THOUGHTS ON HALF CAB

[mustanggarage]

I have always liked the way the half cabs look. My Bronco originally came with the full top. I decided when I built it to go with a soft top, but I put it on once and hated it. I have always liked the way the half cabs look. I originally got interested in broncos because of stacey davids crazy horse, but I liked the open feeling of the bronco. I have had a bikini top on it since I finished the major portion of the restoration and I really like the way it looks and I like how open it is. I don't care for it much when it rains, or when its really cold out. even 50 degrees is pretty chilly at 70 mph. so I have been considering putting a half cab on. my question is, are they pretty cramped inside? I am not a huge guy, but I am 5 10. so for all you guys with half cabs tell me the good and bad about them thanks

 

[thegreatjustino]

There's no storage other than between the seats. If you have a console, then that's gone. I'm also 5'-10" and don't feel cramped inside. If your Bronco is a 73 or later, it won't have the mounting holes for the bulkhead. Additionally there are two centering pins on a half cab. You'll either need to drill holes for these in the bed rails if your Bronco wasn't originally a U14 or knock the pins out of the top and install it without them. Finally, like all tops, the 66 - mid year '69 tops have a different bolt pattern than the mid year 69 - 72 tops to coincide with vacuum vs. electric wipers. If you mismatch the top with the year of your windshield frame, you're going to need to drill another set of holes in either the top or the frame.

With all of that said, I have a half cab on my '74. By drilling all the necessary holes, it works fine. Just a lot more work than I expected (so pretty typical of all Bronco projects, right?)

 

[Speedrdr]

I’ve had both full cab and half cab.
HALF CAB POSITIVES : easier to heat in winter. Air circulation is better in summer. Lighter than full cab makes it so much easier to take off when you’re going topless. Less material to paint. Looks cool.
HALF CAB NEGATIVES : minimal lockable interior storage. Can’t install a roof rack.
I like a half cab enough that my ‘77 is going to be a half cab when I’m done with the restoration.

Randy

 

[BOBS 2 68S]

I love my 1/2 cab. Mine is a after market fiberglass top and bulkhead. Storage isn't. The full roll cage did take some room. But I felt it was needed. I have tool boxes under the hood on the inner fenders. When hunting the packs go in dry bags and the guns ride in my buddies lap (when it rains). And my wife likes it.
The bad can't take the dogs with us. No place but the cab to lock things up.
I am rebuilding my 1st EB and it will be a full top. Best of both worlds.
PS Nice Bronco

 

[fordguy]

There's no storage other than between the seats. If you have a console, then that's gone. I'm also 5'-10" and don't feel cramped inside. If your Bronco is a 73 or later, it won't have the mounting holes for the bulkhead. Additionally there are two centering pins on a half cab. You'll either need to drill holes for these in the bed rails if your Bronco wasn't originally a U14 or knock the pins out of the top and install it without them. Finally, like all tops, the 66 - mid year '69 tops have a different bolt pattern than the mid year 69 - 72 tops to coincide with vacuum vs. electric wipers. If you mismatch the top with the year of your windshield frame, you're going to need to drill another set of holes in either the top or the frame.

With all of that said, I have a half cab on my '74. By drilling all the necessary holes, it works fine. Just a lot more work than I expected (so pretty typical of all Bronco projects, right?)

lol, right!

 

[JSBX]

I run a 1/2 cab and love it. I had a bulkhead built for it that goes straight down instead of angling toward the front. I have a regular console between the seats and there is a little room behind the seats. The only problem going this route is sealing the bulkhead where it meets the ribbed floor but not difficult. If you don't want to go this route, I believe some of the vendors sell a console that is made for a 1/2 cab.

 

[mustanggarage]

Another question I have is regarding seatbelts. Currently, I have three-point shoulder harness belts with the upper anchor point in my roll bar. Does everybody just run lap belts? I do not want to run a full interior cage. I would like to keep just the exterior roar like I currently have. I know I’ll have to replace it with the half version. I was thinking of possibly mounting the upper anchor point to a bolt running through the upper roll bar and a Gromit through the cab, I guess I can just convert to lap belts

 

[mustanggarage]

I run a 1/2 cab and love it. I had a bulkhead built for it that goes straight down instead of angling toward the front. I have a regular console between the seats and there is a little room behind the seats. The only problem going this route is sealing the bulkhead where it meets the ribbed floor but not difficult. If you don't want to go this route, I believe some of the vendors sell a console that is made for a 1/2 cab.

Can you show me some pictures of your bulkhead.

 

[mustanggarage]

I love my 1/2 cab. Mine is a after market fiberglass top and bulkhead. Storage isn't. The full roll cage did take some room. But I felt it was needed. I have tool boxes under the hood on the inner fenders. When hunting the packs go in dry bags and the guns ride in my buddies lap (when it rains). And my wife likes it.
The bad can't take the dogs with us. No place but the cab to lock things up.
I am rebuilding my 1st EB and it will be a full top. Best of both worlds.
PS Nice Bronco

My plan is to use a bronco design fiberglass top. And a steel bulkhead. Currently I just have the bikini top. So there is no lockable storage except my console so any cab will be an improvement there lol. But that’s not really a concern I have. Are you using lap belts? What kind of roll bar do you have. Post some pictures please

 

[Yeller]

I know you said no full cage, but I can honestly say a Bailie Bilt cage is very unitrusive and solves the seat belt issue.

I’d post pics if I had some, I don’t have one, just installed a few and riden in some with them.

 

[TX SS]

I have the Bailie Bilt cage and am running lap belts. Seats are Recaro and sit down lower than stock. I'm 5'10" and there is plenty of head room. Here are some various pictures of the cage through my buiild.

 

[WILDHORSES]

I have the Bailie Bilt cage and am running lap belts. Seats are Recaro and sit down lower than stock. I'm 5'10" and there is plenty of head room. Here are some various pictures of the cage through my buiild.

View attachment 933113

Very NICE! Notice the seats are low and that's a must!

I built my wife's 73 half can with a bench seat (not stock) that is way to tall. Perfect for her at 5'. Me at 6' I have to scoot forward and lean back just to ride in it. I love the half cab but not much room inside. Bottom line the lower the seats the better.

Jim

 

[acropilot]

I've been running my half cab for 16 years.When i restored it i put dynamat on the floor and firewall and put one of the molded rubber floor covers over it that looks like bed liner.In the summers down here in the south with the windows down it gets lots of air flow without being noisy and never feels hot.I'm running the stock seats and at 5'10 don't feel cramped.I put one of these harbor freight locking storage boxes right behind the bulkhead for tools and gear.

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-34-cu-ft-steel-trailer-tongue-box-62253.html?_br_psugg_q=trailer+storage+box

That's my lime green bronco in the 2025 calendar voting pics.

 

[mustanggarage]

I've been running my half cab for 16 years.When i restored it i put dynamat on the floor and firewall and put one of the molded rubber floor covers over it that looks like bed liner.In the summers down here in the south with the windows down it gets lots of air flow without being noisy and never feels hot.I'm running the stock seats and at 5'10 don't feel cramped.I put one of these harbor freight locking storage boxes right behind the bulkhead for tools and gear.

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-34-cu-ft-steel-trailer-tongue-box-62253.html?_br_psugg_q=trailer+storage+box

That's my lime green bronco in the 2025 calendar voting pics.

I would love to see some detailed pics of your bronco. very nice looking rig. as far as seats I have wild horses procar seats with the extra low mounting option so I should be as ok as I can get without modifying the floor.

 

[Hopstr]

I run a 1/2 cab and love it. I had a bulkhead built for it that goes straight down instead of angling toward the front. I have a regular console between the seats and there is a little room behind the seats. The only problem going this route is sealing the bulkhead where it meets the ribbed floor but not difficult. If you don't want to go this route, I believe some of the vendors sell a console that is made for a 1/2 cab.

JSBX, do you have any photos of your bulkhead you can post? I've always wanted to do a straight down one on my halfcab too so it has some room behind the seat.

 

[thegreatjustino]

For those who asked about a straight down bulkhead, these are photos of a '73 I owned years ago but have since sold. I have no clue who built the bulkhead or installed the sliding window on the half cab, but both appeared to be home made and not professionally done. This setup did provide 12 to 18 inches of storage room behind the seats.

 

[knack]

I've had my half cab for quite a while and love it. I'm about 6' and 200 lbs. No problems with room. No dog to haul around - though my last one always stood between the front seats anyway.
One thing I really like is all the open space in back for stuff I'd rather not have inside the cab with me. Gas cans, portable loo for camping, chainsaws, oversize stuff that wouldn't fit under a full cab, etc.
I attached shoulder harnesses to braces bolted in the upper corner of the cab on either side. Attachment points are at least as strong as the bolts holding the cab to the body. If that doesn't do it, I think we're in deep trouble anyway. But, I'm not driving I-95 through Philadelphia every day either. For my use it's fine.

 

[acropilot]

^^^^^^^^^^
(I attached shoulder harnesses to braces bolted in the upper corner of the cab on either side. Attachment points are at least as strong as the bolts holding the cab to the body. If that doesn't do it, I think we're in deep trouble anyway. But, I'm not driving I-95 through Philadelphia every day either. For my use it's fine.)

I did the same thing and used a 3 point retractable seat belt.

 

[mustanggarage]

^^^^^^^^^^
(I attached shoulder harnesses to braces bolted in the upper corner of the cab on either side. Attachment points are at least as strong as the bolts holding the cab to the body. If that doesn't do it, I think we're in deep trouble anyway. But, I'm not driving I-95 through Philadelphia every day either. For my use it's fine.)

I did the same thing and used a 3 point retractable seat belt.

I would like to see some pics of this if you guys have any

 

[okie4570]

If you go with a Balie Bilt half cab cage, be sure to specify whether it's a fiberglass repro top or an original steel top. The dimensions are slightly different. He will ask which one, but just a heads up anyway.