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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Stainless on May 24, 2011, 12:44:20 AM

Title: Still Pondering: Sidekick fibreglass rear top options
Post by: Stainless on May 24, 2011, 12:44:20 AM

I've been thinking about this since I got my Sidekick four years ago -- Just about everyone that takes a pic of their sidekick does it with the top off... They just look better that way. (IMHO)    But: With rain and thieves, there's no way to leave it like that all the time.

So these guys came up with a rally top: http://www.rallytops.com/suzuki/sidekick-2-piece-sport-top.html (http://www.rallytops.com/suzuki/sidekick-2-piece-sport-top.html)
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/rallytopscom.jpg)
It's almost a thousand dollars, and I really hate the way it looks... It sits too high above the back frame rails and looks really awkward.

I made my own tonneau cover out of this heavy plasticized fabric I got at walmart, it velcros onto the bedrails, and anchors to a board behind the steats that I screwed in through the factory holes that are covered up in the bottom right of this picture:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/Tonneau-1.jpg)
It looks great, it barely flaps, but it still leaves the back window completely open, and velcro keeps nobody out.


I started thinking about trying to bend some aluminum diamondplate to fit, which would let me bend up some 'for show' rollbars/lightbars, but I don't have the tools or equipment to bend it, weld it, etc.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/BIGTIRE.jpg)


Then the other day I'm parked beside a chevy avalanche, and it hits me:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/Avalanche.jpg)
I could crop my factory plastic/fibreglass hardtop and use it as a base to make my own.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/CROPPED.jpg)
And hopefully come up with something that looks a little less halfassed than this:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/HALFASS.jpg)

The rear window would be reused since it's already the perfect size.  It wouldn't even be that hard to make it so the whole window could be removed with a few bolts to retain the full top off experience.

Everything I read/watch about fibreglass has it going into a mold, which I'd have to create and spend way too much time on.  Is it not possible to just carve something out of wood/foam, and lay strips of fibreglass over top?  I'm not looking for a showroom finish or anything.

What do you think, any ideas?
-Al.

 

Title: Re: Still Pondering: Sidekick fibreglass rear top options
Post by: Stainless on May 24, 2011, 01:00:45 AM

Here are a few similar pics that I've found:

Zukinator:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/zukinatorside.jpg)
I don't remember where I got this one:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/metaltonneau.jpg)
This one is from a guy in Sweden, but it was apparently made from a mold too:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/Alhora/fibreglasszuk.jpg)

-Al.

Title: Re: Still Pondering: Sidekick fibreglass rear top options
Post by: Capt on May 24, 2011, 08:56:12 AM

Try Contacting Dave,

He made this EXCELLENT DIY top for his Sammy.

Maybe he can "Clue You In" on "How Too's"

e mail: dave|removethispart|@deutscherwachtelhund.org

CAPT

Title: Re: Still Pondering: Sidekick fibreglass rear top options
Post by: BRD HNTR on May 24, 2011, 11:46:47 PM

I extend a bungee cord from the handles on inside of roof support and after loosening the top, fold it down flat (with windows tucked under it) and put the front section over the bungee cord.  I use another bungee cord across the back to keep it from lifting up (front back draft) at speeds above 4o mph.
It looks like this, and helps keep honest people honest.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_86HP5-adsWc/TdykBKgGvPI/AAAAAAAAI1Q/9xNxLXfxu5s/s800/DSCF0529.JPG)

Title: Re: Still Pondering: Sidekick fibreglass rear top options
Post by: jzap on May 25, 2011, 05:20:57 AM

Years ago, Quincy-Lynn sold plans for DIY car bodies that used a fiberglass over foam technique.  They built the body using plywood and polyurethane foam to get the shape, and then laminated fiberglass cloth over the foam.  Using this system, no mold was needed.  An article on their technique is found here:

http://www.rqriley.com/frp-foam.htm (http://www.rqriley.com/frp-foam.htm)

The first top you showed and said that it sits too high above the back frame rails is probably built that way to allow space for hardware to attach to the original factory soft top mounting points as most aftermarket hard tops do.

I would love a hard tonneau cover.  Let us see what you come up with.