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Bikini Top Stowage

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by maurywhurt, Dec 12, 2021.

  1. Dec 12, 2021
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I just installed a Bestop Traditional Bikini top on my '67, mostly a result of having gotten sun-fried while driving without a top during the summer, and more recently getting caught in a rain shower.

    As some have indicated in other threads, it wasn't at all easy or quick to get the canvas "bead" fed into the windshield channel. Since I will sometimes want to drive my Jeep without a top, I'd like to figure out a good way to roll up and stow the bikini top without having to remove it from the channel. Here's what the installation instructions suggest:

    Step Four

    The Bikini Top can be removed easily or you can leave it attached at the windshield and roll the top up to fasten it to the windshield with the factory straps when you lay the windshield down on the hood. You can than put the windshield and the top back up in seconds in case of rain.
    Anyone have a guess as to what these "factory straps" are that would fasten the rolled up top to the windshield? I can't see how the straps sewn to the rear of the bikini top would serve this purpose, because if the top is rolled up toward the bead, those straps would be rolled up with it, and wouldn't be able to keep it from unrolling. The single factory strap in the center of the windshield that goes through the footman loop on the hood doesn't seem sufficient to keep the rolled-up top in place very well either.

    Has anyone come up with a good way to do this?
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2021
  2. Dec 12, 2021
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I think they are talking about laying the windshield down on the hood then the “Factory Strap” holds it down.

    I’ve done this with the top rolled up under the windshield.
     
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  3. Dec 12, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    But be aware it will rub your paint and depending on your speed, flop around. As me how I know. I rolled my supertop up under the folded down windshield when towing to avoid the reattaching hassle but it rubbed red patina all over the folded area. Stopped doing that.
     
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  4. Dec 12, 2021
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

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    My way is not factory and looks goofy but it works… I have two spring hand clamps I keep on the Jeep. I roll up the top and the clamp the bikini top roll to the top of the windshield frame. It’s worked on very rough roads and up to about 50mph (haven’t tried it faster)
     
  5. Dec 14, 2021
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

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    You'll find that after having the Bestop top on for a year, that front plastic piece on the top that slides up into the windshield channel, will retain the fold. It will be much easier to align and slide up into the windshield channel. When the top is new, it's a pain for sure to get into without it wanting to pop out.
     
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  6. Dec 14, 2021
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    This is what's supposed to happen! It's not a good day in the Jeep unless you get sunburned, or soaked, or dusty!
     
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  7. Dec 14, 2021
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thanks, Roy, and I'm sure you're right that the front edge of the top would be much easier to remove from / replace in the channel after it’s been installed for awhile.

    However, at this point I'm kind of on a mission to figure out a really good way to secure the top well when rolled up and still attached to the windshield. I have an idea to try out in the hope of accomplishing this, and have started collecting the stuff to put together to see if it'll work.

    I'll make another post once I've done so, and report either the Thrill of Victory, or the Agony of Defeat!
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2021
  8. Dec 15, 2021
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    My personal experience with my bestop bikini top is that it will fall out of the channel as soon as tension comes off the straps...even if the corners are still snapped.
     
  9. Dec 15, 2021
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    On My 25 plus year old Bestop the Velcro that wraps around the top frame is shot and will let go and start flapping in the wind. I put black snaps in the velcro to keep it on, problem solved. I have a Bikini top that has never been put on because I don't have a Roll Bar, I don't know if it would work on the Bestop Top Frame. Has anyone ever tried to put a Bikini Top on a Bestop frame?
     
  10. Dec 15, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    My Bestop Supertop has been on for most of 6 years, and is still a PITA to put back on after removing it.
     
  11. Dec 15, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    Maybe adding some footman loops on the front side of the frame below the channel and then some on the top inside of the frame and use some of the canvas straps that the usual sellers have. So kind of like how you tie a rain jacket or bedroll on the back of a horse saddle. Certainly not factory but back in the day, guys added footman loops in all sorts of different places for strapping things down.
     
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  12. Dec 15, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

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    I once removed a bikini top and threw it into the surf. :D
     
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  13. Dec 15, 2021
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

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    :rofl::rofl::rofl:
     
  14. Dec 15, 2021
    Cj5dale

    Cj5dale Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  15. Dec 15, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    To me the most significant question is why were you wearing a bikini in the first place?
     
  16. Dec 15, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

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    I wasn't wearing it, it was just in the way.

    This was back in the mid 80s and I was camping on Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast with a beautiful girl.

    I was still young, and the rules were different back then.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2021
  17. Dec 16, 2021
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    This is starting to make the initial discussion seem pretty boring! :watch:
     
  18. Dec 16, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    That’s what they all say….:rofl:

    EDIT..I’m just playing.
     
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  19. Dec 19, 2021
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I'm pleased to report that what I had in mind to roll and strap the bikini top to the windshield frame worked out well. Here's what I did.

    As Mickeykelley mentioned above, one option to strap the rolled-up top to the windshield frame would have been to use the factory footman loops on the back, and add footman loops to the front side of the frame to allow for straps to hold the rolled-up top in place. However, I wanted to figure out a way to make this same general idea work without having to drill into the windshield frame to mount footman loops. It occurred to me that the hood standoff brackets might work well for this purpose if I could find a good way to attach the straps to them. Toward that desired end, I bought a several different 1-inch webbing / strap hooks to try out.

    The opening on the first hook shown below, the HK-type, wasn't large enough to close over the standoff bracket. The second type, the triangular "carabiner" hook, fit - but it's small and made of lightweight plastic (really more suitable for a keychain), and was barely large enough to close over the side of the bracket. The last type, the open 3/16" dia. steel "Z-hook", with some modification, turned out to worked great.

    [​IMG]


    I could no doubt easily have fabbed these hooks rather than buying and modifying them, if I had the (much-envied) metalworking skills many of you on this forum possess. Lacking such skills, however, I was reduced to purchasing these, then using various tools to re-shape them. The second one shown below is the shape I bent them both into, which worked better for the intended purpose than the original shape.

    [​IMG]


    I painted the modified Z-hooks, and pushed 1/4" i.d. vacuum line over the bottom portion to create cushioned hooks that won't rattle. (Note - if you decide to make a pair of these hooks and put tubing on them, do yourself a favor and put some grease on them before trying this. My hands are still sore from attempting to push the tubing over the hooks without greasing them first!)

    [​IMG]


    More on the hooks in a minute.


    The other idea I had in mind for this little project was to create something to help roll the top up evenly. I first tried a 48" long, 1" o.d. piece of rigid PVC conduit I had laying around for this purpose. Using a table saw, I cut 3-1/2" long slots in each end in order to for it to engage both straps and help get a fairly even roll of the fabric.

    This worked, except that the rolled-up top was a bit too large in diameter to clear the hood once it was under the folded-down windshield frame. So I tried the same thing using a 5/8" wooden dowel, which worked better.

    [​IMG]

    After folding the windshield down, I laid the top out on the hood, put the rear straps down over it, then used the slotted dowel to engage both straps where they're sewn to the top.

    [​IMG]


    The straps slipped through the slotted ends of the dowel help to get the roll started and keep it even, and prevent it from sliding out while driving. The dowel makes it easy to keep a slight tension on the fabric as it's being rolled, so the roll isn't loose.

    [​IMG]


    Once the top was rolled up between the windshield frame and hood, new 1-inch lashing straps were run through the factory footman loops and the hooks.

    [​IMG]


    Holding the rolled-up top against the frame, the windshield was folded up, the hooks were placed around the standoff brackets, and the straps adjusted.

    The rolled up top is now securely fastened to the windshield frame.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    With the windshield folded down, the bottom of the roll clears the bump in the center of the hood by about 1/8".

    [​IMG]


    The rolled-up, strapped-down top is completely stable at 50+ m.p.h. with the windshield folded down, but also when it's in the raised position.


    In case anyone else wants to try this, here's where I ordered the Z-hooks:

    https://www.lodimetals.com/z-hook-1-inch

    When buying 1" lashing straps, if you get 24" long straps, they'll be a little longer than they need to be, and can be cut to desired length. I like to use "Made in USA" parts as much as possible, and got my straps from this seller on eBay who's a veteran and makes them here in the States from USA-manufactured materials:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/223947806046?var=522699242734&hash=item342454555e:g:QqkAAOSwdMhebrms

    Also, here's the advice the seller gave me about how to cut and seal the ends of the straps:

    The best way is with an old butter knife (or any knife). Heat the knife to 350 -400 degrees. not red hot. Test the heat on the tip (cut off) section of the strap. Pass the webbing on a flat surface (piece of wood). The knife should flow right through the webbing. Separate the pieces apart immediately or they will cure back together.

    That is the best way. You could also cut with scissors and seal with a butane lighter (Bic). Not the best way, because the melted portion won't bond the entire length. But it will work.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2021
  20. Dec 19, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    I like it. Nice job, nice writeup, nice idea.
     
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