BCB's new top

[DonsBolt]

hey it's been a hour and a half, where are the installed pics. hehe

you go bax

 

[trailpsycho]

Theres only an hour of light left to get good pics, Bax. Dont let us down.

UPS does specialize in damaging shipped goods, after all. Thats a big package, so it probably got the "special" treatment.

Its been 3 hours....%)

 

[bax]

Yes the Shipping ride was a little rough. I got 2 bent alinement studs, a bent up tailgate piece and the riser for the windshield was messed up a bit. The box was packed well on the inside. All the parts were wrapped up good and care was taken in the packaging but I guess UPS likes to throw this stuff around. Cost is a factor with the box and I dont think ups will stop throwing this stuff around. Building a better box may be an option to look at. I am putting it together in the shop. This is just a test fit and I will be taking it back off. Nothing goes on right the first time on my truck. I also need a few parts. Thanks UPS.

 

[chuck]

Bax, it's O.K. to tell all the things we talked about today. All good input and I will be changing all the things you told me about. It's easy to not see things when you look at it as much as I have. Like those tabs, I don't know what I was thinking. Anyway thank you for looking closely at everything. We can have a diff. of opinion about how things should be but the things you came up with today I should have already caught.

 

[bax]

Chuck and I did have a conversation today about the top. He had a few tips on the assembly and we exchanged different ideas about the frame construction. Earlier I was just concentrating on the frame. I never got to the fabric top. As I look at this top I wonder how close to the same all of our trucks are. By the "same" I mean size. Body panels get changed along with floors and everything else including collision damage. So trying to make a one size fits all product is a bit of a challenge. I would like to say this: Chuck has a good product on his hands here. It's sides are very strong and will be able to Carry a good load with a roof rack. He has gone to some trouble to make this framework ridged and vibration resistant. Like I said I have not got to the fabric top yet but the stitching looks good. Chuck has a few things with the frame he needs to work on. They are minor but making the changes will make the top better. I was a bit surprised how well Chuck dealt with my opinions. He was still very open to my ideas and never got the least bit defensive. Some people after working so hard on a project really don't take well to someone "critiquing " the job they did. Chuck must not be one of those people. He welcomed all of my input. how much it will help is up to him. I am happy to help out. More later.
Bax

 

[FSRBIKER]

Bax like Chuck said he NEEDS an outsiders opinion and comments on what might need to be changed, it is hard to see any type of minor flaw or needed change when you are so consumed with a product and see it day in/day out. This will benefit all of us looking for a great fitting and looking soft top that is designed to last a long time and fit well during it's lifetime.

I am not sure how the frame is designed but there probably needs to be some adjustability built in somewhere for the differences in trucks as well as the eventual stretching of the fabric over time. The Bestop's I had on my CJ and TJ many years ago had this and it was a benefit to get the top to fit well.

Chuck keep up the good work, Bax keep the input coming to Chuck....I will be purchasing one of these tops in the future as my EB gets ready for the road/trails and appreciate all the R&D that has been put into it's construction.

 

[73ny]

Chuck, will the frames around the door be available in the bare metal like the hoops or is it black like the pics?

 

[Ethansdad73]

Bax-To bad UPS did not deliver it earlier this week. I am out of work with my back surgery tomorrow. I would of love to see the top and help if needed.

 

[bax]

Bax-To bad UPS did not deliver it earlier this week. I am out of work with my back surgery tomorrow. I would of love to see the top and help if needed.

Good luck on your surgery.

The install has stopped for now. Like I said I need a few new pieces. I talked again with Chuck on the phone at lunch time. We went over more variations and talked about how to build in some more adjustment without sacrificing rigidity. I think we made more progress. Chucks top will seal to the truck using all factory gaskets and rubber seals. I had a set of new door seals but didn't know that I would need the other seals as well. This has stopped the install and limited my ability to try and adjust the fit of the top. So I will just be looking it over until I get the parts. I told Chuck to make sure that anyone that is buying a top knows that the seals are needed and give them the option to buy them. Or just include them in the cost. Chuck is worried about keeping the cost down and didn't want to include the seals because some people may have the seals and not need them. It's a keep the price down move, why pay for something you already have. So I understand his point and he will make it a standard question when someone orders a top to ask "do you need seals with that" He will also put it on the sales literature so that should work good. The hoop install is a bit of a pain. Chucks way works but I think it can be built different and made easier to install. I had an idea to make it easier and Chuck seemed to like it so we are going to look at that some more. There are also windshield riser details that need to be worked out. A drop windshield motor bracket will be needed for my truck. The riser is shorter than the top part of my motor. Also only two of the riser mounting bolt holes line up with the existing holes in the top of my windshield frame. Chuck was surprised at this because there should be only two bolt patterns used and mine doesn't match any of them. Mine is a 68 and sometimes they are kinda weird on things, who knows. I am going to send Chuck details on the center of these holes and he will punch a third pattern into the riser. just in case your truck is weird like mine. There are a few other issues with the window area that we are looking at. There needs to be a way to adjust the window frame more. It has some but we are looking at improving on it so no one will have to mess with it their install. makes sense to me. your all power coated and have to slot a hole? that sucks. Chuck wants all these little thing taken care of and fixed before he sells them. Give him a little more time, it will be worth it. I will post some pictures later. Note: This top is way stronger than another top I used to have.%)
Bax

 

[Ohio Bronco 21]

Cool, Sounds Good

 

[bax]

Some pictures of the top. keep in mind the adjustments are not done because of the seals that I don't have yet. It will fit better with the seals.

 

[sprdv1]

Lookin good Bax...

 

[Heus33]

Wow - the support structure looks stout! Its like a second cage!

 

[FSRBIKER]

Frame looks nice and strong.

Bax/Chuck once the frame has been assembled would it be able to be removed in one piece if you wanted swap back to a hardtop for winter?

 

[chuck]

Yes, remove the windshield header bolts and 4 bolts on each bed rail and lift it off like a hard top.

 

[Skiddy]

WOW that looks awesome thus far

 

[Dan's73]

Can't wait to see the whole deal....nice.

 

[Ohio Bronco 21]

That frame is great Chuck, You put some time into it and it really shows.

 

[trailpsycho]

Yeah, that is very sweet...even if it wont fold down. I cant wait to see it with its skin. Thanks for keepin it real, Chuck. Great job.

 

[FSRBIKER]

Yes, remove the windshield header bolts and 4 bolts on each bed rail and lift it off like a hard top.

Good deal, that will make is pretty easy to reinstall after the snow/winter.