2003 Suburban 1500 Pop Top Conversion

[rayra]

I'm really liking that popped top with no sidewalls. Perfect for a photo safari cruise. Or driving the loop in Yosemite. That thing secure enough for say under 20mph?
/heh

Like the grill guard too. Been trying to find something I like, keep doodling modifications to all of them. Was settlign down to a Ranch Hand and welding in a 3" dia mandrel-bent pipe* on a line in front of the bumper peak, and welding on some loose / pivoting car-pusher fenders / bolsters, that could be swapped with shackles when needed. But I'm liking the seemingly closer fit of the ares. Have to look at things some more.


* thick-walled pipe, a true structural bumper piece and I wanted to weld inset bulkheads at the ends and turn it into an onboard air tank, with QD air couplings in each end.

 

[boll_rig]

Thanks Idasho!

I'm really liking that popped top with no sidewalls. Perfect for a photo safari cruise. Or driving the loop in Yosemite. That thing secure enough for say under 20mph?
/heh

Like the grill guard too. Been trying to find something I like, keep doodling modifications to all of them. Was settlign down to a Ranch Hand and welding in a 3" dia mandrel-bent pipe* on a line in front of the bumper peak, and welding on some loose / pivoting car-pusher fenders / bolsters, that could be swapped with shackles when needed. But I'm liking the seemingly closer fit of the ares. Have to look at things some more.


* thick-walled pipe, a true structural bumper piece and I wanted to weld inset bulkheads at the ends and turn it into an onboard air tank, with QD air couplings in each end.

You know its hard to say before the canvas goes on. Right now I'd be a bit wary going over 10. However when that canvas is pulled taught all the way around, even with all windows down (for best viewing), I honestly think I could go 20mph without a problem. And will obviously test it and let you guys know :ylsmoke:

You know I like the aries one, it was a quick purchase but I'm happy with it. Those ranch hand ones are huge thats for sure, don't love them but guaranteed more protection than what i got... The whole shackle swap would be nice though.

 

[Atl-atl]

Looking great! That mattress looks better than the one in my bedroom haha.

 

[rayra]

btw, a little late, but a large serrated carving knife works great for cutting foam. Long drawing strokes and it goes right thru. Works great for rigid styrofoam panels, too.


Has to be a great feeling to get so near to completion. most of my projects get to the 'close enough' / abandonment stage. That wouldn't fly when you're cutting a huge hole in the roof.
I just today finally started making the first plywood cuts for my storage / drawer setup. Been cadging design ideas and doodling notes for it for over 18mos. The pile of notes is getting ridiculous.

 

[Pntyrmvr]

Looking great. What did you use for the rubber edge of the roof?


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

 

[boll_rig]

Looking great! That mattress looks better than the one in my bedroom haha.

Haha thanks, now to see if it actually fits up there with the canvas!

btw, a little late, but a large serrated carving knife works great for cutting foam. Long drawing strokes and it goes right thru. Works great for rigid styrofoam panels, too.


Has to be a great feeling to get so near to completion. most of my projects get to the 'close enough' / abandonment stage. That wouldn't fly when you're cutting a huge hole in the roof.
I just today finally started making the first plywood cuts for my storage / drawer setup. Been cadging design ideas and doodling notes for it for over 18mos. The pile of notes is getting ridiculous.

So I actually tried that first with my dense foam but found the jig to allow a cleaner cut. The memory was too soft for both. Couldn't jig it, and sure as hell couldn't cut it with my serrated bread knife, was even a sharpened cutco..

That is sure one big pile of notes if I've ever seen one. My whole process would probably be a little quicker and cleaner had I done that a year ago though! You know It feels crazy to be close to finishing. However it still feels so far off. I've been putting off this canvas mounting for a few days because I'm so nervous that I'll mess it up and I only get one shot to get it mounted, pulled taught all the way around and sealed properly. Still haven't set my stop limiter for the actuators in place to keep the topper at the proper height. Which I need to also figure out as well..

Spent all day yesterday getting a relay for my stop limiters, reteaching myself how to solder, connecting all the wires from the actuators to the switch to the relay to the stop limiter and to the battery, then mounting them all in place. It all works great now though.

Looking great. What did you use for the rubber edge of the roof?


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

Thanks pntyrmvr. Its just a bulb seal, fits on nicely, hopefully will keep most of the water out.

 

[rayra]

I'd suggest really working that lift up and down, really racking it, making sure that stop height doesn't change, before you go for the fabric install. Would suck to get it all on then have something slip adjustment and just tear everything loose.

/like the queen alien in Aliens, tearing loose of her egg sack

//what, was that too graphic?

 

[rayra]

and btw, I've been shopping for a replacement for my defunct back seat fold-down LCD screen and much to my surprise they are really inexpensive. You can get some quite large screens for well under $200. Some even with integral DVD player. And they only weigh a couple pounds. Be real nice, relaxing on that loft mattress, watching a movie.

/devil on your shoulder


eta

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...=i:aps,k:automotive+lcd+monitor+ceiling+mount


the crazy part is you can get a HUGE screen for only $20-40 more.

https://www.amazon.com/Tview-T206ir..._SR160,160_&psc=1&refRID=6522BP994N3WGKWMFAZP

 

[boll_rig]

Ray I took your advice and decided to get the stop limiter fully mounted on there before doing the canvas. Think your description is pretty accurate as to what would have happened. I did however tack the canvas up temporarily to test it out, little tight up there to say the least. May need to add both my other latches to keep this thing down...

And I actually have the flip down TV in the backseat haha. Was thinking of removing it though to put in a sort of ceiling shelf as I never use it. Always got the laptop however a ceiling tv on the topper facing the correct way would be extremely pimp my ride if I ever get there.. one can dream..

The mess that took 3 days to figure out how to wire properly. Battery wires and actuator wires all connected through the stop limiters and relay and then to the switch.

All connected, relay mounted, switch mounted

now just need switch cover..

 

[M35A2]

Ouch, that cheap switch brings the ouch to the eyes (in more ways than one). Perhaps swap it out for something more discreet later on.

 

[rayra]

hell with discrete, that thing needs to be shielded.

but yeah, something more flush would be good.

I presume that switch is ON-OFF-ON, to both raise and lower the top? Is it momentary, do you have to hold it or just flick it and do something else while it moves?


eta a few more wires and you could relocate the TV to the popup

 

[boll_rig]

Ouch, that cheap switch brings the ouch to the eyes (in more ways than one). Perhaps swap it out for something more discreet later on.

What did you have in mind?

hell with discrete, that thing needs to be shielded.

but yeah, something more flush would be good.

I presume that switch is ON-OFF-ON, to both raise and lower the top? Is it momentary, do you have to hold it or just flick it and do something else while it moves?


eta a few more wires and you could relocate the TV to the popup

Ray thats exactly what I was looking for, some sort of cover so it doesn't get knocked/turned on. This was just the switch they sent me from Firgelli Automations with the limiter, its not that cheap actually. And yes it is ON-OFF-ON just flick it up and it goes till it hits the stop limiter so I can help the canvas out as it raises and lowers.

Still thinking on the TV someday ...

 

[rayra]

I'm just thinking of a passenger taking that switch to the temple in an accident. Might be better to have a flattish rocker. But I've never looked for such a thing in an ON-OFF-ON config, don't even know if they exist.

Can't wait to see it all together. I'm getting the completion jones on my own storage platform project, only been a few days work but it's becoming a grind already. Courtesy of my making design changes on the fly and unintended consequences. Somebody around here has to finish something.

 

[boll_rig]

So I actually had the choice of a rocker switch but went with a toggle because I wanted to find it by feel easier for when popping the top from the outside. Just reach in, feel the switch and set it. Purchased a cover though.

Ray thats actually looking pretty nice! You getting photos up on your thread? I seriously cannot wait to get done with this canvas so I can start on the projects that I really want to get to.. i.e. back to wood work.. lower bed platform/interior. Funny how its all easy on paper and quickly escalates.

If you want to talk about a grind, I had a friend help me install the top portion of the canvas to the vehicle yesterday. We were rushing like crazy because of rain and heat. Spent about 4 hours putting up the front and back with the aluminum strip, left for a while. came back, took one look at the car and realized that my canvas had gotten turned inside out from the on offs of fitting it... The mesh screen zippers were on the inside. About to take it all down and start over.. and thought I was so close...

 

[rayra]

oh yeah, in all my usual over-documented glory -
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...e-Drawers-Platform-for-my-GMT800-Suburban-WIP

Ignore the color variations, I was trying different stains. Everythign will be faced with the same piece of finely figured hardwood, when everything is worked out. The small box on the left will have all my power ports in it, both ends. And a bunch of other stuff, which I'm trying to get some help with in the power subforum. Doesn't seem to be too many AmeriCANs in there, though, just some AmeriCAN'Ts


eta be careful with that canvas!