'97 tacoma build: Abner

[sixstringsteve]

That is way cool.

I wouldn't use vinyl, it likes to expand and contract with the air temp. Google for marine canvas or Sunforger.

I already bought my army/navy tarp for it (like you suggested). I need to get the rear seats and seatbelts in by this weekend, along with the budbuilt front skidplate.

 

[Kevin B.]

Oh, that'll work too. I was out there last week and they were a lot more expensive than I remembered being, so I didn't want to resuggest it...

 

[Kevin B.]

What sort of tube did you use?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I used hrew for the b pillar, a stock 4runner bar for the c pillar, and lowes irrigation pipe for the horizonatal connecting pieces. It would have been cheaper to just use HREW for everything but the 4runner bar.

 

[4biker]

That looks really clean and functional. I love that you can unbolt it and still put your shell. Very factory-esque

 

[sixstringsteve]

thanks spencer

 

[Max Power]

Very cool Steve. It looks great. Could you please post a pic of how it is mounted.

 

[jentzschman]

Looks real nice. Look forward to see it in person.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Got the seats semi-installed last night. Still trying to decide on how I want to attach the canopy. Half of me wants to cover the entire bed, and the other half just wants the bikini top style. I think it'd be a lot easier to get in and out if it were the bikini style.

The seats fold down and tumble individually. I can still get my sleeping platform to fit over them when they're folded down, so that's good.

 

[sixstringsteve]

to-do before tomorrow's shakedown run:

- install front skidplate
- install rear seatbelts
- tune CB antenna

nice-to-do's
- trim the bikini top to fit
- install the rear seat rear mounts
- mud flaps

 

[mbryson]

I bet you could get a Jeep bikini top and mount the windshield "anchor" to the top of your front overhead bar and have a "canned" solution?

 

[frieed]

Steve,

I've been meaning to ask, who are you planning on using those seats? Planning to use them while wheeling or just trying to make the perfect drive in movie rig?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I bet you could get a Jeep bikini top and mount the windshield "anchor" to the top of your front overhead bar and have a "canned" solution?

great idea. I'll look into that a bit more.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Steve,

I've been meaning to ask, who are you planning on using those seats? Planning to use them while wheeling or just trying to make the perfect drive in movie rig?

I'm planning to use the seats all the time. DD, camping, wheeling, scouting, family, friends. I have a few friends who want to tag along on my trips, but they don't have a rig. Until now, I didn't have room for them.

 

[Kevin B.]

So, what a lot of guys do is cut the tarp, and then hem the end over a decent size piece of rope, which they use for a drawstring to kinda gather the end of the tarp around the roll bar, and keep it from flapping in the wind. Then another pair of lines or straps to the rear corners of the bed keep the whole thing taut.

Looking good, though. You've got me wanting to do the same thing with my roll bar now.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm thinking about cutting the tarp and adding some grommets to it. Then I can zip-tie it to the bar. If I don't use zip-ties, I'll use an adjustable strap like a jansport backpack.

 

[frieed]

Use ball-end bungee's like

 

[sixstringsteve]

that's a good idea.

 

[chans]

I bet you could get a Jeep bikini top and mount the windshield "anchor" to the top of your front overhead bar and have a "canned" solution?

This would be a great idea. The size of the cage looks exactly like my old CJ2A roll cage that I mounted a bikini top to. Like he said, mount the channel on the front bar with the snaps on the side and then tie the two back straps to your hold down D-rings at the back corners of the bed. Only cost me 45.00 for a Best Top bikini top. Keep the tarp if you decide you also want a full top later on.

 

[ricsrx]

I have a TJ top, it might be to short.