What's the latest on bikini tops?

[BigRed Beast]

searched some of the old forums, saw that Yukon Jack and Frostie were partially vested in selling...something. So, is anyone making these of late? Any sucess stories to report?

I want to buy one from somewhere, just didn't know if it was a custom from an upholstry shop or a pre-made for our trucks...top comes off this weekend!

Dave

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Idk but Im gonna need one this year as I dont think my balding head can take another summers heat...

[Yukon Jack]

The guy I got to make them still will make them but I always caution to get a current quote as he seems to like to change the price each year which kind of ticks me off.

Here's a link to my classified ad.

[Gary 70 Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

The guy I got to make them still will make them but I always caution to get a current quote as he seems to like to change the price each year which kind of ticks me off.

Here's a link to my classified ad.

Thats the guy I got mine from. You can get any color you want.

[70k52wd]

THIS is the latest in bikini tops... Or did you mean bimini tops?

[BigRed Beast]

I like those...that...it...better than any other version I've seen to date!

From a financial perspective, however, I think the price tag would be painfully high.
---I imagine the purchase and delivery costs would exceed the value of the truck...and perhaps the house.
---The maintenance and upkeep cost could very well exceed the initial purchase and delivery fees.
---I would be concerned about theft.

I'm also concerned about the sustainibility of the aforementioned bikini top--I fear the stays would begin to sag in several years, and I would hate to have to put it on Fleabay or CL in a less-than-pristine condition.

Plus, I don't think it's a stock item.

Just sayin'...

[70k52wd]

[chevy2racr]

Originally Posted by BigRed Beast

I like those...that...it...better than any other version I've seen to date!

From a financial perspective, however, I think the price tag would be painfully high.
---I imagine the purchase and delivery costs would exceed the value of the truck...and perhaps the house.
---The maintenance and upkeep cost could very well exceed the initial purchase and delivery fees.
---I would be concerned about theft.

I'm also concerned about the sustainibility of the aforementioned bikini top--I fear the stays would begin to sag in several years, and I would hate to have to put it on Fleabay or CL in a less-than-pristine condition.

Plus, I don't think it's a stock item.

Just sayin'...

WOW! LOVE IT

[jamie72]

one of the best designs yet!!!

[cleszkie]

I used a BestTop bikini top made for a pre-75 Jeep CJ-5 (these jeeps have windshield frames that are the same width as a Blazer's). I had an upholstery shop modify the leading edge to use the snaps I already had in my widshield frame for my old BestTop full soft top. Works like a champ, and not to spendy.

[70k52wd]

That is a beautiful truck cleszkie. Love the bumper guards.

My old one.

[lgdpt]

Originally Posted by BigRed Beast

I like those...that...it...better than any other version I've seen to date!

From a financial perspective, however, I think the price tag would be painfully high.
---I imagine the purchase and delivery costs would exceed the value of the truck...and perhaps the house.
---The maintenance and upkeep cost could very well exceed the initial purchase and delivery fees.
---I would be concerned about theft.

I'm also concerned about the sustainibility of the aforementioned bikini top--I fear the stays would begin to sag in several years, and I would hate to have to put it on Fleabay or CL in a less-than-pristine condition.

Plus, I don't think it's a stock item.

Just sayin'...

Post of the Day!

[VanceH]

When you remove the hard top to add a soft top like above do you have to add snaps to the blazer? if so does it affect putting the hard top back on??

Vance

[70k52wd]

Yes snaps are installed. Hard top bolts back on as usual without the removal of snaps. Soft top side rails need removal before hard top is put back on.

[VanceH]

i am thinking more of the bikini top, with this i will not have to do anything with the back of the side rails right?? If anyone has some pics of the windshield with snaps that would be cool, i am wanting to put a bikini top on and thinking the Jeep top might be the way to go for me.

Thanks

[BigRed Beast]

We don't have snaps or the back rail to attach to, so I figure we're off to a local upholstry shop. I have an old double top that I'm going to cut down and use just the front couple of inches, bolt that to the windshield like normal, then attach the top to it--no snaps. I'm thinking to extend the top just over the roll bar, then wrapping it around the roll bar with velcro stays.

Still haven't pulled the top as we still keep getting nasty weather. Nothing will happen until the top comes off...

[OldCreek]

A quick internet search shows that a pre-75 CJ5 windshield frame width is 59"s....the newer CJ5,CJ7, and wranglers are 55"s....

[Yukon Jack]

Originally Posted by VanceH

i am thinking more of the bikini top, with this i will not have to do anything with the back of the side rails right?? If anyone has some pics of the windshield with snaps that would be cool, i am wanting to put a bikini top on and thinking the Jeep top might be the way to go for me.

Thanks

Vance, go to my above link for my classified ad and you'll see some good photos of one of these tops installed with snaps.

[VanceH]

Very nice, i still cants figure out how come those snaps dont interfear with the orginial top?? but i havent had my top of ever, but as soon as the rain is done!!!!!
Thanks again
Vance

[Dusty71blazer]

Originally Posted by BigRed Beast

I have an old double top that I'm going to cut down and use just the front couple of inches, bolt that to the windshield like normal, then attach the top to it--no snaps.

Love this plan!!! My wrangler had pretty much this same thing for attaching the bikini top. This would no doubt be the best way to attach at front.

As far as velcro in the rear, you may want to plan on something better. The wind really whips these things. You have 2 options, both require nylon straps (simular to rachet straps) you can have them go back to anchor points on the bedsides (like the ones in the pitcures and early jeeps) or run the straps around the roll bar and back up to the windshield (like on late Jeeps). Trust me, you'll want something that you can really tighten down or that top will flap all over the place.

[BigRed Beast]

I could attach it back to the bedsides, maybe through existing hardtop holes (double wall top).

I'm tempted to try some fiberglass magic--I'm kinda excited about modifying the donor double wall top to fit the short top, even to the point of making the old top section large enough to accomodate speakers. Suppose the donor top got cut in a sort of "T" top with the canvas covering the whole thing as necessary?

Would fiberglass stays, similar to lightweight tent poles, do anything to keep the top from launching itself? I was thinking a stay from windshield to rollbar on each side of the top...or would that make the whole thing act as a wing?

I'm gonna do something. Frostie had a post on the soft top thread about a bikini top that looked pretty nice, so I pm'ed him for some more info. Typical project, eh? pretty simple objectives and then the creative juices start flowing...

I kinda hoped we had started a trend with the young lovely in the bikini and the inevitable double entendre, but you have all failed me...

[Dusty71blazer]

Did you see this?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=402011
A nice write up with pictures!
he makes his own header but you can just use your top part.
Also looks like he is only using velcro straps at the roll bar so it must work ok. In my experience with my Jeep top I'd have something sturdier, that can put some tension on the top. Even with alot of tension my top would get annoying on a windy day.