New project

[dsw4x4]

Sheep Shagger,
Thanks! The hardware and motor are more than sufficient to hold down the top for normal everyday driving. I could probably get away without using the latches for 99% of the people that use these vans, However I found out on my personal van after a 600 trail mile trip that after hours of rough trails sloshing the van side to side at pretty high speeds the lift motors do start to back off a little and lose the tension holding down on the top and then the top wants to slosh left to right about 1/4 inch each way eventually rubbing on the paint and wearing on the seal. So my way of fixing it was to put the latches on the exterior. I am unaware of the smb design other than that dated looking seal that is screwed or rivited on to the fiberglass. I use a high quality Uchannel bulb seal around the perimeter of the top and I have not had any leak issues air or water. I was talking to chris (who owns this van) and I was thinking his van (7.3) was quieter with the top than it was with the stock head liner. He agreed saying it was a lot quieter with the new top. versus the stock headliner. A quiet ride system on the floor would make and even bigger difference.

 

[18seeds]

Quiet Ride and floor is next on the list.

Not the most interest video but click on the pic

 

[Maximus Ram]

How long does it take to raise the top ? and are there limiting straps to keep it from stretching the material ?
I was watching the vid and thinking...what am i watching for...then I noticed the toop going up....:Wow1::hehe:

 

[Sheep Shagger]

Sheep Shagger,
Thanks! The hardware and motor are more than sufficient to hold down the top for normal everyday driving. I could probably get away without using the latches for 99% of the people that use these vans, However I found out on my personal van after a 600 trail mile trip that after hours of rough trails sloshing the van side to side at pretty high speeds the lift motors do start to back off a little and lose the tension holding down on the top and then the top wants to slosh left to right about 1/4 inch each way eventually rubbing on the paint and wearing on the seal. So my way of fixing it was to put the latches on the exterior. I am unaware of the smb design other than that dated looking seal that is screwed or rivited on to the fiberglass. I use a high quality Uchannel bulb seal around the perimeter of the top and I have not had any leak issues air or water. I was talking to chris (who owns this van) and I was thinking his van (7.3) was quieter with the top than it was with the stock head liner. He agreed saying it was a lot quieter with the new top. versus the stock headliner. A quiet ride system on the floor would make and even bigger difference.

That sounds very good, sounds like SMB should copy it for the 4x4 vans. All the SMB pics I see from someone who takes them off road, it would seem the paint has rubbed off, a lot of top jams from out of alignment, and large gaps around the corrugated roof, plus cracks in the ford paint from what's left of the roof flexing. It really put me off the pop-top design in general for anything that's taken offroad, but seems the catch idea stops all of that.
Then again, you generally only hear the bad not the good, so maybe the SMB stuff isn't a problematic as it would seem.

That top seems to really suit the shape of the van, and probably has less turbulence over the top of the windshield, which would help noise. What did you use for the headliner, as that's something I need, to quieten the noise of the roof rack I have.

 

[18seeds]

The video is real time. It takes less than a minute to go up

 

[dsw4x4]

Here are some final pictures. Not much that chris's pics do not show but it is done.
Sheep shagger
That head liner is called needle punch backless carpet. I get it direct from one of my suppliers I can sell it if you cannot find it locally.
Maximus Ram
There are no limiting straps the top goes up the full distance of the stroke of the actuators when the actuators stop the top is all the way up.

Derek

 

[RocKrawler]

Any shots of the top up with the 8" drop bunk in place with the penthouse style? I saw it on the fixed top in your other post, both are so clean I cant make up my mind which I'd rather have

 

[dsw4x4]

Rockcrawler,
You cannot have a drop bunk in a poptop because there is not enough room to fold the bed up when the top is down. Plus there is no reason to have a drop bunk on a poptop because our tops go up high enough that you have plenty of headroom sitting up in bed so there is no reason to sacrifice the head room below. The main reason for that drop bed is to get the headroom while you are in bed in a fixed top. I have been thinking about hinging the bed at the back of the van on gas struts so that you can tilt it up when the top is up and have the head room to walk around in the van then when you are ready to go to bed you just pull the bed down and climb in.
Derek

 

[HMR]

Amazing design. Great work!

 

[RocKrawler]

Another question - if a van already has a high top, can it be converted to the pop up still of do the holes from the original high top install cause leaks? Is it best to not install the high top until the pop top is to be done? And whats the cost difference between the do it yourself kit version vs. driving it there to have you perofrm the install?

 

[18seeds]

shake down trip

 

[18seeds]

Another question - if a van already has a high top, can it be converted to the pop up still of do the holes from the original high top install cause leaks? Is it best to not install the high top until the pop top is to be done? And whats the cost difference between the do it yourself kit version vs. driving it there to have you perofrm the install?

This top came off a van already so my guess is that if your van already has a high top than Derek can convert it to a pop top. For this top, he had to trim off about 1/2 of the bottom of the top (where the old holes were). I believe on Derek's personal van he just filled in the holes.

 

[Maximus Ram]

This top came off a van already so my guess is that if your van already has a high top than Derek can convert it to a pop top. For this top, he had to trim off about 1/2 of the bottom of the top (where the old holes were). I believe on Derek's personal van he just filled in the holes.

Now thats nice....if a person has or can find one with a raised top, they can get it converted...I like that.

Your van is coming along nicely. Have you decided on how the interior is going to lay out ?

 

[18seeds]

Your van is coming along nicely. Have you decided on how the interior is going to lay out ?

Pretty much. We came up with a design that allows the van to still be a van. I've got some other stuff i need to do first.

1. Make some money
2. Some general engine maintenance
3. Make some money
4. New Swivel Seats
5. Make some money

The interior will allow for maximum amount of flexibility for me and future owners (I don't keep my toys too long)

 

[Maximus Ram]

Pretty much. We came up with a design that allows the van to still be a van. I've got some other stuff i need to do first.

1. Make some money
2. Some general engine maintenance
3. Make some money
4. New Swivel Seats
5. Make some money

The interior will allow for maximum amount of flexibility for me and future owners (I don't keep my toys too long)

Hmmm, if you have a secret to 1,3,and 5 can you let me know...I could use some , too..:sombrero: