1st gen hardtop- on or off?

[Morania]

Security

How likely is it for someone to hack their way into my truck thru the soft top to get goodies from inside. Like when I'm shopping and stuff. The truck looks beat so maybe I can camouflage the stuff.

 

[Gryphon]

I'd have to vote HELL YEAH! to taking the top off! That's the whole reason I want one!

My wife took the hardtop '90, but I have been running my CJ7 topless for a week now. Had too much rain up untill now!

I used to run a '79 Bronco; that top came off by myself and I just left it off all summer. Rain is no biggie if you set up for it (replace the carpet with outdoor stuff or bedliner and make provisions to drain the body tub!)

Oh yeah: as for the stuff inside and a soft top: Take it from a family that has owned several drop-tops: DON'T leave anything worthwhile inside. And don't bother locking your doors. Locked doors with a hard to mean buying a new side window. Locking a soft top means buying a new soft top!

Take care choosing a parking place, keep your valuables inside to a minimum and don't cruise around thumping your stereo or advertising anything like that. Now, if your rig is a little beat, slap an NRA sticker or two on it...amazing how much of a deterrrant they seem to be! (I guess that may depend a bit on WHERE you happen to be tho...)

 

[mikekaduce]

is it true about one of the bolts pushing a switch that decides whether or not the rear window will operate?

i've had this problem with every 1st gen runner i've owned - put the top back on and the window all of a sudden doesn't work.

which bolt is it? i'm pretty sure i've got em all in there...

 

[yotatilla]

I dont have the bolt problem, my window goes up with the top off. I have to remember that if I try it, there will be hell to pay.

 

[Eric DeCastro]

I said no just because, I would take it off, but wouldn't leave it off for ever.

 

[genlrony]

Got the top off the runner now that the weather is nice enough. Now Im not sure I want to put it back on or just go get a soft top I really like the look of the canvas back but not sure how its gonna hold up to 110+ temperatures

 

[4playin]

is it true about one of the bolts pushing a switch that decides whether or not the rear window will operate?

i've had this problem with every 1st gen runner i've owned - put the top back on and the window all of a sudden doesn't work.

which bolt is it? i'm pretty sure i've got em all in there...

Yes, it's true... If I'm not mistaken it's the second bolt on your left if your sitting on your tailgate facing the front of the truck. I'm thinking of ditching my hard top for good (any buyer's?) and going to a soft top. As my rig's been becoming more and more of a rock crawler, and it's so much easier/funner with the top off, but it's a bit of work to do it on the fly, and find a place to stash it while I'm wheeling.

 

[jrhurst]

deff get it off ,, if you have a garage , you can use 4 bicycle hooks screwed into the rafters of the garage and use motorcycle straps to hoist it off !! It takes me 30 mins by myself to get it on or off !! Rock on with ur top off !!!

 

[Tobi-Wan]

I have an '87 4runner. I bought it from a buddy of mine. He installed a Can-Back soft top (Can-Back.com) on it several years ago. It's the sh*t! Easy on and easy off, it comes with a frame work of 2 inch tube, and can support about 150 lbs. I think it ran him about $1000. I would highly recommend it, they also have a sort of bikini top version as well. Good luck finding one for less than $500-$1000 if you want it to be worth while. I am still trying to get somes pics of my 4runner on here. I just noticed in a previous post from Yotatilla, he mentions taking the doors off. HELL YES! 10 minutes off and about 10 minutes on. It looks Phat as hell!

 

[Tobi-Wan]

Photo's of my '87

here are some photos of my '87 with the top off, and the doors removed. the frame you see is the frame for the Can-Back canvas top. it has snap all the way around the sides and back, and across the top of the back of the cab. it is definitely worth the investment.

 

[locknload]

Yeah, mines been known to come off. BTW my German Shepherd could take my top off in less than 3 hours :biggrin2: .

 

[capo]

Maybe 1 hr. tops.
You need help 1 (or 2 to be nice) other(s).
And it ROCKS!!!
I want a soft top bad but all I can find
is the can-back top and thats big $ for me.
like a grand, thats what I paid for my 88.
Have fun.

 

[pollino]

Make sure you have a new gasket, or like I had to do...put some black silicone, 'cus when it rains you'll get wet.:awais: :awais:

 

[topdown4runner]

I bought a Softoper out of Colorado, cost was about $600 shipped.
I put this on my '87 about 1 1/2 years ago, and have not put the hard top back on since. Anyone need a good hard top? It will never be back on my truck!

 

[Iroke17]

-- removed by admin --

 

[TJPatzlaff]

I`ve had my top off many times, probably about a hundred, and I always put it back on as per the manual. I wash the truck with an expensive high pressure washer, (Its got a heater that can turn the water to steam!) and I`ve never had a leak. I`ll take a picture off it in the next month with the top on and off. My truck is still stock.

I Take my top Off every summer, and run a custom J**p bikini top that I modified the rails to fit my cab. The first Time I took it off it was stuck GOOD. I had fears of it leaking as well, So i bought the gasket for $18 from my local dealer. When I put it back on the first time, I went through and re-installed it fully with all bolts and all hardware and trim. What a PITA. The second time it was off, I over-rode the window switch by putting a hose clamp around it, So i can operate my window with tailgate down/top-off, And I only use half of all the bolts. (the Important ones! LoL) I live in Oregon, and it has NEVER leaked on me. I still have the new gasket even! The old one was still in great shape.

I would love to have a full soft-top to run all year, Because that hard-top is HEAVY. Unfortunately, Soft tops for Runners are Freakin' expensive. $1000 plus. Thats why I used the J**p bikini. Keeps the sun off rear passengers, and makes a light rain tolerable, If you dont mind the cargo area getting wet.

 

[Awz]

If there is a cetain way to reinstall these I must be really good. I don't have the manual. I took it off to see what it looked like, reinstalled it (cuz it's winter and cold) and haven't had any leaks... yet. I would however like to know the correct procedure. If someone could post a link or even a scan of that section of the manual would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

[FubarGrn]

QUESTION: i've only had my 1st gen for about 3 weeks now and since i live in michigan it's still been too cold to remove the top. i definitely plan on doing it as soon as you southerners will be nice enough to send warm weather this way. here's my question: i read the owners manual completely through about how to remove and replace the top and the order you have to do everything in and whatnot. IF i do everything the way they say to do it EXACTLY, will i ever have problems with leaking? i've read a few people saying that they wouldn't remove it because of leaking problems and so never actually tried it.

I've had the top off on my '89 about a hundred times. remember how it comes off, and put it back on the same way, you won't have any leaks.

 

[La Toya]

is it true about one of the bolts pushing a switch that decides whether or not the rear window will operate?

i've had this problem with every 1st gen runner i've owned - put the top back on and the window all of a sudden doesn't work.

which bolt is it? i'm pretty sure i've got em all in there...

The answer is yes! It's called the "A" bolt in the owners manual! It is the 3rd bolt back from drivers seat, above tire wall. If this bolt is missing or not all the way in your back window will not go down.

Also
- make sure your rear wiper is fully retracted
- make sure the tailgate is locked
- make sure the key hole in tailgate is perfectly vertical

It's a lot to remember but hopefully with everything in order your window will work.. Good Luck!

 

[Thurlo76]

Maybe 1 hr. tops.
You need help 1 (or 2 to be nice) other(s).
And it ROCKS!!!
I want a soft top bad but all I can find
is the can-back top and thats big $ for me.
like a grand, thats what I paid for my 88.
Have fun.

i beg to differ! i take my top on and off all the time BY MY SELF
from having it off my truck to on and bolted my record time is 6 min!!! there was a total freakin down poor and i was home in like 3 min and had it on there ready to go in 6 min