bluesman2a : Woot, new tops are in, and question...

Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by bluesman2a on Sept 30, 2006, 11:14pm

Friday, right before leaving town, I got a package from Mona with the new tops for my truck and (matching top) M-416.

I haven't made it up to the shop yet to try the top on the truck, but I threw the cover on the trailer today
http://www.southernjeeps.org/phpbb/files/dscf0701.jpg

I went with a material called "Coverlight Vinyl" in tan. Both the truck and trailer will be getting shot with 24052.

The top seems to be about right for the trailer, but is there a trick to rigging the tops on those little trailers? I thought somewhere I had seen them done as a single rope through all the grommets? Either way didn't spend too long on it.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by k8icu on Oct 1, 2006, 12:22pm

That is the right and proper way of putting the tarp on the trailer. A little hit the army made a bow for them take a 1X6 and cut the ends at a 45 degree angle leaving about a an inch or so on the end. In other words don't cut the angle to the corner. Then notch a 1 inch "datto" into the bottom so that it will rest on the lip of the trailer. The board can be made to be either to fit the length of the trailer or the width there for making a tent in the tarp and thus allowing water to run off. I did it with my 416 before it got sold with the my m151A2 and it worked very well.
Looks good! Can't wait to see pics of the truck!

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by binfordm715 on Oct 2, 2006, 12:51am

I was asking Mona if she could do a top for me out of this: http://www.cryeprecision.com/product1.asp?P=1CC

Multicam. I love that stuff! Those of you who saw me at the FE saw my BDU pants in that material. Only the stuff I asked Mona about was the 1000 denier Cordura. Not sure if it would stand up to the wind-beating and/or sunlight. But I think the truck would look awesome with a top made of that.

Anyway, when she wrote back to me, she mentioned just having done your tops, blues! Said they seemed to have turned out nice.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by compexp on Oct 2, 2006, 6:36am

I wonder what a top in that new digital pattern camo would look like? Be interesting.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by elohim1 on Oct 5, 2006, 6:55pm

Im getting a red x. Looking forward to seeing the tops.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by bluesman2a on Oct 10, 2006, 2:40am

OK, so everything is going back together from my dash project, the cancer has been exorcised, and I finally got everything clean enough to put my new top on!!!

Pics first:
http://www.sjmembers.com/gallery/alb...0/DSCF0761.jpg
http://www.sjmembers.com/gallery/alb...0/DSCF0763.jpg
http://www.sjmembers.com/gallery/alb...0/DSCF0774.jpg

http://www.sjmembers.com/gallery/alb...0/DSCF0769.jpg
http://www.sjmembers.com/gallery/alb...0/DSCF0701.jpg

Impressions:
1) As far as I know this is the first 715 Top Mona has completed. I am VERY pleased with the product. She has been in touch and very concerned that it works and everything is OK. She has already offered to fix anything I did not find to my satisfaction (great service by the way).

2) There is exactly one minor flaw, the button on the driver's side front windshield is 180* off, so the snap is on the outside. Not shabby at ALL for the first time on something this complicated.

3) The material is very rubberized, so it doesn't slide over the bows like the canvas. Not a bad thing, but I'll either have to put some silicon or something on it for easier installation in the future. It was kind of cole tonight when I installed it, so I'll want to let it get warm out in the sun before I really comment on how the shape is.

4) The roll-up rear is top notch. LOVE the black out curtain. If you get one, I highly recommend these options. One note for Mona here though, we experimented with the length of the straps for the roll-up, made them shorter than some previous models, in the future add about 3-4" the length I have is OK, but hard to get started unless you have a REALLY tight roll.

All in all I am extremely pleased with the outcome and I think the final paint on the truck with this top/seats will look REALLY sharp.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by bulldawg67 on Oct 10, 2006, 9:13pm

It looks sharp Bluesman, I am thinking of ordering one myself. You are located in Lawrenceville right?

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by fsjguy on Oct 10, 2006, 9:14pm

Looks good. What material is it?? It seems like it would be more waterproof than canvas. I wonder how it would handle the Colorado sunshine???

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by fsjguy on Oct 10, 2006, 9:14pm

Duh, I see. Coverlight Vinyl. How's it smell?? <g>

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by bluesman2a on Oct 11, 2006, 4:20pm


Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Duh, I see. Coverlight Vinyl. How's it smell?? <g>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Actually, the smell is the reason I bought coverlight, instead of the traditional canvas. Normal canvas gives me a bad headache.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by rjenkins on Oct 16, 2006, 7:35am

Please post the contact info for the person that made that. It seems to have a gloss to it like a reg vinyl top. I like it! How much$$$$

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by bluesman2a on Oct 16, 2006, 9:03am


Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Please post the contact info for the person that made that. It seems to have a gloss to it like a reg vinyl top. I like it! How much$$$$</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Mona Roth
New Life Canvas
3201 West 260th Street
New Prague, MN 56071
Phone: (952) 758-3879
Email: newlifecanvas@yahoo.com


Some of these prices may change, but they'll give you a baseline
Cabtop (original canvas) ....290$
Cabtop with zippers & roll-up back(original canvas) .....$325
Black out curtain for rear window.... (not sure on current price for this, she mentioned a change, but not sure new $).

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by binfordm715 on Oct 19, 2006, 8:52am


Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">
2) There is exactly one minor flaw, the button on the driver's side front windshield is 180* off, so the snap is on the outside. Not shabby at ALL for the first time on something this complicated.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

VERRRRRY interesting! My driver's side windshield snap is in the wrong spot too! Too far outboard, as I recall. Perhaps Judith's pattern is off and Mona is copying the error.

Post a pic of that, will ya? When I get home later today I'll do the same.


Edit: Found one! I pulled this off a shot from the PacNor FE:

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4513/snaplb5.jpg


Is that what yours looks like? Can't tell from the shot you posted.

BTW, the silver thing is the bolt holding the side window frame on. The male end of the snap (fixed to the windshield) is a bit below that, painted green.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by bluesman2a on Oct 19, 2006, 11:26pm

I didn't look at it that close once I figured it was backwards. I *think* the position is OK, but I'll make sure to double check it before I send it back to Mona.

Also for those considering one of her tops, a follow-up on the customer service aspect: I've been in touch with her, she's been VERY accomodating and we've worked out a deal that is mutually beneficial. I guess in short, I gotta say, STILL a TOP vendor in my book (EVERY pun intended there)

I know we've talked about this stuff before, I don't expect every vendor to get it right every time, they are human too. It's how they recover and treat customers in adverse conditions that really shows the quality of the business. Mona's been great!

Enough of the gushing, and on to the pic:
http://www.sjmembers.com/gallery/alb...0/DSCF0766.jpg

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by binfordm715 on Oct 20, 2006, 1:03pm

Ahhh... I see. Snap's on backwards. Looks like it would line up right though. Mine may too, once it stretches out a bit more. I haven't given up on it yet!

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by elwenil on Oct 20, 2006, 2:12pm

That's a pretty sweet top. I love that material, but I wonder if it comes in other colors. How much did that top cost? I like everything but the roll up window, I never have liked that add on.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by bluesman2a on Oct 20, 2006, 4:10pm

It does come in more than just tan. Here's a link to a site that has representations:
http://www.glfi.com/vinylbook_tarpaulin.htm

The cost wasn't too bad, it was a little more than standard (can't remember off the top of my head).

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by canvas1 on Oct 21, 2006, 4:13pm

Hey guys,

Yes, snap is on backwards - sorry Blues - will make it right for ya though.

Binford, make sure your top is centered on the rope strip before you flip it over the cab. The canvas tops may shrink if not stored on the truck, or taken off with any amount of moisture in them. They can be stretched, but takes time/patience & strong fingers!

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by binfordm715 on Oct 22, 2006, 12:41pm

You're not kidding about the strong fingers, Mona! Even for just putting on a new top. I put my top on about 6 weeks ago and my left thumb is just now feeling okay!

Thanks for the suggestion about centering the rope better. Hadn't really thought of that, but a very slight shift would probably make all the difference in getting that last snap lined up. I'll give it a try.

Re: Woot, new tops are in, and question...
Post by over2land on Oct 24, 2006, 12:17am

Funny.

My top was big, and took a few weeks to shrink down so it was tight on the truck...

Edit: and on the snap thing: My snaps line up fine, so doubt its a pattern thing.

(its a Judith era New Life top)