Tom's Offroad - New Signature Series Soft Top

[Randy92Fox]

If you mean like a standard automobile convertible top? Doubtful.
But if so, that would be a nice update to an old design.
In fact, that would probably be the biggest selling point right there. So if that was the case, it should be advertised that it works that way.

As always, though, even if it was designed to do that, it would still probably depend on what kind of roll bar you have. If any?

To be clear, I do not know for a fact about this new one.
If like all the standard design Bronco soft tops, though, they are most definitely not a “convertible“ top that simply folds down. You have to disconnect things, fold the bars/hoops down and wrap the material around the bars to stow it on the vehicle.
Other than that detail, they do in fact, fold down on the bed rail and tailgate.
Just not like a standard convertible.

If nobody watching this thread knows for sure, that would be worth the phone call right there.

Thank you! I'll probably give them a call next week. Running a 66 original half cab and have been considering a soft top for a while. I want to be able to easily go full open top which I consider the half cab to be. Being able to unbolt some bolts and fold back and store on board without completely removing would be a huge plus.

 

[Grey owl]

If you mean like a standard automobile convertible top? Doubtful.
But if so, that would be a nice update to an old design.
In fact, that would probably be the biggest selling point right there. So if that was the case, it should be advertised that it works that way.

As always, though, even if it was designed to do that, it would still probably depend on what kind of roll bar you have. If any?

To be clear, I do not know for a fact about this new one.
If like all the standard design Bronco soft tops, though, they are most definitely not a “convertible“ top that simply folds down. You have to disconnect things, fold the bars/hoops down and wrap the material around the bars to stow it on the vehicle.
Other than that detail, they do in fact, fold down on the bed rail and tailgate.
Just not like a standard convertible.with

If nobody watching this thread knows for sure, that would be worth the phone call right there

Agreed, these tops are often cheap vinyl with mickey mouse frames .

 

[Grey owl]

Thank you! I'll probably give them a call next week. Running a 66 original half cab and have been considering a soft top for a while. I want to be able to easily go full open top which I consider the half cab to be. Being able to unbolt some bolts and fold back and store on board without completely removing would be a huge plus.

 

[Grey owl]

Its a little odd how little has been done to the design these tops in 40 years. I saw one a few weeks ago on a recent restoration and it really is not that much different than the one i bought for my Bronco in the mid 80's.
Weak tubular frame poor material, poor fit , poor design, but they were also not expensive. You got essentially a boat top, they kept most of the rain out, very little of the dust, but offered some shade from the sun.
In the era of the 100k first gen Broncos, modern drive trains , active suspension systems, improved drivability, comfortable interiors, the soft top never really kept up.

 

[DirtDonk]

It kept up with Jeeps. Or at least showed updates over the years, because the current and future expected sales volume justified the continued engineering expenses.
Not so much with EB’s of course.

That could possibly change still, however. Nobody was ever gonna put money into redesigning the wheel for a vehicle that stopped production almost 50 years before. But now they are worth money, and people are building them and restoring them, and spending real money to do so. Even building new ones from scratch!
So someone may finally step up and do some redesign.

Still not high on everybody’s radar I bet, so it’s still not necessarily a good bet that it’ll ever happen.

 

[Grey owl]

Yes jeep tops are much better cannot argue that point. Will a real high quality soft ever be produced for the EB?? Not likely there will be some high end one offs but you are right no one on this continent will spend the R&D to do a top like those seen on the new Broncos.

 

[Randy92Fox]

Spoke with Cameron at Tom's today and he told me it would be dependent on roll cage but overall yes it can be folded back and the top would rest on the tailgate.

 

[SD66]

Spoke with Cameron at Tom's today and he told me it would be dependent on roll cage but overall yes it can be folded back and the top would rest on the tailgate.

We have a 4 point sport cage and are looking at this Tom's top instead of the BC top. did you order it and confirm the folding capabilities? i've got it on my list to call them tomorrow to confirm. So little info online about this.

 

[SD66]

I called Tom's (spoke to Kelly/Kelley) and the top does not fold back like a Bestop or Rampage. Technically - you can remove the skin and fold things back but it's not recommended and is not a minor amount of work.

 

[DirtDonk]

I called Tom's (spoke to Kelly/Kelley) and the top does not fold back like a Bestop or Rampage.

Can’t speak for Bestop (the last experience I had that with one of those was probably more than 40 years ago), but the Rampage doesn’t just fold back either.
It’s as Tom’s described about their top. You undo the material almost completely, or maybe remove completely, fold the bows back, either wrap the material around the bows, or if you desire leave the material off completely.
Strap it all down and carry on.

Really nothing “convertible-like“ about it. Other than the fact that it does “fold back” in a way.
But it’s a process.

 

[SD66]

yeah - i think with Tom's it comes down to undoing a bunch of snaps vs Rampage pulling the fabric out of the clip-in channel. Rampage sounds far easier but yeah -it's no jeep top.

 

[DirtDonk]

but yeah -it's no jeep top.

True, but even that is for modern Jeeps only. When our Broncos were new-ish Jeep tops weren’t exactly “convertible “ either.
About twenty plus years of development after the fact had its benefits.

 

[toddz69]

I called Tom's (spoke to Kelly/Kelley) and the top does not fold back like a Bestop or Rampage. Technically - you can remove the skin and fold things back but it's not recommended and is not a minor amount of work.

Can’t speak for Bestop (the last experience I had that with one of those was probably more than 40 years ago), but the Rampage doesn’t just fold back either.
It’s as Tom’s described about their top. You undo the material almost completely, or maybe remove completely, fold the bows back, either wrap the material around the bows, or if you desire leave the material off completely.
Strap it all down and carry on.

Really nothing “convertible-like“ about it. Other than the fact that it does “fold back” in a way.
But it’s a process.

Bestops don't fold back either.

Todd Z.

 

[SeaVee]

I have my original Kayline from the ‘90’s stashed in my garage. Loved how you could fold it back. It’s rough but I’m considering taking it to my canvas guy to see if they can replicate it. Bring back the snaps!

 

[Bronco4x4]

I have a Kayline I bought new in the late 90’s with the plastic channels (no snaps). I installed it in 2010 and it still looks like new. This top will fold back after you release the tension on the rear bow and unfasten all the plastic channels on the sides and the aluminum channel across the windshield frame and fold up the side windows. Are you saying that Tom’s does not work this way?

 

[Bronco4x4]

I just answered myself. Looking at Tom’s website video, it appears to function the same.