My Willys 3A and 3B Community
Rambling, Malarky, Rants, Etc. => Rambling, Malarky, Rants, Etc... => Topic started by: Carls_jeep on December 14, 2010, 05:01:47 PM
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How long does the vinyl Jeep tops last? The reason I ask is last summer I bought a bunch of Jeep parts just to get a top and got two of them in the deal. I put one on and now am reluctant to sell the other one if they only last a few years.
Sooo, how long have you had the tops last?
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That's going to depend on how much weather it sees. Heat from the sun, Winter cold, wind, rain, all will have an input on longevity. Under normal daily usage I've seen them start to break down in just 2-3 years. However, seldom used, doesn't sit in the sun, never sees snow, they can last years longer. Another factor is whether it stays in place or gets removed/folded and then re-mounted on a semi-regular basis. Garage kept or parked outside can make a significant difference.
I've never been a fan of vinyl tops, they just don't hold up, especially compared to canvas. I have actually seen original WWII and Korea issue canvas that was still servicable. Vinyl, on the other hand, seldom makes 10 years, in my experience. Others may have had better results.
Keeping and storing a vinyl top presents it's own problems. Cool dampness will lead to mildew, sometimes severe. Too warm and the plasticides start to depart. Long term storage of a vinyl top can lead to the creases "setting". If it's sat long enough and the creases set hard enough they can actually crack when finally unfolded.
OK, after all the gloom and doom, in my opinion, I would sell the extra. If you need a new top down the line, buy a fresh one.
Larry
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That sounds reasonable so I'll be putting the spare top up for sale soon. I need to take some photo's on a dry warm day though. I'll put it here first.
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I've been looking for a set of M38 bows. �Never did like the "tent pole" configuration of the factory top. Why they adopted that goofy setup over the original, I'll never know...
M38- loosen two thumbscrews, slide bows in pockets...done.
CJ- assemble several poles like you're putting up a tent.
After I get my bows (shopping around trying to minimize shipping), I plan on getting a Summer top from New Life Canvas.
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I'll probably have a canvas top made when my current top goes bad. I'll use the same bows and door frames I have.
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There's a guy over on the CJ2A forum that makes, or had been making, canvas tops. I can't remember his name but a search of the forum should point him out.
Larry
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I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.
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There's a guy over on the CJ2A forum that makes, or had been making, canvas tops. I can't remember his name but a search of the forum should point him out.
Larry
That would be Jeff Petrowski aka JPET...He is making a bunch of Duster style tops, I doubt he is into making full tops with windows all the way around unless you are talking an original canvas type of top. Jeff is an amazingly talented guy who designed the tooling to reproduce the topbows that Lowenuf over on the 2A page makes nowadays at topbows.com. Jeff is fully capable of making any top Beachwood or New life or Webbie webbing makes but he is limiting himself to only tops that are not already available from those sources.
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Hmm, I am rather fond of all the windows and visibility they provide.
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http://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/dusters_topic17623.html
THis is the thread where Jeff is showing what his duster style top looks like... If you have seen the "Summer Top" offerred by Beachwood and others, you will get the idea.
I agree, windows are a GOOD thing. � Jeff really doesn't want to open up a canvas shop, he is just trying to fill a niche �that nobody else has been filling for the 2A �summer top and also he is making some tops for the CJ2 �folks. (not 2A, the prototype CJ2) ..He has 3 flatfenders of his own and wants to have time to work on them too.
I think he is also making a stock style top using the early door frame assemblies for the 2A .. with polycarbonate windows. But you will need to contact him for details. IF you are the adventurous type Jpet also has a thread on teh 2A page, Make your OWN canvas top..with all sorts of helpful info. Some folks have already done this using his drawings.