AATV Roof.....Canopy....

[guyvapeur]

I enclose two pictures of a roof that I installed on the Argo today. I took the top 8 inches off a 99 F150 Truck canopy and actually installed it on the frame of the existing canopy I had on the machine. The front extension should keep some of the rain out and the crap that seems to fall on you in the bush. The canopy had no value as the rear window was busted out. I suspect other canopies would fit 6x6 machines, or different makes altogether. More to follow as I continue with the build. This kind of activity makes these winter days go by faster.

[Twizted1]

That'll work. Lol. Looks good.

[flippy]

good idea,I should do that to mine.

[beagle man]

Hey Guy, nice work. how much do you think it weighs? Did you put rubber grommets in the bolt holes in the fiberglass to give it some relief for twisting so the holes don't get slotted or crack the topper?

[guyvapeur]

[IMG][/IMG
]I am guessing at 35-40 lbs. I took off about 30 lbs of steel 1x1 sqare tubing to fit the canopy to the existing frame I had. The top is now 22in. longer than I really need but I think it offers more protection. I am sure that a canopy from a Toyota or S10 would have been shorter and narrower. You build with what you have. The top is still very much in the build stage..... I am wondering what I can do to cushion the shock between the bolts and the fiberglass..... Rubber washers seem to offer some protection but I am also looking at a re-enforcing plate inside the fiberglass to absorb the wear and tear. I just looked outside and saw the Argo.... We are having freezing rain. The top now has a nice frill of ice all around it...............I enclose a pic that I took after the machine was outside for a couple of hours..... freezing rain.....now we know why we want a roof. Mother nature thinks I should add some frills around the edge

[tbone9]

Cool picture. Looks like you got the roof done just in time.

[Twizted1]

Looks like it work! Good job.

[beagle man]

I don't think you could custom order a better fit, just keep it out of the trees. Take a look in the automotive stores for the large rubber grommets like they put in the firewall of cars and trucks to pass wires and cables through,they have different sizes and some have steel bushings for rubber mounting and such. Might think about one bolt per post to give some relief from binding when it flexes, sometimes less is more. Gorilla glue some plastic or tin wear pads on the topper side, again nice top.

[john swenson]

nice job guy on the top. try some large fender washer and large rubber washers on both sides of the fiberglass , then go thru the metal. on the metal side have the rubber washer against the frame. johnboy.

[guyvapeur]

I thank you for all the replies and the positive comments. I have been eyeing this project out for some time. When we put the roof on the frame that I had built for tarp material, the two runners front to back were exactly 3/8 of an inch. parallel to the roof structure..... we pondered what if any use there was to keeping the rails. We took them off to save weight. The idea that less is more is an idea I believe in. Having only one bolt per post does allow for rotation and movement. I have even toyed with the idea of joining the posts to the roof with pieces of rubber hose.....something like cartilage in the knees.....flexible.... I suspect there are a lot more truck caps out there ready to be ru-used. Like Beagle Man says.....you can custom order your scrap cap for your project.

[riotwarrior]

really cool setup, I had a golf cart roof around here but gave that up to a friend with a golf cart ...LOL

What you have here is far superior and I like it.

That rain appears to be quite the addition...try n get a night shot with some lighting LOL and see if it glows in the dark so to speak.

Love seeing ideas like this come around...great idea!