I was thinking that I'm not so sure I want to go totally topless with my scout. I mean it's a pain in the ass getting those things on and off.

I know, I know so get a soft top, but then I'm not sure I want to spend that much money.

I was thinking Targa Top (I think that's what they're called on jeeps) where only the section above the driver and Front passenger comes off.

I think this would be sweet I'll try to photoshop some pics for you guys

Originally posted by Cliffhanger:
<STRONG>I was thinking that I'm not so sure I want to go totally topless with my scout. I mean it's a pain in the ass getting those things on and off.

I know, I know so get a soft top, but then I'm not sure I want to spend that much money.

I was thinking Targa Top (I think that's what they're called on jeeps) where only the section above the driver and Front passenger comes off.

I think this would be sweet I'll try to photoshop some pics for you guys</STRONG>

The top isn't THAT bad..

Get a half-cab and make it half as much work. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Did you see the pictures of Makkat's chopped top? Pretty nice compromise. Cut the top just behind the rear seat.. heck, he cut a top with sliding side windows, too!

<IMG width=555 height=372 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/7mile.jpg">

Actually I cut it right behind the second cross bar on the top. I wanted something that would keep the back seat somewhat dry when we are out wheeling.

[ 10-18-2001: Message edited by: makkat ]

Originally posted by tsm1mt:
<STRONG>heck, he cut a top with sliding side windows, too!</STRONG>


My top has sliding rear windows.....I thought they all had that??? <IMG SRC="smilies/blush2.gif" border="0">

Does this mean I SHOULDN'TCut it up, maybe I'll go back to that other junk yard and p/u the top I tossed off the scout I got my fender off of.

If it's worth anything.......Anyone want to buy my top so I can get some cash toward a soft top????

Originally posted by makkat:
<STRONG>
Actually I cut it right behind the second cross bar on the top. I wanted something that would keep the back seat somewhat dry when we are out wheeling.

[ 10-18-2001: Message edited by: makkat ]</STRONG>

How much does that top "FLEX" now????

Originally posted by tsm1mt:
<STRONG>heck, he cut a top with sliding side windows, too!</STRONG> <IMG SRC="smilies/crybaby2.gif" border="0">

No....I cut up a top that Phil was gonna send to the crusher.....didn't have any windows or a liftgate.

But I want the option of having a full top and an open top (even if it is just right above me)

I don't care for the half-cabs or whatever they're called.

PS: there's a scout 80/800 (don't know how to tell the diff yet) sitting behind a tree looking very abandoned in a nearby town to me.

Just thought I'd tease you scout 80/800 lovers a bit <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">:P

Ok I've been tooling aroung in photoshop and came up with this idea.

Using a half-cab top ...cutting the rear out of it (not including any of the top portion, just where the rear window would be.) So I have a nice light hard top but then the back half is a vinyl soft top (that I make so it's not big $$$$


What do you guys think of that.

if the wipers come down from the top, then it is an 80, if the come up from the bottom it is an 800. you got watch the body flex with out a top on. I have only had my top off a couple of times, once was for a day of wheeling in tellico, and the body flex has caused the tub to split where the floor meets the sides of the tub. Just a thought about going totally topless, you just need to support the body, torsionally that is. (side to side twisting)

Originally posted by scoutman:
<STRONG> you got watch the body flex with out a top on. I have only had my top off a couple of times, once was for a day of wheeling in tellico, and the body flex has caused the tub to split where the floor meets the sides of the tub. Just a thought about going totally topless, you just need to support the body, torsionally that is. (side to side twisting)</STRONG>

Uh-Oh, ........... I don't even own a top........... but I tied my cage into the bed rails in 2 locations on each side

I guess this does close to the same as having a top because I haven't noticed any NEW cracks,

It was however cracked at the spot you are talking about when I got it....................................

CLIFFHANGER; I too am planning to run a homemade soft top, but I will use the cage as my frame.

Ill consider selling my SII softop for $400. <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">

Go Topless!!! You'll never go back <g>


I did the top on/topoff thing a couple of years, then when I got a deal on a soft top for the PNW summers (i.e. rain with ocational sun breaks <g>), I have never put the top on again.

It wheels SOOOOOO much better with out the extra 200+ lbs of hard top. Yes the body flexes a bit, but so what. Most car bodies do, and after time (expecialy concidering the newest Scout is 21 years old) they all start to develop stress cracks.

If all you mounts are in good shape, and the rust monster hasn't gotten *too* out of hand, it shouldn't be a really big issue.

I prefer to park mine under cover. I bought one of those 10X20 canopy structures just for it. It great becasue I don't have to worry about the top (no top on it right now and its been POURING the past 4 days). Course, my trail truck is not my daily driver, MUCH better to have another car. Same car I've had since high-school.

I'm actually working on a 1/2 cab right now. Make my truck more weather friedly.

Well I'm definitly not taking the top off until a rollcage goes in. So that is not really an issue.

I like the idea of using the rollcage as the soft top frame <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> (I may be stealing that idea)

I was also going to bring the rollcage close enough to the remaining front section of the hard top that I could tap the cage and tie the top into the cage. The reason for that would be, when I chop the top I think it will be very weak and unstable since there will only be an 1-3 inches left in it, behind the front seats.

Here's a pic

<IMG width=576 height=436 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/Half hard half soft top.jpg">

the soft top would take up the back half just like on a 4Runner.

Originally posted by Cliffhanger:
<STRONG>Well I'm definitly not taking the top off until a rollcage goes in. So that is not really an issue.

I like the idea of using the rollcage as the soft top frame <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> (I may be stealing that idea)

I was also going to bring the rollcage close enough to the remaining front section of the hard top that I could tap the cage and tie the top into the cage. The reason for that would be, when I chop the top I think it will be very weak and unstable since there will only be an 1-3 inches left in it, behind the front seats.

Here's a pic

<IMG width=576 height=436 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/Half hard half soft top.jpg">

the soft top would take up the back half just like on a 4Runner.</STRONG>

I think that is a pretty cool idea, that way your windows will still have a seal, and you can remove the soft portion on the back easy if you wanted it off.

I would do something like this myself(steal your idea), but I don't plan on ever putting those heavy ass doors back on mine.

gonna *rig* up some soft doors, it wont hurt my interior to get wet, when I got it it had been sitting outside with no top for 4 years.

You know, a "show & shine" rig <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by Cliffhanger:
<STRONG>Well I'm definitly not taking the top off until a rollcage goes in. So that is not really an issue.

I like the idea of using the rollcage as the soft top frame <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> (I may be stealing that idea)

I was also going to bring the rollcage close enough to the remaining front section of the hard top that I could tap the cage and tie the top into the cage. The reason for that would be, when I chop the top I think it will be very weak and unstable since there will only be an 1-3 inches left in it, behind the front seats.

the soft top would take up the back half just like on a 4Runner.</STRONG>


That looks JUST like a '71-74 cab-top Scout II! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Todd @ Mr.Scout has a.. Terra top (? or cab-top?) on his 100" WB Scout II with what looks like a butchered (nicely done, but it was still modified) soft-top over the rear. It uses the standard soft-top mounting bows, blah blah, but the front half is cut and instead snaps to the back of the Terra cab, making for a "soft camper shell" of sorts.

Bill Thebert now has a "cab-top" soft-top with SSII doors, retaining the steel cab-top bulkhead. The entire "rear window" of the cab-top zips out, too.

Originally posted by tsm1mt:
<STRONG>
That looks JUST like a '71-74 cab-top Scout II! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Todd @ Mr.Scout has a.. Terra top (? or cab-top?) on his 100" WB Scout II with what looks like a butchered (nicely done, but it was still modified) soft-top over the rear. It uses the standard soft-top mounting bows, blah blah, but the front half is cut and instead snaps to the back of the Terra cab, making for a "soft camper shell" of sorts.
</STRONG>

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking. Since I know where to get a cab-top. And I'm sure I can get the material to make the soft top......

That's it, that's what I'm doing.