Max Soft Tops

[814cannob]

I wanted to post this to hope help pass along information on custom made soft tops. I've owned two tops from this manufacturer. I would say they hold up good.


Thank you for your inquiry.
We have made camouflage tops for Recreatives Industries for their product line and the material was made up for that use.
Recently, Recreatives ceased to use the material and specified black in Sunbrella acrylic canvas which I believe is a better product but is not available in camo. It is available in a taupe colour if that would work. The only fabrics generally available in a camouflage would be a print applied to Cordura Nylon, Oxford Nylon, and Defender Polyester. Nylon would lose the colour and then fall apart in very short order when exposed to the UV of the sun. Polyester would bleach out and deteriorate from the sun as well although it does take longer than nylon.
We can make a top from the available Polyester however we would not support any claims regarding loss of use from UV degradation. I would suggest that this would be a poor investment to make.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.


Keith Archbold
Consultant
31 Commerce Rd
Orangeville, ON L9W 3X5
519.941.6775 office
keith@archbolds.ca
Welcome | Archbold's Custom Shoppe Inc

[akcrawler]

I bought one of the camo tops from Mudd Ox when I bought my Max. I like the top, but I travel through forested areas a lot and can already see areas that have been scraped by low-hanging branches. I think I will be lucky to make the top last more than a few years. the combined effect of sun and branches will probably take a heavy toll. Hopefully, somebody will make a good replacement by the time I need to replace it. I do store my machine and the top under a roof, so it does not get a lot of direct sunlight. That will help a little. I guess I can make my own or have one of the locals, who build boat soft tops, put one together for me.

[rodp]

Boat soft top material just isn't made for the treatment you're going to give it through woods etc. We make soft tops for Jeeps, Land Rovers, Argo's etc from 650gm PVC coated polyester, 950gm for heavy duty. It's immensely strong and weldable if ripped (unlikely). It's the same class of material used in truck sheets, just better quality and high gloss if required. Not cheap though !!!

We're just doing a replacement winter top for a 40' cruiser (moorings suffer badly from the weather) in this material, we do not expect any problems.
Sunbrella acrylic is a very good material for what it's made for, the clue's in the name.

[rcn11thacr]

Sounds good and i started to ask how much for a top for my max iv, but i bet shipping from England would be a bugger for sure.

[rodp]

Sounds good and i started to ask how much for a top for my max iv, but i bet shipping from England would be a bugger for sure.

I think shipping would kill the job for certain. Just find a local truck tarpaulin makers and spec the material you want, they'll probably need a pattern or the max itself for a day or so.

[rcn11thacr]

Thanks rodp