Hello Guest

Tops?

  • 5 Replies
  • 1742 Views

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

*

Offline Zoom

  • 5
  • 0
Tops?
« on: December 26, 2010, 07:55:31 PM »
I see pics of Track/Kicks with soft tops of several varieties, and a 2 piece hard top.

Can a Track/Kick with a soft top have the 2 piece hard top installed with little to no effort for winter months? How does it mount?

*

Offline Zoom

  • 5
  • 0
Re: Tops?
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2010, 08:05:10 PM »
Like this top. Can it be swapped out for soft tops easily?


Re: Tops?
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2010, 08:58:07 AM »
 Yes, but you need the brackets and hardware to mount the softtop on.

*

Offline jzap

  • 515
  • 2
  • Gender: Male
  • How difficult can it be?
Re: Tops?
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2010, 12:10:12 PM »
The switch from hard to soft top and back again takes a little effort, as the soft top brackets and hoops cannot be left in place.  The hold down brackets for my hard top rear section mount to the same screw in mounting points as the soft top bow swivel and the rubber bumpers that the soft top frame sits on when the top is down (total 8 screws in and out).  The front bow has to come off because the front half of the top uses the same clips at the windshield as the soft top front bow  (total 4 screws).  The plastic trim that the soft top hooks onto that lines the rear opening needs to be removed because there is a rubber gasket that slips onto the edge of the body (whole bunch of screws for the trim, none for the gasket).    

I've got it down to about an hour and a half using a power driver and separate medicine bottles for each size screw.  It is not an overwhelming task to switch back and forth, considering you only do it in the spring and fall.  It is not something you would want to do for just a weekend.  

One thing...  ...If you have two people available, removing and reinstalling the hard top is probably quicker and easier than putting the soft top down and up.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2010, 11:05:05 AM by jzap »
Jim Z.
96 Tracker
66 Apache camper

*

Offline Zoom

  • 5
  • 0
Re: Tops?
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2010, 06:16:42 PM »
Does the same apply to the Zuke hard tops? If you have a soft top, can a hard top fit right on?
« Last Edit: December 30, 2010, 06:18:52 PM by Zoom »

*

Offline jzap

  • 515
  • 2
  • Gender: Male
  • How difficult can it be?
Re: Tops?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2010, 09:38:40 PM »
Mine is a '96 soft top, and I have an aftermarket hard top (I don't know the brand because I got it used off a '91 Sidekick junker that was being stripped).  I switch them back and forth, soft top in the summer and hardtop for the winter, but the hard top will not go on unless you remove the soft top bows and the plastic channel around the rear opening because the hard top clips mount to the same screw holes as the top bows, and the rubber seal for the rear half of the top will not fit on the body opening unless the plastic channel is removed. 

So, yes, you can switch back and forth, but it is a process that takes some time and effort.
Jim Z.
96 Tracker
66 Apache camper