New top for my Taco
- Thread starter woodeye
- Start date
adrenaline503
Explorer
Nice, I have a Softopper, but I saw one of the Bestops the other day and I like how the rear "hatch" is on yours better. No doofy velcro. Anyway, nice score.
woodeye
Observer
top
Sorry my wife took the camera to school with her and its still there.
Where both teachers so its tough to go out of the building during classes.
Any ways what I did was took my aluminimum cap, stripped it down to the
frame, picked up a fiberglass cap from a full sized truck and removed all the
glass. I cut the fiberglass cap up so the sides fit on the aluminum frame.
I left a gap down the middle of the frame about "39 wide.
The plan is to take the jeep soft top cut it down, use the rear roll up window
for the rear of the cap and the rest of the top as a rag top. Then find a
piece of poly for the front of the cap. Re-install the side windows once I've
finished with the top and bingo I've got a cap that can be open to look at
the stars and closed when the weather is not cooperating.
Now for the main reasons for this project, my aluminum cap I got for $50
in Sept. of 07. I hated camping in it because when it rained it was really loud
even with a tarp. Plus I wanted more lite and room. Best of all I got the full
sized cap and the jeep top for free. Now I have like $62 into the project.
pics soon
Woody
Sorry my wife took the camera to school with her and its still there.
Where both teachers so its tough to go out of the building during classes.
Any ways what I did was took my aluminimum cap, stripped it down to the
frame, picked up a fiberglass cap from a full sized truck and removed all the
glass. I cut the fiberglass cap up so the sides fit on the aluminum frame.
I left a gap down the middle of the frame about "39 wide.
The plan is to take the jeep soft top cut it down, use the rear roll up window
for the rear of the cap and the rest of the top as a rag top. Then find a
piece of poly for the front of the cap. Re-install the side windows once I've
finished with the top and bingo I've got a cap that can be open to look at
the stars and closed when the weather is not cooperating.
Now for the main reasons for this project, my aluminum cap I got for $50
in Sept. of 07. I hated camping in it because when it rained it was really loud
even with a tarp. Plus I wanted more lite and room. Best of all I got the full
sized cap and the jeep top for free. Now I have like $62 into the project.
pics soon
Woody
woodeye
Observer
lets try again
Sorry dcab i was trying to post pics, but camping in Mass I only do if I have to. Like when I go to PedroFest in Ludlow in July for 4days. If you mountain bike this is the festival to go to. Or I mostly go up north to the White mountains or any where in Maine, cause I hate Mass. As for wheeling in Mass
is only on the Cape at Sandy Neck, get a sticker and theres 7.5 miles of sand
and fishing. I don't really wheel that much cause I can't afford to fix or break a bunch of parts since my wife and I are both teachers and my daughter going to college next year ($35,000). So mostly fire roads and sandy beaches.
any way heres pics I hope
ahh got to try another sourse for pics.
Woody
Sorry dcab i was trying to post pics, but camping in Mass I only do if I have to. Like when I go to PedroFest in Ludlow in July for 4days. If you mountain bike this is the festival to go to. Or I mostly go up north to the White mountains or any where in Maine, cause I hate Mass. As for wheeling in Mass
is only on the Cape at Sandy Neck, get a sticker and theres 7.5 miles of sand
and fishing. I don't really wheel that much cause I can't afford to fix or break a bunch of parts since my wife and I are both teachers and my daughter going to college next year ($35,000). So mostly fire roads and sandy beaches.
any way heres pics I hope
ahh got to try another sourse for pics.
Woody
Last edited:
woodeye
Observer
updates
[/IMG]Well got the top on, but not fastened to the rear yet. Also if you look at the
front of the cap I used the rear zip up window for the jeep top. With some
thinking I'll be able to reach the zippers so I can roll it up so my dog can go in
the back. The other reason I put the window there is so I can use the flip up
window from the alluminum cap for the back, easier access instead of
un-zipping it every time I use the back since this is my dailey driver. I also
want to point out this material we use for our schools robotic program, its
called 80-20 and comes in many different sizes. (the last pic is a close-up) I'm going to attach my shovel and farm-all jack to it.
The 3 piece sleeping platform will sit on the cap base so all my gear for
camping can go underneath and be removed and stored easily.
Woody
[/IMG]
[/IMG]
[/IMG]:camping:
front of the cap I used the rear zip up window for the jeep top. With some
thinking I'll be able to reach the zippers so I can roll it up so my dog can go in
the back. The other reason I put the window there is so I can use the flip up
window from the alluminum cap for the back, easier access instead of
un-zipping it every time I use the back since this is my dailey driver. I also
want to point out this material we use for our schools robotic program, its
called 80-20 and comes in many different sizes. (the last pic is a close-up) I'm going to attach my shovel and farm-all jack to it.
The 3 piece sleeping platform will sit on the cap base so all my gear for
camping can go underneath and be removed and stored easily.
Woody
taco chaser
Supporting Sponsor
Nice topper. How did you get your hands on the aluminium frame work? That is the beginings of a full metal shell right? Anyways, cool idea.
woodeye
Observer
metal
Metal shell no way trying to save weight, but the frame is from my aluminum
cap. Stripped it down, saved the windows in case I start another project,
gave all the alum. to the metal shop at school to recycle. I then found a
store display that had 1x3 alum. that I used for the base of the frame and then
that sits on the rails and bolts to the 80-20 thats bolted to inside of the bed rails.
Chaser do you work for yourself, cause I wish you lived closer to New England
I'd be over your place all the time just to see what your working on and pick
your brain.
Woody
[/IMG]
Metal shell no way trying to save weight, but the frame is from my aluminum
cap. Stripped it down, saved the windows in case I start another project,
gave all the alum. to the metal shop at school to recycle. I then found a
store display that had 1x3 alum. that I used for the base of the frame and then
that sits on the rails and bolts to the 80-20 thats bolted to inside of the bed rails.
Chaser do you work for yourself, cause I wish you lived closer to New England
I'd be over your place all the time just to see what your working on and pick
your brain.
Woody