Bikini Soft Top

[astronot]

With summer comes heat and my hardtop doesn't provide much ventilation. So I'm contemplating a bikini top for hot weather. I've seen two types: one that requires a riser be mounted on the windshield to clear the top of the electric wiper motor. The other uses a bracket to lower the wiper motor. Any opinions as to which is best?

 

[Bully Bob]

Hi Astro..,

Mine came to me with the riser. It allows more head clearance & easy to install. It works well with the full ragtop as well. It clears the rollbar/cage crossbar also. (crossbar sits up along the top of W/S frame)

You do need at least the rear rollbar behind the seats to support the bikini.

Also avail. is the "windblocker" that straps behind the seats (to the rollbar).

It keeps the wind fr. "back-blo'n" your hair-doo forward... /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> :lol:

 

[astronot]

Good points. And after I got to looking at my wiper motor, I realized a lowering bracket would interfere with where I mounted my mirror. All signs point to the taller option. Also, if you could see my "hair-doo" you would realize that my hair doesn't blow in any direction in the wind! Thanks for the info!

 

[Bully Bob]

Worth mentioning, the W/S is a bit wigglie while not attached to the roof. I made a bracket to brace the top/ctr. of the W/S to the rollbar crossbar. It attaches to the ctr. bolt that holds the riser on.

W/O that crossbar., you could still fabricate a brace from that bolt, to the rollbar behind the seats. Either brace just needs to touch the rollbar...cinching the bikini down holds it in place.

Point being, I felt that constant wiggle would be ******* the hinge & gasket under the W/S frame.

Just say'n... /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[astronot]

Ah! Hadn't thought of that! So that's only a problem when the bikini is not on? I'll have to get out some metal to fab something when I see it. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Bully Bob]

NO..!

It's a problem any time the roof is off.

Actually, with the bikini in place & tightened.., it puts a constant strain on the hinge. And it still wiggles under several conditions. If it warps the hinge, the gasket may not seal when the hardtop is put back on.

Wildhorses sells corner brackets to stop this but you need the front rollcage to attach to. (you can see them on their website)

A homemade brace would look like this; (side view)

----------------------(

left side attached to the W/S., right side just pressing against top of rollbar.

1" square (or round) tubing would work for the long brace W/S to rollbar.

Mine looks like this, as I have the front crossbar.

---(

 

[astronot]

So that makes the brace a requirement. Unfortunately I don't have the front bar, just a center bar with kickers. But at least my glove box works. I think there's an old sock and a box of matches in it.

 

[Bully Bob]

Welllll..., for me it is but the "jury is still out" as to poss. damage.

The brace is so easy to make...cheap ins. & you'd never know it's there with the bikini on. (only 32" +- W/S to the rear rollbar.)