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Soft tops for scramblers

chris989

Basic User
City
las vegas
State
nv
Hello All,

I joined this site years ago and finally bought a nice scrambler.


I am making tops for older jeeps and need some input from other owners. We did a lot of testing and design changes for the CJ7/5s so any ideas you have would be appreciated.

My first question is, Does eveyones roll bar, in the rear, have a slot in the mounting plate. I was going to use this for the reat bikini straps instead of mounting to the rear of the tub. It makes the webbing run parrallel to the roll bar.

We will also make a full length top to cover the rear seat. Hopefully we will also have a mess top option.

Thoughts?
20181220_132347.jpg20181220_132401.jpg's
 

don87401

Original Owner
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Farmington
State
NM
My 83 does and as far as I know they all do.
 

chris989

Basic User
City
las vegas
State
nv
My 83 has the slot. Are you making full tops too or just bikini tops?
I will start with the half top (bikini). then make a full length top. Here is a link to the cj7 forum about the tops. https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/usa-tops-sewing-again-3884482/

***** Moderator**** Please do not block me for advertising. I do not have any tops to sell at this time and really need inforamtion about variations of CJ8s......

Back to the mounts, I do not think the roll bar plate will work as it is to far from the main roll bar. It has no lateral pull. Only to the rear. I wrapped the strap around the angled roll bar and it solves the pull angle but not real professional.

Did any scramblers come with footman loops? Was there an OEM location for them if yes. My jeep has none. I hate to have people drill into a clean body tub if it can be avoided. Maybe a strapless top would be best for a half top???
20181220_143856.jpg
 
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chris989

Basic User
City
las vegas
State
nv
considering a full top, would covering the rear seating be enough or all the war to the rear tailgate?
 

don87401

Original Owner
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Farmington
State
NM
I have a Best top Bikini top. Haven't used it in a long time. When I used it on the Scrambler I installed the footman loops on the inside edge of the tub near the roll bar angle bar. I would have to go look to see the exact location. If I remember right the straps were not long enough to reach the base of the angle bar. This bikini top was not designed for the CJ8 just the CJ5/7s. I also had a Best top Tiger top, I would roll up the sides and have a full length "Safari" top. The top's straps anchored to footman loops on the inside edge of rear panel either side of the tail gate.

When I have the rear seat in my Scrambler it faces forward. The Bikini top would not cover the rear seat.
 

HighSierra CJ

Scrambler Enthusiast
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Ducor
State
Ca
Always glad to see new accessories become available for these scramblers. A new soft top choice is welcome in my book.
Thanks for your efforts and keep us posted.
 

Spieg

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
City
Aurora
State
CO
I use a bestop bikini in the summer. I don't think it came with footman loops, but I added two to the roll bar just slightly above the top of the tub (so it wouldn't interfere with a tonneau cover if I ever decide to get one).
CB Antenna.JPG
 

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
I always thought a simple clamp around the angled leg of the rollbar about halfway down with some type of footman loop or something similar would work. Temporary so you can remove it, no drilling required and if you lined the inside with a rubber sleeve, the tension of the top puling on the loop/clamp would "dig" it into the rollbar more to keep it in place. Better than drilling into nice metal/paint :shrug:
 

John N

Addicted....Ex-SOA VP
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Rockville
State
VA
I attach my bikini top straps to the footman loops on the inside lip of my tub. I believe that they’re OEM, since they’re where one of the tonneau cover supports go. The ones that I use are just to the rear of the roll bar rear leg. Oh, and no slots on my ‘81 roll bar feet.
 

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
I attach my bikini top straps to the footman loops on the inside lip of my tub. I believe that they’re OEM, since they’re where one of the tonneau cover supports go. The ones that I use are just to the rear of the roll bar rear leg. Oh, and no slots on my ‘81 roll bar feet.

But even if those are factory on John's, they're far from common.
 

chris989

Basic User
City
las vegas
State
nv
I attach my bikini top straps to the footman loops on the inside lip of my tub. I believe that they’re OEM, since they’re where one of the tonneau cover supports go. The ones that I use are just to the rear of the roll bar rear leg. Oh, and no slots on my ‘81 roll bar feet.
Can you take a picture?

Thanks
 

chris989

Basic User
City
las vegas
State
nv
Is there any interest in a strapless top. I have never run one so I don't know anything about them.
 
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