Top Help

I need to see if a soft top will fit over my roll cage. I guess I should have done that BEFORE I welded in the roll cage. I have a 67. Can someone tell me or show me the approximate position of the bars that hold the top on and the distance/height off of the body? I need the measurement for both of the bars. Not sure I will go the top route yet, but I do need to know if one would fit.

 

I have a '67 CJ5. I have a Bestop classic supertop with the top currently up if that's what you're looking to install. It clears my roll bar but not by much. I'll try to get a measurement when I'm not working.

 

The bottom of the Bestop Super Top bow is about 44 1/4" from the bed.

 

My first bikini top for my jeep was two yards of denim from wal-mart with a 1/4" rope sewn in for the windshield. If it rained it would pool and drip on you.

What I would do, I would get a 6'x6' min canvas tarp or shade cloth. Then go to the hardware store or an electrician and get four EMT elbows swayed for about 1" outside diameter and 20' of 1" od tube. Back your jeep to your garage door. Make the bows about 2 or 3 inches short of the door then pull the tarp over and see how it feels.

 

Exactly what I measured.

 

What about the rear bow? Does it extend enough to go over this back bar on my cage?

 

Are there two bows? Or only one? If two, I’m trying to determine if it is long enough to be above the rear cage hoop.

 

I'll look at lunch but that looks like a problem. That's a nice roll bar and I'd keep that and improvise something.

 

Thank you!

 

I don't think there is any way a Bestop will clear the rear part of your cage. They have a decent slant to the rear window. I can measure the distance from the windshield to the back bow and the height later today, but this picture pretty well sums it up:


An early style canvas top with perfectly vertical bows that use the factory bow pockets might work, but I don't think any modern tops will clear. https://classicjeeptops.com/early-cj5/:

 

Could you measure from the rear bow down to the tailgate? Also, could you measure from the rear bow to the windshield? That pic is perfect for me to see how the thing fits.

 

I'm getting about 59 1/2" from the top leading edge of the windshield to the rear hoop. I get about 42" from the bed floor up to the bottom of the rear hoop.

 

But it gives the illusion of speed!

 

Thank you VERY much for the measurement! That’s exactly what I needed!

 

Well, what do you all think? In the drawing, the pencil measurements are the distances/measurements of my roll bar (windshield to back hoop and top of tailgate to top of back hoop). The red measurements are those provided by Fireball. Actually, looking at his post, the 42 inches is from the floor. Mine is measured from the top of the tailgate. Anyone know the distance from the floor to the top of the tailgate? I’m away from the jeep at the moment. Dang I should have read the post more closely. Anyway, it looks like a top won’t fit because of this back hoop.

 

No way a normal top is going on with that roll bar. You don't have a back seat, I'd say it's time to modify the rear hoop on your cage...that'd be easier than trying to reinvent the wheel as far as a top is concerned.

 

Thank you! Based on those figures it looks like the rear cage hoop would fit under a standard top, but the main question is can I make up the 3 or so inches from the windshield back? I wonder if I shortened the rear top bow by a bit, if it would buy me enough material to make the back fit?

 

I’m not giving up yet. I need to find a local early cj with a top and test fit it. I could always shorten the roll bar in the back, but that would be a major effort and require repainting it.