric is it made of?

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Got one of these sitting in my garage, still in the box. Now I know what it will look like. :metal:

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How does it seal to the door windows? I have mine, but it leaves room for improvement around the windows. I wish they had some options like my jeep. Zip out windows etc.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Good morning, The overall quality of the top is great! The instructions are sub par (according to my friend). The installer needs to be mechanically inclined. There are things that are left out and you kinda have to guess how they go together. The only drilling in on the top of the windshield frame. I purchased the extra bar that holds the snaps and in attached with 5 self tapping screws. These are TOO short and it is a pain in the ass to put them in. There is room and he recommended buying longer screws either self tapping or pre drilling will work.

The material is a HEAVY DUTY canvas contact softtopper for info on the exact material.
The fit around the front windows in crappy.. that being said I realize that there is not much you can do about a frameless window seal. You have to have the window down slightly to open and close the door. When you crank up the window it just runs inside the canvas.

I just got the truck back yesterday so I havent had time to fart around with it.

Overall .. its the only one out there and obviously the hard top is not going to be put on and off easily.

I will post more info as i use the truck and deal with the top.

I hope this helps and will answer any other questions.

PS She is still for sale :)

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

I have that top and I like it, but like you said around the windows is a hard detail.

The window glass should go on the outside of the canvas so you can open/shut the door without rolling the window down.

The flap goes over the top of the window to keep the water from dripping inside.

After you get some sunshine on it you will see it "relax", it's a little stiff when you first get it.

I love mine....I gave my hard top away.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Nice top. I'm looking at getting one also. Trying to decide between tan or black.

How long did it take your friend to put in?

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

These have been my issues too. Plus the fact that they don't offer it in white is keeping me from buying one.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Hmmm..It says they have a white one online on their site. Did you recheck it?

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When I checked all I found were tan/beige, or black. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place?? Wouldn't be the first time, I suck at these computers :lol:

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Here's the link far right selection is a white offering.
http://www.softopper.com/Softopper_M...01%201969-1972

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Oh okay, I see it now. I was looking for colored squares, and I guess the white doesn't stand out too well against a white backround,,,,duh :lol:

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Install was about 5 hours ..start to finish... I would like to add that my friend is VERY finicky. I have kept it out in the sun (when possible) and will make some tweaks and adjustments to it, as the material relaxes.

Breakdown was pretty easy the wife and I took it down in about 10 minutes and went out on Sat. I put it back up by myself in about 10. Not to bad.

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Just ordered mine today. I'll put up some step by step photos if anyone would like. Bob at softopper was very helpful. Good people there. More when I have it.

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Just ordered mine today and asked about the white...They are out at moment but are fabricating more soon.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Looks good John,
I want one in white.
Tbruz

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Thanks Tony!... Ill bring it over or you can stop by to check it out :)

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Any one know where i can get a bikini top from ???

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Call up Henrick at GMC Truck Center...I think he's doing up some. Not sure on the price though. Worth a shot. Here is the link. http://www.gmtruckcenter.com/index2.html

I'm going to use a Jeep bikini top and convert it to fit my header bar from the Softopper top. Most upholsterers can do it for you. Good luck!

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

here is a soft top/bikini i built. not to hard. pm if you have any questions

and no drilling was required. it uses the factory holes

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I like what you did there frostie. I have been wanting a soft top for ease of putting up and down but I can't bring myself to drill holes in my truck when I've spent time trying to remove holes and clean up the body. A design that combines yours with softtopper would be ideal!

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I would love to know how you made ii! do you have some directions or something so I can make something like it?

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

please start a thread showing your soft top design. I know a lot of people would be interested.

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the're are no holes drilled. it mounts to the factory four sun visor mounts.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Yeah I got that with yours, which was why I liked it so much. I was referring to the holes that have to be drilled in the windshield frame for the other style from softtopper.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

gotcha...yea i spent a butt load on shaving and body work. wasn't about to start throwing snaps all around. i used the factory hard top bolt holes as well with awning rail and made a tanoe cover.

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

I as well would like to know how you did it, can you get some detailed pics and measurements fo build one!! That looks great

Re: Bought a Soft Top...
 

Take four 1" aluminum strips and bend them into L brackets. One side of each bracket drill a hole/slot that is in line with the existing four sun visor mounting threaded holes. On the other non-drilled side of the L bracket drill a few randomly spaced 1/8" holes. Now you have four matching L brackets that bolt to the factory hols and wrap on top of the windshield frame. top of frame has the random 1/8" holes. (see pic one)

Next tape off entire top off windshield frame and plastic off ALL surrounding areas...fiberglass is gross ****. Tape over the drip rail, tape off a good couple inches outside of where a hard top would touch down in the front. I used green tape. The tape acts as a release agent. Once the fiberglass is laid and kicks you can pull it off like a mold.

Take fiberglass mat and resin and make the first layer, prob 1/8" thick. MAKE SURE ITS STILL WET FOR THE NEXT STEP. Take the four L brackets, bolt them into the four sun visor holes. Make sure they are snug and the side with the randomly drilled 1/8" holes is touching the already laid 1/8" fiberglass, this is where a slot vs. a hole is nice because you have some adjustment. Make another 1/8" layer of mat and resin and sandwich the L brackets in. The random holes act as a mean of resin going from top and bottom of the fiberglass layers so the brackets don't just slide out. Really get the fiberglass and resin in the holes as much as possible (I also used chopped strand and cabosil, kinda of a powder to make a paste in the holes. Prob not necessary). Your final piece should have about 1/4" of fiberglass with the four L brackets sandwiched in.

Go get a good micro brew and wait for the glass to kick.

Once the glass is cured and is nice and hard pull the four mounting bolts and peel off the 1/4" fiberglass piece. Trim it up with an air saw or grinder and mimic the factory hardtop for shape. Next bring it to a local upholstery shop with a pic of mine and they should be able to reproduce the same effect. Different roll bars will determine length and shape. I ended up making three different roll bars till I found the one I liked and then built the soft top around that. I used snaps on the roll bar in these pics but ended up making a new bar and have straps that extend to about mid bedside in a triangle fashion and attach with a d ring.

This is about as good as I can come up with for a "write up" but a lot of people had questions so I gave it a go.

any more questions feel free to pm me.

colin

I attached a few more better pics that might help show what I'm explainin'