Hard top

[wildfire14]

Seems that the going rate for a descent hard top is getting very pricey 1k+....... I've been searching old posts on designs of a DIY hard top but have really come up empty handed because the price of a hard top in the past was not horrible. Anyone have any suggestions or has made their own? post pictures and a summary on how you did it, or a link to a thread?

Currently i have a fiberglass top that is cracked, I've noticed that when im in the dirt and the cab flexes it causes the top to shift and i can see how and why it cracked particularly around the corners of the windshield frame. Has anyone experienced this?

A soft top doesn't interest me and i would love to have a steel hard top not fiberglass. I know some swear by a rag top or fiberglass and i agree they are great in their own respects.

BTW im located in Southern California/Inland Empire area.

 

[rchalmers3]

Why not repair your fiberglass top?

Rick

 

[wildfire14]

Its beyond repair and severely warped. The guy i bought the truck from had it laying around outside, the back and top are warped/bowed in and the front rail that is supposed to make contact with the top of the windshield frame is cracked off.

 

[ICAT]

Do a search for Rosecommon. It has plans for constructing a hardtop on truck bought for use as wildland fire trucks.

 

[hndrsonj]

I have seen several (some good/some bad) with soft top frames that had sheet metal fastened over the frame.

What does Barstow truck parts get for them?

 

[wildfire14]

Im not sure how to upload a document on here but here is a link to the Rosecommon top

(https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1adKz8GQjkEVHQ4QXZlT19GZmc?usp=sharing)

i like it and it would be much more robust than the metal ones that we can buy.

Im not familiar with Barstow Truck parts i will do a search on them, ive looked at EPAY and Craigslist and other online sellers for the tops and all want at least 1K for them.

 

[Maverick1701]

Currently i have a fiberglass top that is cracked, I've noticed that when im in the dirt and the cab flexes it causes the top to shift and i can see how and why it cracked particularly around the corners of the windshield frame. Has anyone experienced this? .

I used JB weld to repair my cracked fiberglass hard top. It is still holding well with no issues.

 

[tobyS]

I've thought about making one (steel), perhaps (the top part) from diamond plate, that I can stand on and that has enough front overhang to keep water out of the window hinge.

How about a built in roll bar?

 

[yolner]

I've thought about making one (steel), perhaps (the top part) from diamond plate, that I can stand on and that has enough front overhang to keep water out of the window hinge.

How about a built in roll bar?

The hardtop described in that PDF already has the overhang which I think is a very useful feature. Probably wouldn't be too hard to integrate a DOM tubing roll bar. I'd also like to add a small roof rack and mounts for lights.