2003 Suburban 1500 Pop Top Conversion

[Claytonburns]

This build is insane! Looks like a really well built top.
The real question is though, How much to put one on my Suburban too? :Wow1:


Also where are those camping spots in moab and big sur? I'm from San Diego and would like plan some trips soon.

Thanks

 

[Jelorian]

Love the shot of the canyon from inside the pop up. Great job on this build. Mad props to you sir!

 

[CSG]

As a guy who has absolutely no skills along these lines, I'll just say, amazing job. That is definitely a small business idea if you needed one.

 

[chilliwak]

All I can say is WOW!:Wow1: The pics and your rig just blow me away.:drool: Nicely done and lets see more pics when you get the chance. Cheers, Chilli..:wings:

 

[JasonRedwood]

Amazing build!

 

[Burb One]

Amazing!

I keep looking at this picture and then look at my sawzall and my suburban's roof, and just start thinking "well, if I punch a hole in it, I'll have to finish it"..... but then I come back to reality.

Seriously great job! If you ever sell a kit or something I'd definitely be in line.

 

[El Gordo]

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.

Oh yeah, the old square body Chevy K5s and Suburbans used them for the tailgate glass and rear a/c fans. Hi off low, up off down. You can get them ebay cheap if you want to keep it all GM.

 

[El Gordo]

Man, you have done an incredible job with this project. I am blown away! Thanks for posting as you went, I know it takes time from your project and life in general. Amazing job!

 

[boll_rig]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Sorry I have been out in the world enjoying it a little too much and haven't checked in for a minute. Been all over the place lately. Ill try and get some more photos up soon.

El Gordo thanks for the heads up with GM rocker! So far the toggle is working and until I make a long list of things to tackle I probably won't do much. I need to go all in or not at all ha.

Geno thats hilarious. Sure is one way to get a project done. Ill let you know if I ever think about doing another! Still got the mold...

Rayra you gotta get out there soon. Any recent trips?

Thanks everyone else for the replies too.. I was able to replace to broken actuator and firgelli was even able to get me a discount. Just propped it up and put the new one in and she was back to it.. Been thinking about how I want to build out the interior this spring and pretty sure I want to make a small sleeping/sitting platform in the back with a pull out draw to also be a table top... thoughts brewing..

 

[boll_rig]

Here are few photos from the road..

Somewhere in Nevada..

San Elijo state beach:

This is probably my favorite part of the vehicle right now.. I take the bed extender piece and flip it over, putting the cushion on the storage bench below. The I have the hardwood side as a standing workstation. makes it really easy to get work done on the road and provides nice views... when not in a friends driveway..

SLC

Also made a gif of it popping up while I was in San Elijo state park.. Pretty easy just a few iPhone photos in photoshop

If anyone is interested I have an instagram with more photos @ian_boll

Cheers guys!

 

[Jelorian]

LOVE IT!! Thanks for sharing these updates pics!!

 

[rayra]

So damn cool. The views out the windows are just awesome.


"Rayra you gotta get out there soon. Any recent trips?"

Lots of trips, but all doing bathroom remodels for relations. Been driving 140mi in opposite directions to Lompoc and Temecula, with the Sub full of tools and materials.
Turning this

into this

among other projects. Lot of tiling work and I'm an IT guy by my last profession. And my grand nephew has gifted me the flu, not 5 days after I got the shot. Very sick right now, relapsed.

I did manage to get out to AAA and pick up some fresh maps for both faces of the Sierras. Pretty sure I'm making a run up 395 this winter. Quick stops from Death Valley up thru Lone Pine, Manzanar, Mono and trying to re-shoot a bunch of Ansel Adams' photos.

And maybe gold country in the spring, but probably not. Depends if I can hook the springtime Death Valley campsite reservations I want. Maybe Gold country next summer, as part of a Yosemite run. Haven't been there in years. I used to go there frequently THIS time of year, typically 1st or 2nd weekend of Oct. Either right before or right after the first snowfall. Concessions all still running, but the park near empty, all the schools back in session and nothing but a few busloads of Germans and Japanese to contend with.

 

[IdaSHO]

and I made a gif, for the first time every, of it popping up while I was in San Elijo state park..

If anyone is interested i have an instagram with more photos @ian_boll

Cheers guys!

Awesome work dude

Mega-props :victory:

 

[boll_rig]

Glad you guys liked the updates and picks.

Rayra, you know the views are my favorite part too, just couldn't deal with the whole sportsmobile 4 window limitation... Also nice work on the remodel! It looks killer, even for an IT background guy ha. Bummer about the flu though, nothing worse than that.

You know I was really wanted to get over to Yosemite and the sierras in general. Never been in full. I like the idea of recreating old Ansel photos as thats my current background. Keep me posted on your thoughts on that. I agree, now isn't a bad time to visit..

Kenny, the website is looking great, hadn't been on there in a while. Rad designs..



SO unfortunately I took the truck into my local mechanic about the vibration I was feeling in the rear, yet again, and it seems I'm due for a rear diff overhaul. At least all new bearings. Kind of a shocker that I have to deal with another big repair right after getting my whole transfer case re done, then swapped. Got quoted for about 1200 bucks which I just don't have. Wondering how long I could go before addressing it...
Also just seems like I shouldn't be needing this until at least 200k. Only got 160 on the clock right now.. at the most (reads 148k but od broke for a couple years) Anyone got any experience on the matter?

Ontop of that my steering gearbox is leaking pretty good, small leak from the rear diff currently. Transmission coolant lines leaking a bit. Seems like I got a few things to address.

 

[rayra]

Did he SHOW you the play in the axle and pinion?
Rear axle bearings are a relatively straightforward job. As is the rear diff gasket. Easy to disassemble the brakes / hubs and pull the c-clips and take the axles out. Pull it apart all at once and give it a proper going over in person. It's easy to manipulate the parts and see what kind of slop is in the bearings. It's a straightforward weekend's effort.
There's some experience or research needed for the pinion work, it's possible to get that quite wrong and cause more trouble than you fix.
Too, it's more likely to be a U-joint, driveshaft balance or pinion bearing issue anyway. You're more likely to hear the rear wheel bearings before you get vibration out of them. Have you bottomed out / dragged anything lately? Any chance you've bent your driveshaft?

Whole bearing kit for the rear is $150-260 on rockauto. The diff cover gasket is just a couple bucks. Call it ~~$300 for all the parts. So sounds like your guy wants standard rates, $85-100/hr. No joy.


Photography's your thing? That certainly explains your pics. Just one of my too-many hobbies, but the last time I was hot on it film was still a thing. Got a Canon AE-1 and AE-1 Program buried in the closet. All my digital cameras are pocket sized. I'm thinking to scrounge up an older D-SLR (I'm cheap about just about everything) sometime after Christmas.