ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: keith on July 15, 2004, 03:12:18 PM
-
Today I timed myself putting the top on my 90 Tracker. It took 7 minutes without really rushing, just keeping moving constantly. How long does it take to put yours on or take it off?
-
10 to 15 min on my G/Fs 93, i only do it about once a year. 7 min is pretty good. 8)
-
My hard top took me about 30 minutes to take off ;) (refer to other thread ;D)
-
It only takes me about 5 minutes and that's without rushing, but I am picky about how I take it down so it goes up faster. Plus when mine's down, it looks all nice and neat rolled up on the rear bar tucked down just in front of the spare tire... all too often I see Trackers running around topless with the top completely taken off, snaps and all, and just wadded up and stuffed behind the rear seat! ::) It makes me laugh...
Here's how I do it, not sure if it's the "right" way to do it or not, but it works for me:
Release front clips and swing front section back sunroof style.
Unzip rear window and let it lay down against the inside of the tailgate.
Un-velcro the side windows from their frames and unhook the rear corners.
Swing sides up and lay them on top of the rear roof section(leaving the tension straps on either side of the sunroof connected and all snaps still snapped, even the two on either side of the dome light).
Unclip the front section from the front frame and lay the fabric back on top of the rear sides. Clip the front frame back into it's closed position.
unhook the rear tube's lower legs and swing the main rear hoop forward all the way until it's above the targa section.
Take the fabric hanging down behind the targa and fold it up over the main rear hoop again, then unsnap the side tension straps and use them to wrap around the fabric to hold it in place(you have to give the strap a half turn to get it to snap again).
Now you have a nice compact roll on the rear hoop. Just unsnap the two snaps on either side of the dome light and lay the whole hoop back just in front of the spare. It goes up really fast from this configuration. Just do everything in reverse and you're covered from rain after the first three steps!
-
When I still had my soft top I got pretty quick at it. Probabaly down in the 5 min area too.
The new hard top is easy to take off. Putting it back on all by yourself is a pain in the arse though. >:(
-
Digger, thanks for the write up. I will have to try your method. Snapping the top back on the support bar is always a pain. It will be nice to not have to do that.
-
Wow, that makes my Sammi top seem simple. Although it seems like a pain to get the damn thing to line up just right lately. That's why i'm going to the bikini, WJ, duster setup.
-
It's actually much easier than it looks... things always seem to look so much more difficult when you try to describe it with words...
It is nice leaving the rear bar snaps all in place, plus you don't lose ANY cargo space at all for the top itself. The tension straps seem to be made for holding the whole top in a roll on the bar, too, they're just the right size...
maybe I ought to take some pics and make up a better write up about how I do it... anyone interested? if so, I'll do it.
-
maybe I ought to take some pics and make up a better write up about how I do it... anyone interested? if so, I'll do it.
Please do post some pics. That would be great. Thanks.
-
No problem! here they are!
Step one: Open sunroof and zip out back window
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4217349/60222042.jpg)
Step two: unclip rear corners and un velcro side windows, then lay them on top.
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4217349/60222030.jpg)
Step three: Unclip front from frame and lay it back on top. Clip front frame back in closed position.
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4217349/60222026.jpg)
Step four: Swing rear bar up over targa section.
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4217349/60222017.jpg)
Step five: fold hanging fabric back up over rear bar and secure with the tension straps from either side of the sunroof.
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4217349/60221999.jpg)
Step six: Unsnap the snaps on either side of the dome light and swing the rear bar down just in front of spare tire. Tuck the flap with the two snaps into the fold.
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4217349/60221975.jpg)
All down! to go back up, swing it up, snap the two snaps, let it go back and clip the front in and you're covered. just velcro in the windows, clip in the rear corners and zip in the rear window and you're fully covered again.
-
Very cool. I will have to try that. How long does it take you to put the top down using this method? Also what do the side window shades do for you? Thanks.
-
you mean the ventshades on the front door windows? they shade some sun out as well as letting you run with the front windows down a couple inches in the rain without any rain getting in.
It only takes me about 5 or 6 minutes to take the top down this way and it's well worth any extra effort over just ripping the top the whole way off and stuffing it behind the seat! I also run it in safari mode with the same top, I just roll the sides up under, letting the rear corners hold it in place against the rear bar and I add a small strap to each side, strapping the rear bar to the seat belt towers to hold the tension so I can flip the sunroof open this way.
When opening the sunroof, make sure to fold the fabric back as the frame flips back so it doesn't get pinched by the hinges, causing a split in the fabric. Plus this lets the sunroof open wider. See my first pic above to get the idea of what I'm saying...
Also I noticed when running with the sunroof open, it's a good idea to zip open the back window to help stabilize the air inside the rig and help keep the rest of the top from flapping around as much.
-
Great tips digger, I've been trying to figure a way to roll the top up more neatly, especially since I put the storage box behind the rear seats...I'll give your method a try this aft...driving home in sunny 86F for my 70mi commute home :)
-
I just got home and your top method works great ;D Thanks dude!!
-
I like that Idea. Gonna have to go out and try that too ;D The only difference I got is the side windows zip out.
Thanks for the info.
-
I take mine completely off, and rarely use the snaps on the bar, they are a big pain. Am I the only one that doesn't use them?
-
I agree they are a pain, but they are also a big help in securing the top to the truck and getting the right tension evenly across the top. Now that I've shown you a way to avoid having to snap those suckers every time, why would you still want to remove the top the whole way? I can put my top up so much faster this way without having to unwad it from the trunk, line it up right, etc... What possible benefit is there to completely removing it over rolling up like I do?
-
Before I put the box in the back I used to leave the snaps done up and I would fold the top in behind the seats. The roll up trick works great though ;)
-
:) awesome tips !
I was out in the garage cruising this forum and found this thread. Went to my 'kick and tried your roll-away method and it's great.
I wonder if the 'zuki engineers meant to have the top put away like that since the straps are perfectly made to roll and snap the top together.
Thanks again and keep posting good tips.
-
i used to take my top off quite alot and if u get the secuence right those snaps really are not that much of a pain..i can take mine off in about 5mins and i can put it back on in about 10-15mins depending
-
I used to tuck my top behind the rear seat. Tried the rollup method today and man that is awesome. I can still use the space behind the back seat. Great post!
J
-
I never got the manual with mine and I don't know if it even has any tips on taking the top down. I just figured this way out one afternoon playing with the top and it worked so well that I've been doing it ever since. It goes up as fast as it goes down if not faster once you get used to it. I'm glad you guys all like the tip, I was happy to share it! If I think up anything else I do differently that might be of benefit, I will be sure to post it! ;D
-
Step five: fold hanging fabric back up over rear bar and secure with the tension straps from either side of the sunroof.
([url]http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4217349/60221999.jpg[/url])
I finally tried this method today. It worked well except for wrapping the tension straps around the top. On my Pavement Ends top they were too short to go around the top roll and secure to anything. I ended up getting 3 straps from Wal-mart for $1.60 a piece that had clips on them and could be cut to any length.
-
Great tips... I'll have to try the roll up method. I always folded it with the snaps still on the rear bar and just put it behind the seat. This looks cleaner though for sure!
I also really want to try your safari method... care to take pics of how you do that? :)