Experimenting with a bikini top - costs and benefits

Are you running your soft top without the over door drain channels? I wondered about that as they catch the door tops on mine, I didn’t think it would,hold its shape without them

Fatrover said:

Are you running your soft top without the over door drain channels? I wondered about that as they catch the door tops on mine, I didn’t think it would,hold its shape without them

Click to expand...

Yes - just the sharktooth rail and front hoop. But it’s only the bikini not a full tilt. And I’ve got the straps tensioned quite tight. Shape seems fine and it doesn’t flap at speed at all.

I’ll try it! I should imagine if it works ok for a bikini it should be fine for the tilt, can’t see why not! Thanks for the info

Fatrover said:

I’ll try it! I should imagine if it works ok for a bikini it should be fine for the tilt, can’t see why not! Thanks for the info

Click to expand...

Great! Post a pic? It seems to me that it would be quite possible to have the full tilt on with the back and sides rolled up, just using two hoops and the shark rail.
The cab rails are just for waterproofing and shape as far as I understand. But they slow the tilt removal as it has to be tucked in and secured.
I’m sure more informed people than me can comment on this.
AlI wanted was the equivalent of an umbrella whilst running otherwise topless.

Yes I’m the same I have the door tops,off and the sides rolled up s much as possible but now we’ve moved back to Scotland I need a bit of protection in the winter....I’ve got an exmoor cage and tilt on mine and I really didn’t think of runnning without the door channels, will hopefully solve my door top problem too. I’ll post a pic tomorrow, weather permitting, it’s chucking down here

I use my tailgate as a bench/stove surface/eating surface.

It’s quite handy having a fold down tailgate

An update on this experience: I finally put the hardtop back on yesterday, concluding that the weather was getting cold enough.

Overall - I’ve really enjoyed the open top experience. It’s just a lot of simple fun. Driving at night under a clear sky is very special. It’s made the really hot days of the summer heat wave feel exotic somehow. Early autumn chill has been very bearable with the door tops on and the hood in place.
It’s made the truck into a sort of private mobile seat/picnic bench, and attracted lots of people over to chat, and some smiles from others.

Disadvantages? Security is an obvious one, but I haven’t tended to need to leave it parked for long periods anywhere. It’s garaged when at home. It’s a bit noisier from the wind at higher speed, but quieter at lower speeds.

Putting the hardtop back was straightforward, but took a while due to a few hard to access bolts. Top tip - remember to put in the corner post bolts on the tub BEFORE lifting the top back! Also the tub/hardtop seals were a bit fiddly. Next time I do it, things will go faster.

I’m still curious about the full soft top and may do that in future. Hopefully I can get the hardtop back off in the spring and get a good length of time like that next year!

Speedy6111 said:

An update on this experience: I finally put the hardtop back on yesterday, concluding that the weather was getting cold enough.

Overall - I’ve really enjoyed the open top experience. It’s just a lot of simple fun. Driving at night under a clear sky is very special. It’s made the really hot days of the summer heat wave feel exotic somehow. Early autumn chill has been very bearable with the door tops on and the hood in place.
It’s made the truck into a sort of private mobile seat/picnic bench, and attracted lots of people over to chat, and some smiles from others.

Disadvantages? Security is an obvious one, but I haven’t tended to need to leave it parked for long periods anywhere. It’s garaged when at home. It’s a bit noisier from the wind at higher speed, but quieter at lower speeds.

Putting the hardtop back was straightforward, but took a while due to a few hard to access bolts. Top tip - remember to put in the corner post bolts on the tub BEFORE lifting the top back! Also the tub/hardtop seals were a bit fiddly. Next time I do it, things will go faster.

I’m still curious about the full soft top and may do that in future. Hopefully I can get the hardtop back off in the spring and get a good length of time like that next year!

Click to expand...

We put a full tilt on our 88” towards the end of summer, been ace.
Don’t think I’ll bother going back to hardtop, most folk seem to think the canvas is warmer.

One idea I’ve had is to buy a fume curtain for behind the driver and passenger seats. This makes the can really cosy.
But my main aim is to buy a bikini top and in summer months, remove the full tilt but stow the bikini and curtain to give me an intstant truck cab if needed.

Wheresthefinesse said:

We put a full tilt on our 88” towards the end of summer, been ace.
Don’t think I’ll bother going back to hardtop, most folk seem to think the canvas is warmer.

One idea I’ve had is to buy a fume curtain for behind the driver and passenger seats. This makes the can really cosy.
But my main aim is to buy a bikini top and in summer months, remove the full tilt but stow the bikini and curtain to give me an intstant truck cab if needed.

Click to expand...

Yes, you aren’t the first to say that you wouldn’t go back to the HT. I guess it also gives lots of options in terms of having the sides rolled up or down etc. Is yours with side windows or not?

One other side benefit of a full tilt or bikini is that it means you have the fold down tailgate that extends the length of the load bed.

If you remove the full tilt and add bikini, would you leave the rear hoops on? One of the the appeals of the bikini for me was that it was just 2 bolts to get the front hoop off for the ‘totally open’ experience.

Ours is the sand colour with windows. We use it a fair bit, usually with kids in back. Find the side windows handy for manoeuvres!

As before, I plan to get a bikini in preparation for next summer, if we get a good spell of weather I’ll remove tilt and rear stick.
Bikini top and fume curtain should give a degree of security and weathertightness.

You can see photos of it on IG. @Lena_the_landy

Wheresthefinesse said:

Ours is the sand colour with windows. We use it a fair bit, usually with kids in back. Find the side windows handy for manoeuvres!

As before, I plan to get a bikini in preparation for next summer, if we get a good spell of weather I’ll remove tilt and rear stick.
Bikini top and fume curtain should give a degree of security and weathertightness.

You can see photos of it on IG. @Lena_the_landy

Click to expand...

Totally agree on side windows!

Lovely photos on IG. Your “ejector seats” toggle made me laugh

Speedy6111 said:

Totally agree on side windows!

Lovely photos on IG. Your “ejector seats” toggle made me laugh

Click to expand...

Yeah, threatened the missus that I’ll wire that one up someday!