Building a better mousetrap

[Bradt]

I was looking in the back of my cousin's f150, and notice his camper shell is clipped in. Has anyone tried anything similar to that in a Bronco? I'd love to have a system that is easier to use than what's in there. As it is I **** my wrists and arms racheting every time I take it off.

This is just a really early thought, I'll be knee deep in weights, tension requirements, and everything else before it's over. I would like to see a series of clips to replace the bolts. Something like one would use to secure a popup camper in the sown position comes to mind. I think it would still need pins to keep it from shifting around, but that should secure it I would think.

So let's see what we can come up with. Who can build the better mousetrap?

brad

 

[S_bolt19]

For what type of a Bronco? Are we talking about an EB, BB or a BII? If you try that with an EB then it might work because you have 8-10" steel studs that slide into the rear tail light panels that also are bolted in place. But there also comes the problem of making sure the top is bolted to the windshield frame, making sure you get the top sealed, etc. So with an EB it really isnt an option because of the there are around 30 bolts holding the top on in various places. Also the top is steel and is about 200-300 lbs. Wouldn't want to take off and leave that top on the guy behind you at the light.

As for a Big Bronco, I would imagine it would work b/c they are fiberglass tops. A lot lighter and a lot less bolts to hold them on. But I cant really say because I own a 72 and haven't played around with a Big Bronco for about 10 years.

The BII, I wouldn't have a clue, never ridden in one and never got up close enough to see if the tops are removable.

 

[Bradt]

I just mean your standard full size. Anything with the fiberglass tops. Probably prior to the rear seatbelt mounts and third tail light would be easiest to start with.

brad

 

[Justshootme84]

Bradt, that's a grand idea!!! Whenever I would re-install my hardtop for a few weeks, I only put about 6-7 of the 13 bolts back in place to hold it down. I've also heard of other folks doing the same. There's only one dowel pin on each side of the rear bedsides that centers the top, so you need at least two of the bolts that go into the cab. I don't see any problem with the camper shell-style clamps along the bedsides, but not sure how they would work along the cab seam. Maybe just bolt the top at the cab seam, and clamp the top along the sides. THe biggest concern would be water leaks into the rear cargo area. When I had a camper shell on another pick-up truck, all it used was 2 J-clamps on each bedrail to hold it down. But it had no way to clamp/bolt it to the cab like the Bronco does. The fullsize Bronco hardtop only weighs 120 pounds.

If you still want to use the rear window and roll it up, I think you may need to bolt down the hardtop to prevent the glass from breaking. It has been known to do that even on rigs that never had the top removed. But if you remove the side windows and convert the hardtop to a "safari-style rig" with canvas, then the clamp set-up may work. My >- cents

 

[Bradt]

Hmmm...all good things to consider.

I got the idea when clamping down the pop up camper. On the side it has these hooks. They work a lot like heavy duty suitcase clips where you flip up to clip, then push the other end down to lock down. The clamps on the camper have two hooks that come together to fasten. One is mounted to the roof, and the other at the end of a bolt that's attached to a mechanism that is fastened to the wall so you can lengthen or shorten it to adjust the tightness.

I think they would work great on the bed rail if they are mounted so that they come up through some of the bolt holes to fasten the roof down. They could easily seal/hold as well as the bolts.

Now you've stumped me though. I hadn't given much thought to the cab. More to think on.

brad

 

[S_bolt19]

So you are dealing with a Big Bronco....lets see.... Now I am just shooting ideas b/c like I said, I own an EB not the big bro'.

Some outloud thinking here, so try and imagine this...

Now the top is fiberglass so take some dowels (steel or wooden), and while the top is in place without the bolts holding it on, push the dowels up through the bolt holes and tape/hot glue them to the top. Maybe do this at 4 positions (each corner) and then take the top off. Fasten them in place permanantly, I would assume fiberglass them in there, and this gives you your stabilization points. Once you got that taken care of couldn't you get like a motorcycle tie down and mount it to the top somehow (bolted preferable) and then get another mounting point on the body to strap to? I mean if these straps are strong enough to hold a 250-300 lb bike down on a trailer, it shoud be strong enough to hold a 150 lb top on, especially if you use a strap on each corner where the stabilization points are.

Just some thoughts for ya.

 

[Justshootme84]

Bradt, I think I see what type of clip you're talking about. The old Willy's Jeeps had something like that to hold down the hood on the outside. You could use those on the interior with some fabrication I think.

S_bolt19, you have the right idea about the extra dowel pins. With only one on each end of the bedrails on the stock Bronco, it may help to add one more per side closer to the cab.

Thinking about when you put the hardtop back on. The way the front part of the top seals to the cab, it has to slide forward a tad to push on the seals, so that's why I think you need a couple of bolts to the cab. If you had a clamp sytem to do that instead of tightening the bolts it could work. Problem is, the headliner ahngs below the metal lip of the top of the cab about 1/2". If I get a chance in the next few days, I'll look at my 88 Bronco that has no headliner.

It seems like alot of trouble (maybe more than it's worth) to rig up something like this. But it can take 30 minutes or more to remove all 13 hardtop bolts by hand. A quick-release system sounds like something worthwhile!!!

 

[S_bolt19]

The hood latches that a Willys hood wouldnt work because they are spring loaded. BUT, if you used a latch like something on a convertable car where it is a lever latch like on top of a tool box, that might work. Tough to explain the latch but you have to push it forward onto a mounting point then pull the lever back to lock it in place. You could mount that to the top where it will come into contact with the cab bulkhead and then use the strap tie downs for the other 4 mounting points.

 

[Justshootme84]

I guess some pics of the different latch types would help. I'll see what I can come up with while surfing at Camburg and some other sites. I want to check on some shaft collars for my rollcage. I think whatever latch you use would need to be rather large or very strong, too.

I'm going to move this topic to the 80-96 technical support forum, maybe we'll get some more replies and ideas over there, JSM84

 

[Bradt]

Found one! Here's the latch I'm talking about part 46234 and 46235.

http://www.go-rv.com/coast/do/catalog/page...529&pageNum=204

46235 is the part that would be mounted on the top, and 34 is the latch. It's not the greatest picture, but it should be adequate. They work backwards of what I said earlier. You flip the front plate down and the hook part goes up sightly to match up. Then flip down to lock. Could drop a pin through to make sure it stays, but I've never had to use one on the camper.

Still stuck on the cab though. I think it could be made to work, but I'm not sure about the look of it.

Oh, and thanks for moving this.

brad

 

[Justshootme84]

THe camper shell I had on a pick-up bed used a clamp similar to a regular C-clamp, but the bottom part would swing out away from the bedside after you loosened it. I thought this was called a J-clamp, but couldn't find a picture. A regular C-clamp will work to secure thee top to the bedsides at say 2 per side. IT's a little tedious to turn the clamp handle to tighten/loosen it next to the side of the bed. MY point is a regular camper top clamp set-up will hold the top on the horizontal.

I found this type of clamp at Harbor Feight. It is a pull action-toggle clamp:

toggle clamp

One of these in the middle of the cab or one on each side, placed from underneath facing to the rear. Mount the anchor to the cab roof, and the clamp part to the hardtop. THe clamp would be mounted upside down, in other words. The RV-type latch Bradt posted could work like this as well.

[Note: if the link doesn't work try a search for toggle clamp and the page will appear]

 

[S_bolt19]

JSM84 That is exactly the type of clamp I was talking about when I referred to a "convertable top style clamp". And you are thinking like what I was. Now just find a spot to mount them and mount the tie downs & locator pins and you are in business.

 

[88pimpin]

Hey, how about hood pins? Then you'd just need to pull the pins and lift it off. Another idea, use some smaller bolts and it won't take as long to remove them. May want to use a couple bigger ones on back, though, so with like 12 bolts, 8 are small and 4 are big. I just worry about having a place to put the top and then not having it in a rain. I think I'm just gonna get a tonneau cover. Would help hide my system and all my crap too.

 

[chuckles1856]

You know I've been thinking about this same idea for a while. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'll be interested in hearing if anyone comes up with anything.

Ed

 

[bluesman17]

OR just put in 6 bolts like i do in rain emergencies.....

 

[Bradt]

I've only got 5 bolts. One in each corner. One in each pillar, and one in the center top.

I've got the latches sitting in the shed. I just have to get off my butt and figure out the mounting.

brad

 

[wrachet]

This is a really good idea. It takes forever to unscrew everything!!! Also the chance of breaking the bolts is lessened if they're not used everytime you take the top off and put it back on.

Just have to make sure the top is secure enough that if you hit a huge pothole the top isn't going to bounce and break your tailgate glass if it's up!

Love this idea...

Colleen