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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: RazBarlow on February 22, 2009, 06:21:44 PM

Title: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: RazBarlow on February 22, 2009, 06:21:44 PM: I found an old soft top that a guy was going to throw away . The zippers are pretty well shot , along with the windows. I was just wondering if anyone has ever taken a seam ripper and and removed the windows and such and made a bikini top out of one ?
Bikini top for the tracker of course :-)
Have any pics ?
Thanks,
Raz
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: Teniente on February 22, 2009, 06:47:02 PM: Should be pretty easy to do. I designed one for a VW Thing. Made a pattern out of butcher or kraft wrapping paper, took to a car upholstery shop to fabricate out of heavy duty naugahide. Added tie down straps made out of nylon webbing with fastex buckles.
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: captchee on February 23, 2009, 05:56:54 AM: thats what i did with my old top .
i cut it off behond the cross over . then sewed 2 straps on it so they would come down and strap onto the rail where the windo fram mounting is located .
works real well in the summer
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: RazBarlow on February 23, 2009, 06:13:18 AM: Can you send me a pic ? I am new to the soft top thing . i have a removable hardtop but i got an old soft top and framework . So, sorry to be so ignorant but I don't know what braces you are talking about .
Thanks,
Raz
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: john1974 on February 23, 2009, 12:58:56 PM: Yes please photos of this would be very cool. I might try this once I get a used top of course... lol
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: Haptown on February 23, 2009, 05:34:32 PM: I took a bikini top and removed the straps and added snaps. Made it easier to remove & install as well. Found that adding a 1" square piece of foam about 36" long at the rear of the top eliminated the flapping that I had when using the straps only.

Have found the canvas snaps at boating supply stores as well as Ace Hardware.

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_L4i54YYkgKw/SS4MUtBZc7I/AAAAAAAADys/-XroUYooqOM/s640/strapless_3.JPG)
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: captchee on February 23, 2009, 06:28:51 PM: well its winter here . i dont think i have any photos of the top on , but ill take some of it rolled out
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: 96Kicker on February 23, 2009, 10:47:24 PM: How about a safari top

Like this I made out of a old top. Just a few minutes with a razor knife

Sorry pics are old (3 years) and with a crappy cell phone
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: Drone637 on February 23, 2009, 11:45:08 PM: I made a similar setup, just hacked it up real quick with a knife. Eventually I put straps on it so I could tighten it up a bit. The fact that it comes down in the back helps keep out extra rain and traps the heat in better then a straight bikini top.

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_86HP5-adsWc/SGQyPrYX1kI/AAAAAAAABWg/sc7RlKBn7AQ/s640/CIMG2510.JPG)
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: RazBarlow on February 24, 2009, 04:52:57 AM: 96 Kicker ,
I guess I really don't know the difference between a safari top and a bikini top . What is the difference ?
Thanks,
Raz
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: 90camozuki on February 24, 2009, 05:35:56 AM: 96 kicker,

I like the way that looks, great job. Prob going to do that to mine so i can keep the sun off the boys (3 and 5 yr old sons love the tracker), when i get a hardtop or new soft top.

Any one have either for sale...PM me thanks
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: 96Kicker on February 24, 2009, 08:01:00 AM: Thanks. A safari top covers the back seat as well. When a bikini just covers the front seats.
All I did is take a knife and cut the sides off. It did not flap around or anything.
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: RazBarlow on February 24, 2009, 08:04:20 AM: Awesome, I need some passenger coverage like you have done ? Is there a seam that you just took the seam out of ?
Thanks,
Raz
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: 96Kicker on February 24, 2009, 08:36:38 AM: Dont remember if there was a seam. I just unzipped the rear window, through it in the trash, and cut the sides off.And left the buttons on the very back that snap into the support bar that folds up and down. Took a razor knife to clean up the edges and you cant even tell it was a full soft top.
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: tracker954x4 on February 24, 2009, 08:49:54 AM: Quote from: 96Kicker on February 24, 2009, 08:36:38 AM
Dont remember if there was a seam. I just unzipped the rear window, through it in the trash, and cut the sides off.And left the buttons on the very back that snap into the support bar that folds up and down. Took a razor knife to clean up the edges and you cant even tell it was a full soft top.
Thats the same thing that i did to mine. Just cut the zipper parts out from the side windows and cut the rear corners off. Still has the rear hoops and snaps on it. Haven't had it on the road to see how it is going down the road yet as its still sitting in the shop, but it shouldn't flap too bad. I'll post some pics up tonight.
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: RazBarlow on February 24, 2009, 08:59:16 AM: Closeup pics would be awesome !
Raz

BTW: Has anyone ever changed the color of a soft top ? My old one is white and I would like it to be black .
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: 96Kicker on February 24, 2009, 09:13:28 AM: Ya my pics suck, I dont even own that tracker any more. Once you see the up close pics it all makes sense and is realy easy.
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: Jeremiah on February 24, 2009, 09:39:58 AM: www.izook.com/reviews/safaritop/safaritop.htm (http://www.izook.com/reviews/safaritop/safaritop.htm)
http://www.petroworks.com/Products.php?Action=ViewProduct&ProductID=60 (http://www.petroworks.com/Products.php?Action=ViewProduct&ProductID=60)
http://www.quadratec.com/advisor/jeep_summer_tops/jk_07/default.php?year=2007 (http://www.quadratec.com/advisor/jeep_summer_tops/jk_07/default.php?year=2007)
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: tracker954x4 on February 24, 2009, 07:19:38 PM: Here's the pics of mine.

(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091622.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091622a.jpg)
Cut zippers off here
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091622b.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091629.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091628a.jpg)
Snaps on rear hoop
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091623.jpg)
Cut the rear corners off
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091623a.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/tracker954x4/0224091629a.jpg)
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: 90camozuki on February 24, 2009, 07:29:02 PM: tracker954x4 is that your garage or is that a mechanics shop..........
NIce garage if it is......
Title: Re: Turn an old soft top into a bikini ?
Post by: tracker954x4 on February 24, 2009, 07:40:16 PM: Quote from: 90camozuki on February 24, 2009, 07:29:02 PM
tracker954x4 is that your garage or is that a mechanics shop..........
NIce garage if it is......
LOL, I wish I had a garage that big.

No thats the shop where i work.