New Soft top info

[lookingtobuy]

Good looking top : )

I will not drill holes in my window frame either...

I always thought they could stitch in a stretch cord in the front that would
just pull tight down under the rain gutter!



more pics here:

http://www.softopper.com/Softopper_M...20Blazer%20All

[scoyote]

OK, here's what I'm thinking now.

They make a "U" channel that really is a circle with a slot cut out of it.

It's used for RV awnings and maybe some other applications.

There is a stiff cord that is threaded into the channel and the cord is larger than the slot so it stays put.

I'm working on getting one bent and putting it on the outside of the window channel where all the snaps would go.

I don't really mind putting in 6 smaller screws to hold the channel, I mean I gotta do something.

Then I'm going to stop by Larrys again and see if I can have him leave off the snaps on one of the tops for me and sew in that stiff cord.

Then I should be able to "thread" the front of the top into the channel and maybe have some small loops sewn in right at the roll bar to wrap around the bar to take some of the stress off of the front connection.

That's the direction I'm going in right now.....unless I hear of a better option.

[robs71k5]

Finally getting some good conversation and progress on softops .Yes! Yes!
I was thinking that a good heavy piece of ABS might be able to mould to the top of the winshield and down into the trough from where the top bolts to the hard top clamp down bolts. I dont have a winshield the I can apply that kind of heat to test theory out cause new paint .But also If one was successful in a good ABS mould, Beefing it up with other products could work .Or evan to fibreglass the ABS.

[Chevyman63]

I'd like to see where this goes. I cut about 6 inches off of the front of my top, before I cut it up and tossed it, to try and make up a piece myself. But it is still in the pile right now.

[cleszkie]

I like the fact that the snaps are in the same pattern as those used on Bestop models. That means I could buy this top and use my existing snaps (no new holes).

I always thought that the best way to attach a soft top to the winshield frame was to use the leading edge of a broken down hard top. Bolt the leading edge to the windshield frame and then snap the top the the leading edge. Rattle can the white fiberglass black and you are good to go.

[lookingtobuy]

Just wanted to see if anybody has bought one of these yet and if you like it?

[Gary 70 Jimmy]

Originally Posted by lookingtobuy

Just wanted to see if anybody has bought one of these yet and if you like it?

I would like to some pictures to.

[swyfor5]

Im watching this thread very closely, good job guy's! I would want one, but agree, no drilling for snaps in the w/frame! When they get it figured out, I'm in line. Awesome!

[scoyote]

I stopped in there a couple weeks ago and they are working on a method that would require only 6 holes to be drilled.

Basically it's a flat strap with the snaps installed and ground off except for 6 of them which would go through the strap into the blazer to hold the strap.

It looked like a good option.

I'm wondering if they could use that strap, grind off all the snaps and let us use the existing holes for the hard top.

Next time I'm in Boulder I'm going to drop by there and see if that is an option.

I prefer to drill no holes....but 6 is better than 20 something.

[TonyJohnson]

Wow... didn't realize they were in Boulder...

The price seems to have gone up since the first announcement. It's at $800 now.

[JackedJimmy]

Hey all,
just got off the phone with Bob at softopper and I m in line for the next batch that should be done in a few weeks. I didn't ask about the possible new windshield snap design but when I hear back from them I'll ask. yea I m not excited to drill a ton a holes in the frame being located in the moist northwest but then the hardtop leaks too at times. My 72 Jimmy is no show truck so I'll be the guinea pig if and when I get the softop and be sure to post some pics.

[JayDubBlazer]

Has anyone got one and made a template for the non-snap front attachement area.

[Luba]

I also am watching this thread closely.

[scoyote]

I swing in there a couple of times a month if I can.

They are working on a template for a small piece of aluminum that will have all the snaps on it except 5.

Those missing 5 will be what holds the piece to the blazer.

So....it's down to only 5 holes.....and I can live with that.

[TonyJohnson]

Originally Posted by scoyote

I swing in there a couple of times a month if I can.

They are working on a template for a small piece of aluminum that will have all the snaps on it except 5.

Those missing 5 will be what holds the piece to the blazer.

So....it's down to only 5 holes.....and I can live with that.

I wonder why they don't use the two mounting bolts in the back of the window frame for the mount? I rigged up a Wrangler bikini top using those and they were fine. Maybe I'll swing by and check them out... Thanks for the updates.

Tony

[rads42]

I was thinking the same thing regarding the wrangler style of mounting. I assume they've loooked in to that though.

[fun in dirt]

Any updates...anybody bought one?

[rads42]

I'm afraid that so many people are waiting for a non-drilling method of mounting that none of these tops are selling and they'll discontinue the production.

[scoyote]

I'll swing in there next week but last time I was there they had already sold over a hundred of the first generation tops and were working on 2nd generation models. So they are selling.

A lot of people have the snaps from the old BesTops and these are the same pattern so that helps sales I'm sure.

I'm just waiting for my blazer to be roadworthy and then....I'm for sure gonna get one of those tops.

[fun in dirt]

I was just curious about how they really worked and fit from somebody that bought one. Surely if a hundred have been sold, one of those is on this forum
They look good from the pics on their website.

I'm tired of wrestling with my hardtop. And besides that, when we took it off at the beginning of this summer, I dropped my side and blusted out a big section of the lip that lays on the bedside. I was so p.o.'ed after that. I've vowed not to jank with that top anymore......so for me it's either bite the bullet & shell out the $$$ for a soft top or buy a new set of Carhartt coveralls for winter cruising

[tucsonbroker]

I bought one of these tops with the optional $40 5 hole mount bar and expect to have it this week. I'll post pictures of the final install, hopefully before the weekend is over.

[tucsonbroker]

The top is installed and it looks great!

Install was not an hour as they say, but I think most of the delay was because the previous owner of my truck had changed up the hole pattern for the hard top. When I looked underneath the lip, there are oval patterns that match the supplied aluminum rail. That said, here is the relevant info about this soft top.

The good:

1. Aluminum poles are high quality and click together easily.
2. Top is nice and well constructed.
3. When installed, the entire thing is tight and there is no sagging.
4. Everything is adjustable, lots of straps and options.
5. Extra snaps for the front. I ended up needing them for the ones I broke.

The bad:

1. Their instructions are terrible. A big box of parts and 2 pages of poorly done pictures don't help. To make matters worse, I ordered the optional header bar and there were no instructions for that piece. More on that later.
2. They claim to supply a drillbit. None in the kit. Fortunately I had a #30.
3. Bolts supplied to attach the aluminum rail do not come with nuts or bottom washers. I guess they assume most people have a single walled top. Not me, but fortunately I had some spare 1/4" 20 nuts in my shop.
4. The web site says the windows are lightly tinted. They are clear.
5. There are 3, count them, **3** soft topper logo's on the top. One on each side and 1 on the back. Last I checked they don't pay me any advertising. I also have the same issue with car dealers that put their logo's on new cars. Just a peeve of mine.
6. The optional header bar is a thin piece of aluminum. The premise is that only 5 actual holes need to go into the blazer. A good idea in theory, but the aluminum doesn't bend quite enough on the edges and the one end snap doesn't seem to want to hold it to the window frame tight enough. The snaps supplied that go into the blazer are not long enough and I didn't feel confident that they grabbed enough metal. So I used the bar as a template and just drilled all of the holes into the blazer then tossed the thing. One other thing, when the header bar is installed, the snaps that do not go into the blazer are too long. I guess they expect us to file them down or something. Very poor implementation if you ask me.

Overall: Fit, finish, and cost make this a worthwhile purchase. Just don't expect an hour install and don't expect the header bar to solve all your problems.

[rads42]

Okay, I'll be the first....How about a picture?!

[Thealien]

Originally Posted by rads42

Okay, I'll be the first....How about a picture?!

I'll second that. Nice write up now add to the description with visual aids!

[TonyJohnson]

I don't like the 3 logo thing. I'll wait for pics to see how big they are...