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">
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">
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.
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.
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!
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).
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">
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!!
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 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.
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.
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">
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!
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">
Yea, rugburn... if you made the rear "door" area one full panel, and then put a hatch of some sort to get stuff in and out (kinda like a sunroof that opened up like a door or a truck cap)it would kinda solve a few problems.. Over here in New England, it would be nice for open top owners who would be able to drive through the winter....
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