Cab Top Bows

[Loose Deuce]

Any of you guys have any trouble with those Cab Top Bows coming out of the holes ? The vibrations of driving makes some of mine come out of the holes over the front windshield. The end of the rods are supposed to just sit down in the holes right ? My cab top cover seems to be a tight enough fit but there is always one or two jumping out on the front.

 

[acetomatoco]

Holes too big...specific drill size is documented in installation instructions.. Secondly, a little bend in the end may minimize your situation...but we lasted 40 years without the stiffener rods, anyway... ACE

 

[Loose Deuce]

Humm, Well I bought a New large outer windshield frame and it already has holes in it for what I thought was for the rods. The rods I have were already on the truck and they look ok also. Maybe I need to drill some better holes then. Where do you find that info on drilling the holes ?

I did notice that the velcro straps under my new Camo Cab Cover doesn't match up very well with my rods, I'll just drill some more tighter holes and everything should be just right.

 

[ojsdna744]

If I try to use the velcro straps with my top, my bows jump out of the holes also. I took the fat/lazy approach and just don't use the velcro. Rods stay just fine and top still rests on the bows when loaded with rain/snow.

 

[alphadeltaromeo]

Another way...

I tack-welded mine...no more issue...I like it

 

[acetomatoco]

RE: Another way...

We never had the velcro stuff in the old age days.. I understand how they can pop out with the wind a blowing.. The installation instructions I have seen were in the upgrade kits to put the rods on earlier trucks.. I am topless most of the time anyway.. ACE

 

[Dave_McConnell]

RE: Another way...

the rods need to be in the holes without tension on them. Adjust the arc of the rods until they are loose and don't push or pull. The flex between back of the cab and the windshield cause a rod under tension to walk out of the windshield hole. Once adjusted mine stay put all winter long.

 

[Dave_McConnell]

RE: Another way...

the rods need to be in the holes without tension on them. Adjust the arc of the rods until they are loose and don't push or pull. The flex between back of the cab and the windshield cause a rod under tension to walk out of the windshield hole. Once adjusted mine stay put all winter long.

 

[comdiver]

RE: Another way...

Does anyone have a spare passenger side top rail? This is the part that goes from the top of the windshield to the bow, the door glass seals on it and the soft top attaches to it.

 

[FreightTrain]

RE: Another way...

my center rod is the same way.When I got it from Joe I noticed a string tied to it and to the scissor thingy for the windshield.When I removed the top the first time and reinstalled it I found out why the string was there.

 

[littlebob]

Holes too big...specific drill size is documented in installation instructions.. Secondly, a little bend in the end may minimize your situation...but we lasted 40 years without the stiffener rods, anyway... ACE

So they didn't have the support rods originally? My top was trash and didn't have the three bows that came with my top from Saturn. I'm out in the yard looking for a hole to put the rods in and it isn't there.

 

[Recovry4x4]

They were not always there. I keep mine in place but never attach the velcro straps .

 

[WillWagner]

I have seen where the hole in the rear support has been drilled through so the bow sticks out the bottom of the cross bar. Got chills when I saw a post from Ross! Another old post revived.

 

[gimpyrobb]

LB, the truck is looking real good!

 

[MilitaryRestoration]

no problems with mine... they are tack welded

 

[wsucougarx]

funny thing I saw at Ft Lewis a month or so back. They had a really nice USN M35A2 w/w. I looked up and saw they had 3 tree branches being used as the bows. Military funding must have been down for the Navy

 

[littlebob]

Thank's for the input. I'm posting pictures of what I did with mine for future reference.

 

[bigmike]

what did you do???

In the motor pool they would file a notch just below the flange so that if it wanted to walk out it would catch the notch.

 

[littlebob]

what did you do???

In the motor pool they would file a notch just below the flange so that if it wanted to walk out it would catch the notch.

I had to drill three holes in the uppermost bar and drill two in the windshield frame that lined up where the top looked like it was reinforced to accept the
bows and there was already a hole in the middle of the wind shield frame a little too big

 

[Lex_Ordo]

Thank's for the input. I'm posting pictures of what I did with mine for future reference.

I think the reason they aren't staying in is because you have the cab bows in backwards. The part of the bow with the flange on it is supposed to be on the rear brace, and then the bow slightly dipps forward to allow the rain water and other weather related debris to drip forward.