Making a top for 8x8

[pcs800]

Oh ok I see, I guess I expected more frame to it. I have no clue what I am doing so i guess I'll measure the machine, go to a junk yard and find a jeep top similar in size and start cutting :-)

[trevorakm1]

I do like BW3's homemade windsheild and need to look at that more closely for my own needs.

[trevorakm1]

Look at the boating store web sites for bimini tops. They are the same idea as argo's and come with a canvas top. I have seen the Jeep top idea and I think they are a little short in terms of height. Both methods require some customizing but the bimini top is easier and parts more available.

[pcs800]

That's funny you mention boat tops, I was making notes last night for this and I wrote "aluminum frame similar to the boat top" I have a pontoon.

[trevorakm1]

This is the way I'm going. I'm going to West Marine today. I think I'm going to get that bimini top from the Sportsman's guide for 134.00$ The Jeep top apealed to me at first until I found these bimini tops, and they can be cut to size. The canvas top also makes a great pattern if you want to make one in different color. I really like to stick to the original look for my argo and try to be least destructive to it's integrity for resale value down the road. So far everything I have done to my argo can come off and ther won't be any extra holes or such to ruin the original product. I bought mine third hand and it came to me with roll bars and brush guard and even they can come off with minimal invasiveness. I like to take my time and think my additions out so I don't make an abortion of my toy. I'm getting close to being finished with all my customization and will post pics. good luck with the top. I would like a more detailed picture of BW3's freinds bigfoot to see that windsheild.

[BW3]

The Bigfoot's Windshield is a stock Argo part.... the roll bar is off a 1972 Max that he has mounted in , it is not roll over rated .... He then fits the jeep bikini top over it and with added snaps / bungee cords gets a small dry spot to sit in wet weather ...

I will try to dig out my Winter Frame which has much more to it I still have to fit the Tarps with snaps and to Fab clear plastic doors and a back window..I will add that to the album also ...

[pcs800]

Yeah I am looking for more of a winter top with windows. Thanks for the help.

[trevorakm1]

Me too, more of a fully enclosed top. I will just take the bimini top to a local boat shop to have the windows and zippers and such added. I went to west marine and all the fittings for 7/8" size fit the galvanized electrical 3/4" conduit perfect. Outside diameter is 7/8" and comes in 10' lengths for 3.38$ at Lowes. I'll borrow a pipe bender from an electrician buddy and be done except for the windsheild. Anyway just passing the info on and post pics when your done. The customization factor these aatv's lend themselves to is part of the fun of it all. I love seeing what people do with them.

[pcs800]

So you used galvanized conduit instead of plastic pvc? That's probably more what I am looking for. Now that I think about it, I could just take an old boat bimini and cut it up, sew it, add windows myself, don't really need to spend money on a jeep top.

[trevorakm1]

exactly! Once you start to look at the boat stores a top seems pretty easy, thay have pretty much all you need. I haven't built mine yet but i'm in the process of adding a fold dowm bar that fold up tight against my back roll bar for the warm weather rain canopy. will provide more room under the tarp for the rear seats if needed. yes the galvanized pipe conduit is sturdier and fits the boat canopy fittings perfect. I will be painting the conduit with bedliner paint later so i will take a wire brush to it. If you don't get rid of the galvanized coating the paint won't last and will eventually flake off. Wire brush takes it right off. I figure for $20.00, I can make this extra support for the tarp cover.When not in use it will be sinched up against the main roll bar on my rig. For the colder months I will do the bimini top set up for a fully enclosed top under the roll bar/ brush guard on my rig. I have a few different camo pattern ponchos (zeltbahns) that fit my rig perfect for shade and rain ad the extra support will make these fit better. The Jeep top I found was good but left alot to be desired especially if you want it for the winter. If you can make it work great and i would like to see pics.

[pcs800]

I'll certainly be posting pics as I go along. Right now I am trying to collect all the drive train parts. Your setup sounds great, I'll keep it in mind as I plan mine.

[pcs800]

Building a topper

I am at the point in my project where I need to find the material needed to build a topper. After talking about it in another thread, I decided to go with building an aluminum top and then cutting canvas to fit, adding snaps, etc.
Is this the kind of frame I want to build with? 80/20 INC. T-Slotted Extrusion,10S,97 Lx1 In H - 2RCP9 - Grainger Industrial Supply

[JohnF]

Just went and read your other thread. Looks like you are building a soft top? Go with the conduit with bends and bimini top hardware. The T-slot will be a lot more expensive for pretty much no gain.

I can imagine a hard top with the T-slot but believe that would be a better structure welded.

[pcs800]

Yeah after looking over my previous thread (which I should have posted there, oops) I think I am going to use steel pipe/tube for the top and the aluminum t-slot for the windshield frame. It's pretty cheap, that was like 97 inches for $35.00
I have no way of welding aluminum either, so there's another point for the steel tube. I don't think it needs to be very big tube either, it's not holding anything other than the canvas.

[pcs800]

I have looked at materials at my local stores and now I am wondering what size the windshield should be. I can get the plexiglass in 4x8 sheets, but does the windshield need to be 48 inches tall?
I wonder what the specs are on this one? after the build - Amphibious ATV Pictures