Going topless... theres gotta be an easier way..

2785 Views 25 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Miketnf150, Oct 3, 2003

RavenTBK

Discussion Starter · Oct 2, 2003

This has been such a beautiful week. Days of 65-78 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, slight breeze from the southwest.. just plain wow.

Well today I decided to run around topless. I already use the nifty come-along hooks from the roof of my carport to lift off my heavy top by myself, but heres something I'm not sure that has been addressed.

What about the 10 minutes it takes to remove all the bolts that hold the top on? Does anybody know of any type of 1/4 turn fasteners that can be swapped in in place of the bolts? It would make things even nicer to spend two minutes unsnapping the top, then three pulling it up instead of 10mins in the backseat and three hoisting it up.

Any thoughts? I really cant think of any 1/4 turn fasteners that would do a good job of holding it on to the body and holding it tight enough to provide a good rain seal.

Or maybe I'm thinking 5 years ahead of my time...which is what I usually do.

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

mudder78

· #2 · Oct 2, 2003

yeah..invest on a soft top..kayline soft top

Foghorn

· #3 · Oct 2, 2003

I always use my 3/8 air gun set at 90psi...It goes about 3200rpms, takes care of getting'em quick. I just would'nt use it to re-install the bolts........Hey, post up some pics of your gizmo lift, I've been puzzzling over that one for awhile myself. I don't have a carport or a big enoug tree...I'm thinking of trying the boys swing set.......Fog

MattBFromlacey

· #4 · Oct 2, 2003

mudder78 said:
yeah..invest on a soft top..kayline soft top

:stupid

Yeah i can get my soft top up and down in 5 minutes tops..

Matt..

Chris85xlt

· #5 · Oct 2, 2003

what if u use shorter bolts? the ones on my top are like 3" too long or something like that. does it really need that long of a bolt?

jermil01

· #6 · Oct 2, 2003

shorter bolts or just cut yours down..

MattBFromlacey

· #7 · Oct 2, 2003

seriousy

before i got my soft top i had used those BIg ass Canopy C Clamps and they made it pretyy easy to get on and off

Matt--

Davids78Bronco

· #8 · Oct 2, 2003

You're probably thinking of dzus fasteners

Mrit

· #9 · Oct 2, 2003

MattBFromlacey said:
seriousy

before i got my soft top i had used those BIg ass Canopy C Clamps and they made it pretyy easy to get on and off

Matt--

I found a bunch of those things in a junk yard, and they gave them to me for free. How well did they work? Those stupid little metal tabs always fall out of mine so I only have like 5 bolts holding the roof on.

RavenTBK

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 2, 2003

Yeah... dzus sounds familiar. Its those type of 1/4 turn jobbers that are used to hold the cowling down on the lil Cessnas.

I just dont think theres anything like that which would provide enough holding power to keep the seals tight.

The C clamps sound simple enough, but I do some serious high speed rough terrain antics which I'm sure would make those clamps come loose and my top fall off out in the middle of the forest.

I've actually considered going soft top on numerous occasions, but I'm sorta hung up on the look of the hardtop. And I really dont like the idea of drilling 50 or so holes into the body. :\

I guess I'm just a lazy SOB

Foghorn:
I'd do airtool route like you, but I'm cheap and dont have any air anything. Just the standard ratchets in the Sears 200pc kit.

As for my gizmo lift, I'll bring the bossman's digicam home tonight and snap a few. I think I can get it back into the office before he notices it gone. [g]

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MattBFromlacey

· #11 · Oct 2, 2003

Yeah
i only had like 5 holding my top on two the Big C- Clamps werked great they came off really quick and they held really good

Matt--

Foghorn

· #12 · Oct 2, 2003

RavenTBK said:
As for my gizmo lift, I'll bring the bossman's digicam home tonight and snap a few. I think I can get it back into the office before he notices it gone. [g]

Don't go getting your butt in trouble over a pic dude...And I've always wanted to get an old hard top and cut it down to just the part that touches the body and then mounting a custom softop to that but I've never ahd the cash.....But it might work w/no new holes---Fog

RavenTBK

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 2, 2003

Foghorn said:
Don't go getting your butt in trouble over a pic dude

Naah, I've done it before and got caught. He said he doesnt mind as long as its back in his office and in once piece by the time he comes back. Basically, dont let on anything to show I used it. *shrugs*

Foghorn said:
...And I've always wanted to get an old hard top and cut it down to just the part that touches the body and then mounting a custom softop to that but I've never ahd the cash.....But it might work w/no new holes---Fog

That actually sounds like a good idea. I've read ideas about using aluminum strips to do the same thing. Either way... I do still kinda like my hardtop. I never really liked the sounds of leather and plastic flapping in the wind like it does on Heeps.

I'll snap a couple pix of my setup and post them on this thread tomorrowish.

I also think I'm going to take the muddy way home tonight and snap some random pics there too. [g]

knarf121

· #14 · Oct 2, 2003

i bought all new bolts and backings from napa, it was like 8 bucks, the new bolts are deeper thread and shorter so they go in nice and easy, keep everything lubricated and it simplified things a lot!

firegod33

· #15 · Oct 2, 2003

I've used my Makita cordless screw gun, for years. Cuts a lot of time off of removing the top.

RavenTBK

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 2, 2003

knarf121 said:
i bought all new bolts and backings from napa, it was like 8 bucks, the new bolts are deeper thread and shorter so they go in nice and easy, keep everything lubricated and it simplified things a lot!

Now that you mention it, I think I'm going to go this route. ....Whenever the bossman decides to pay me for this week that is....

knarf121

· #17 · Oct 2, 2003

you cant replace the very back bolts or the ones on the slanted rails behnd the doors, at least i didnt spend time trying... but if your taking it on and off regularly then you dont need these anyway

i put them all back in when its winter.. and seeing as im in maine and it hailed today... ill do that soon.

and i leave a wrench in the truck with a socket for these bolts, just makes it easier than digging for a tool

Damager

· #18 · Oct 3, 2003

get bolts with the same thread pattern and use a cordless drill :thumbup

all bolts out in under 2 minutes for me :shrug

Dustball

· #19 · Oct 3, 2003

RavenTBK said:
I've actually considered going soft top on numerous occasions, but I'm sorta hung up on the look of the hardtop. And I really dont like the idea of drilling 50 or so holes into the body. :\

Where did you get this information from? More like 25 or so holes, a dab of silicone on each screw seals them right up.

Meixter

· #20 · Oct 3, 2003

One thing i have learned (almost the hard way) I don't use all of the bolts but you NEED the ones in the back if you're wheelin. I almost lost the glass when I flexed the truck.

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