Topic: Windshield channel that fits under the hard top

[jfrabat]

Is there a windshield channel that can be left on under the hard top?  I want to leave the hardtop, but I want the option of running a safary top; I just dont want to be taking the channel (and the hard top insulation) on and off...

[drunkencityworker]

I have the best top bikini. And you cant fit hard top over the channel. No prob for me. I run bikini only may to sept. Then Its a sad day at my house when hard top goes on for winter

[Jeffy]

You can have a soft top channel OR a hardtop (no channel) not both for the OEM top.  You will be forced to unscrew the flange for the hardtop and screw in the channel when you swap back and forth.

If you were wanted to experiment, you might be able to fabricate something but that would depend on what can be done with the hardtop as fitting a channel under the hardtop is the sticky issue.

[jfrabat]

I am currently thinking more along the lines of actually fabricating a top with pop rivets screwed to the vertical part of the windshield (where it would not interfere with the hardtop) and secured to the 3 footman loops on the rear of the windshield as added safety (the 2 that are used to hold the hardtop and the one in the middle), and then tie it to the rear rollbar.  That should be enough for my porposes, I think...  Of course, the pop rivets may not hold at highway speed (and even here, I am not sure they will not, as they seem to hold fine on some fast boats, but I guess I wil have to try and see), but they should provide some shade when on the trail, and perhaps even some protection from the elements...

[Jeffy]

I am currently thinking more along the lines of actually fabricating a top with pop rivets screwed to the vertical part of the windshield (where it would not interfere with the hardtop) and secured to the 3 footman loops on the rear of the windshield as added safety (the 2 that are used to hold the hardtop and the one in the middle), and then tie it to the rear rollbar.  That should be enough for my porposes, I think...  Of course, the pop rivets may not hold at highway speed (and even here, I am not sure they will not, as they seem to hold fine on some fast boats, but I guess I wil have to try and see), but they should provide some shade when on the trail, and perhaps even some protection from the elements...

The vertical part is what the hard top usually screws into.  You need the groove to be facing forward or else with teh top flapping, it will pull itself out.  So your top uses straps to hold the front down?

[sharpxmen]

i think the TJ soft top uses some sort of a bar or plate in the front where it attaches with couple of clamps to the windshield frame from the inside - don't have a TJ but someone here could confirm if that is the case. You might be able to use that bar and wrap your bikini top around it and sew it and use the clamps to secure it in - i'll have a look next time i'm at the wrecker's as i planned to research it for my soft top anyways. Might be that the curvature of the TJ frame is different so in that case wouldn't work, but if it does you wouldn't have to worry about the weather channel anymore.

[jfrabat]

The vertical part is what the hard top usually screws into.  You need the groove to be facing forward or else with teh top flapping, it will pull itself out.  So your top uses straps to hold the front down?

I currently have a Pavement Ends Targa Top, not the original top; this top actually sits on the same surface as the windshield channel sits on, but it does not touch the vertical lip (I can literally insert my fingers and touch the rear of the front horizontal part of the windshield frame from inside the cab).  The problem is that to put a rail, I need not only to screw it in place, but also take out the insulation for the hard top, which means every time I change tops I need to buy a new one.  And since the Jeep will be a toy from now on, it will have the hard top on all the time except when I go trail riding, which will not be that often (as I can only import the Jeep from Panama, where it will be, to Costa Rica, where I will be, for periods of up to 3 months, which means a MAXIMUM of 6 months out of the year).

i think the TJ soft top uses some sort of a bar or plate in the front where it attaches with couple of clamps to the windshield frame from the inside - don't have a TJ but someone here could confirm if that is the case. You might be able to use that bar and wrap your bikini top around it and sew it and use the clamps to secure it in - i'll have a look next time i'm at the wrecker's as i planned to research it for my soft top anyways. Might be that the curvature of the TJ frame is different so in that case wouldn't work, but if it does you wouldn't have to worry about the weather channel anymore.

I dont know if it would work or not, but it sure gives me some ideas on fabbing something to bolt to the front part of the forward lip wih the top sewed on to that frame...  I'll have to think about it a bit more, but at this time, the idea is a bit attractive...