Hard top rear clamp only?

[Imagineer]

I have an opportunity to purchase a hard top for very short $$, The only way to get it home is to drive my TJ out there, remove the soft top and install the hard top for the ride home (+/-45min). The front latches are junk.

How stupid is it to have a hard top held to the tub using only the bolts along the rear sides?

 

[JMT]

I have an opportunity to purchase a hard top for very short $$, The only way to get it home is to drive my TJ out there, remove the soft top and install the hard top for the ride home (+/-45min). The front latches are junk.

How stupid is it to have a hard top held to the tub using only the bolts along the rear sides?

Roll your windows down, take a ratchet strap and wrap it through both door window frames over the hardtop, roll the window up as much as possible, and drive home.

 

[Snukulu]

I did a 45 minute ride with latches but no bolts. If you can avoid rough roads and highway speeds, you'll be fine with the ratchet straps. It's got enough weight to hold itself down.

 

[Imagineer]

Roll your windows down, take a ratchet strap and wrap it through both door window frames over the hardtop, roll the window up as much as possible, and drive home.

Thanks.

 

[hear]

I would go with only 2 bolts, but I woudn't go hard & fast without the front latches. Ratchet strap is a pretty good plan, although you'll have to Bo Duke it to ingress/egress.

You have a plan for replacing the latches?

 

[chili_pepper]

The front latches are junk.

If you plan on rehabbing the top and keeping/using it, why not buy the replacement cam latches now, take them with and install them for the ride home....unless the bolt plates are jacked up inside the top or something of the sort...

 

[Imagineer]

You have a plan for replacing the latches?

Yes, eventually.

"why not buy the replacement cam latches now, take them with and install them for the ride home"

I don't know if the front header rail is in good enough shape or not. besides, it's too damn cold to mess about outside.

"you'll have to Bo Duke it to ingress/egress."
I think I can loop the truck strap over the top of the window frame and wrap it around the roll bars, thus allowing the door to open & close.

 

[chili_pepper]

I don't know if the front header rail is in good enough shape or not. besides, it's too damn cold to mess about outside.

Fair enough on the header rail, though if that is in bad shape, the top might not be worth it for any money. You must know.

Totally understand the cold, it can feck off already for my money.

 

[Snukulu]

Can you ask for close-up pics for the header railing, inside & out before making the trip? If it's that compromised, even with new latches you might be dealing with years of serious leaking and wind noise

 

[hear]

Remember:

 

[Imagineer]

Remember:

View attachment 668782

It's ok... I like annoying projects.

To keep me from being bored this summer, I've got an idea of how to cut the rear of the hardtop and angle it forward (similar in profile to the Bestop I have on the Jeep now. That project will involve some fiberglass work so if the front rail is buggered, I can graft in replacement metal and glass over.

 

[chili_pepper]

fiberglass work

Make sure when you do this to use only SMC-compatible resins and fillers. Otherwise you might end up repairing it twice. And buy some tyvek body bags, unless you really like full body itches.

 

[Snukulu]

Remember:

View attachment 668782

My mantra has become, "Okay, this is just the crying part of the project."

 

[Imagineer]

And buy some tyvek body bags, unless you really like full body itches.

Here's a glass project from several years ago...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/epic-truck-cap-project.678165/

 

[JMT]

Here's a glass project from several years ago...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/epic-truck-cap-project.678165/

Nice work.

 

[Imagineer]

Ok, the seller just forwarded this picture of the inside of the front rail of the hard top. I was expecting to see a set of pivot latches for holding the roof, but it appears to be a 2-piece clip and a bolt to tighten.

I'm not at all concerned about the rust, but I am concerned this might not be a TJ roof. I've not previously seen where a TJ roof was held down with a bolt-on clip.

Are there any tell-tale signs that this might be a YJ roof?

 

[chili_pepper]

Are there any tell-tale signs that this might be a YJ roof?

Or CJ, but that doesn't look like a factory TJ hardtop as far as I'm aware. Should look something like this...

 

[Imagineer]

It's a moot point now. The little fugger selling the cap straight up ghosted me.

Time for the rant . . . what is up with all these a-holes on Facebook Marketplace, who post something for sale, then don't respond?

 

[Tronner]

It's a moot point now. The little fugger selling the cap straight up ghosted me.

Time for the rant . . . what is up with all these a-holes on Facebook Marketplace, who post something for sale, then don't respond?

Don't worry, it was a YJ top any way. Vents are wrong for a 97-02 TJ HT. FB Marketplace makes it easy for ghosting. Most of the time they do not respond because they are already engaging with a more promising buyer. Sometimes they just don't respond because they are bad sellers. Most sellers on MP are terrible sellers.

 

[JMT]

I used to try to respond to every person on FB MP who said they might be interested. I’d get lost with who’s who when there were 10 or more people. I started just replying to the first 3-4 people.