Replacement Hard Tops

[rugburn]

What does the POR 'Cruiser public think about a stout yet lightweight replacement hardtop for FJ40's as well as a kit for making a halfcab similar to a Scrambler?

I'm thinking top, sides with windows and all mounting materials ie: weatherstripping, fasteners, and shafts to mount into your tub.

Would it be a cool product that would sell if the price were right? <IMG SRC="smilies/idea.gif" border="0">

[The Jerk]

you can just buy my old hard top that is still in great condition, just add paint. 700 bucks come awn! jiMMy

[Jason M]

You mean a hard top that would not make my cruiser lean like a drunken sailor and would be cost effective?????

Nah no use for it
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[rugburn]

I'm talking about a sub 60 pound assembly to dupliate the stock piece but be as light as
a Bestop softop but hold up to serious trail abuse while shielding you and the interior from rain, sleet, snow and machine gun fire!

Kidding on the gunfire, but seriously, looking at the fiberglass alternatives out there as well as softops as well, a $350.00-$400.00 hardtop alternative IMHO would be wicked! My hardtop is in OK shape, but so many I've seen are trashed from rust and hits to the roof from branches and rocks.

Replacement prices from SOR are cost prohibitive, unless you are a Powerball winner.

Reddog? DogHouse????

What do you guys think????? <IMG SRC="smilies/massey.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/massey.gif" border="0">

[SpaceGhost]

Hey "burntplastic" what have you got over there to replace a windshield with? I'll pull my stock one for a pattern.

If you want a hardtop for a pattern I pulled the good one off the 76 and it is mobile! Need to talk to you about vacuum forming some abs for interior panels for my locomotive.

SpaceGhost

[arndog]

for 350 to 400 I would defenitely be in especially if it is one piece and even more so if it is half cab

arndog

[fj40charles]

I don't see how a half cab would work since most folks on this board are wheelers and have a full roll cage.

Charles

[rabid]

There are companies that make fiberglass replacements, but they are ridiculously expensive. If you could do it like you are talking about, I am sure that you would get a HUGE response. especially from the land of uncontrolable rust-the northeast.

[60seriesguy]

Rabid is on the dot, I've seen some crusty hardtops in the Mid-Atlantic-Northeast. I would guess that places where there is a lot of rainfall (the Norhwest) and/or really hot places where a lot of FJ40's have A/C (like AZ, NM, TX), the response would be good.

I agree with Charles on the full-cage concern, but to be honest, I don't see a lot of hard-core wheeling FJ40's with the hardtop still on, either! Heck, most don't even run a soft-top!

[rugburn]

The scoop is this.......
Full top replacement(top, sides and glass, and fasteners as a kit) for those requiring a top replacement.

Tops alone as a single wall thermoformed unit to lighten the original assembly and get rid of the fiberglass unit.

Possibly, if demand was high enough, incorporate a opening for standard sized sunroof too!

Custom Half Cabs made to spec(so many different lengths out there) could be done as well.

Full cage guys/ no half cabs.

I am considering doing replacement dashboards, knee panels(under the dash) foamed filled to Toyota specs as well as cool soft and forgiving fender flares for both the front and rear wheelwells(custom sizes OKAY!!!!)

SpaceGhost, we have SAR(super abrasion resistant) Acrylic as well as Polycarb that is DOT approved too!

If you guys think the demand would be there, I'll start on the tooling sometime soon(after Labor Day).

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[Jason M]

Could you make one completly see though????


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[arndog]

if its 350-400 bucks Ill take a hard top full or half

did I already say that

arndog

[arndog]

you didn't say if it was one piece i.e. no steel

arndog

[rugburn]

Yes, we could make them clear, but then people would point at you and say"BUBBLEBOY!!"

The only steel in these tops will be in the attachment points for the windshield.
The balance of the materials is ABS nad aluminum.

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[Dog House]

Originally posted by rugburn:
<STRONG>Reddog? DogHouse????

What do you guys think????? <IMG SRC="smilies/massey.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/massey.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Personally I like the "look" of a Cruiser with a HT on it. However the weight of the Cruiser HT is scary being sprung over and on a side angle <IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0">. I got a new donut mark every time the weight shifted! If it were extremely light and had the classic look that would be killer.

Living in Kalifornia though I only use the soft top about 5 months out of the year if that. In fact I just sold my shed, er, uh, hard top just the other day.

Make one and post some pics. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

Jimmy <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

[wanabecruisen]

You can sign me up for a one or two!!! An affordable cruiser hard top with no rust problems and won't tear the first time I run down a woods road - what a concept! Some of your other ideas also sound killer. Keep me posted please!!

[Erik D_lux]

I would be down for a full top, if the weight is what you say it would be. BTW even though it rains here alot there is not much rust....... go figure

[Raker]

Hey rugburn... how are you able to have acess to a plastics oven. i have been thinking about how to make one out of plastic for a long time but never had any way to really do it. Looks i am glad that some one has the brains and ability to do it.

I WANT ONE

[rugburn]

I am in the plastics business and we have the physical capacity to do most any size of thermoformed product. We form complete doghouses for agricultural equipment from 1/2" ABS.

Cool sh!t!!!!

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[Dan Gleason]

Yes, we could make them clear, but then people would point at you and say"BUBBLEBOY!!"

How about a clear tub so I can watch my oil leaks? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> But really, how does this stuff hold up in cold weather? Is it prone to hazing like acrylic? Sounds like a great idea. Keep us posted.

Dan <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

[Firefyter_Emt]

Sweet.. what would you do in the back?? no hatch?? How about something to fill in the tailgate area as well?? I realy like the concept..

"If you bulid it they will come"

[rustbucket]

They'd sell just not to most POR guys. I run my top as little as possible and I have an extra one in the backyard if anything happens to this one. The stock top is not that heavy either I usually put mine on and off by myself. But go for it. I know they would sell. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[rugburn]

Rear doors or a hatch are an issue, but certainly one that cannot be overcome.
My real focus on this topic is the fiberglass top. Plain and simple they suck and rot and are heavy and the rain gutter splits and the repairs are diffiult if you do not understand fiberglass and on and on and on.......

I am considering half doors as well. Time is my only enemy!


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[wngrog]

Can you make me some plastic rocker stuff so my rig can look like an Avalanche?

Seriously, sounds REAL cool. Keep us posted. <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">

[rugburn]

What's an Avalanche? Some kind of Texas version of a Dairy Queen Blizzard??? <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0">