Softtopper

Since this thread already took an interesting turn....

Buffalo Bill invented the tuck... I just perfected it.

 

Doin' the tuck!

There's no unseeing the flap.

 

THE TUCK!!!

Ps I can’t un see this!!!!
LMAO!!

 

You can't unfuck that bell.

 

for the love of all that is holy please someone put up another photo so that thing is no longer on the main page

here

 

I’m dying right now!!!!

 

lol kinda looks like Rachel Levine in its prime

 

I had to search that.

Funny as I'm originally from there.

 

Just wanted to chime in that I got my softtopper for similar reasons as the OP, and have loved it ever since. Security has been a concern a few times on long car trips, and I felt better about bringing valuable items into the hotel overnight, but I likely would have no top at all if a hard shell was my only option. With this, I can store it in the garage a majority of the time, but put it on (by myself in *5 minutes*) when I need some better weather protection for gear/cargo in the back.

I'll second that they are good people, so give them a call. Within my first few months, I split the rear window in the cold, or rather an impatient friend did. Those guys let me drive to their shop for a quick swap out of the rear panel since I am somewhat local.

 

Mai this is a situation I’ve read about with the window, can you just not get the window on it? I only get 5 months of summer in Buffalo I would rather not have to worry about that

 

From what has been said in the past, you can only get the clear window with the kit. The no window, dark tint, or screen has to be purchased separately. It wouldn't hurt to ask though.

I have not had a problem, but we don't get Buffalo cold here. If I need to get in there when it is that cold, I either dive under, unzip the sides and leave it hang, or stash it on the top slowly and gently. I won't attempt to roll it up when cold.

The vinyl is pretty flexible when new. It is more or less a problem as it ages, which is another good reason to keep the vinyl in good shape. The interesting one is that isopropyl alcohol will harden and yellow clear vinyl.

 

thanks for the tips on care and use, I’ll be purchasing within the next couple weeks, I’ll keep all that in the back of my head

 

You're welcome!

We had a convertible years ago. Kind of similar, but not bad at all.

 

As mentioned, its not too bad if you are somewhat careful to not get the vinyl window in a bind while it is cold and brittle. When mine split, a friend and I were gearing up for skiing, and he treated it like it was all canvas, flipping it up out of the way with little regard, causing the break. Since then, with a little care, I have not had a problem in about 8 years of Colorado winters. I do try to pick the warmest part of the day to put it on or take it off, helps with the ease of stretching the canvas to the snaps as well.

 

I used to have one and generally liked it but the windows got annoying. Could never see out of them in the winter or heavy rain (no wipers/defrost obviously) and they get scratched up after awhile. I ended up not running the rear window at all most of the time but then that kind of defeats the point if you need to fumble around and attach it if you want it to be water tight etc. After a couple of years I got tired of hassling with it and sold it. I really wish somebody would make a hybrid softop with actual glass windows like there are for the new jeeps or even just a LIGHTWEIGHT, good-looking abs/plastic hardtop that could be easily taken on or off. Seems like somebody could make a lot of money if they addressed this gap in the market...

 

Looks like I stumbled into the wrong softopper thread.