Mesh safari/bikini tops

"kevheb" wrote: They want $120 + shipping for a custom 46" x 60". 😲

Wow! Quite a difference in price. They say they'll do it but it doesn't sound like they really want to do it.

buy the fabric at lowes, find a local seamstress that can do marine work and get one custom made.

Aebersold Upholstery of Auburn repaired my viking soft top after I tore on the barrett lake trail last year.He did some great work on the repair at a good price. I know he does some custom work on all kinds of material including some custom stuff on the girlfriend's parents jeep back in the 70's. His # 530-885-4455.He might be of help.

I actually bought a piece of 4'x6' Textilene 80 online for a whopping $16.80 + s/h. I'm going to get some grommets and bungee balls and see if I can create my own.



It should be here on Friday. I'll let you know how it turns out. If it doesn't work then I'm not out all that much.

Definitely keep us posted on the homemade version and thanks for the lead on the shop in Auburn. I've been thinking about getting together a bikini type top for the back of the 4Runner.

Received the Textilene 80 today. Nice material. Feels strong and I think the 48" width will work without cutting.



I'm going to get some grommets this weekend and see what I can do. 😀

Finished my mesh top today. I don't have the nice clean sewn edges like the retail versions but I have full coverage and I'm happy with the results. Nice material and I can really feel the difference when the sun is hitting me directly and when the sun is coming through the top. I'll try to make it to the BBQ for people to see in person.



Click the images to see the full view. I noticed the resizing on the forum makes it look a little funky.





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That looks like a nice job! Do you get any flapping at highway speeds or does the air pass right through it?



Subject change. If you remember a while ago you burned some Barett pics for me? If possible, could you burn them again? The CD I have says that the burn session was still open so it won't let me view them. I keep forgetting to ask you about this. Thanks!

"BKGM Jeepers" wrote: That looks like a nice job! Do you get any flapping at highway speeds or does the air pass right through it?

Thanks. There's a little movement in the top rear. No movement up front. A slight wind noise, more like a mild hiss at times, but no flapping. My safari top had way more noise and movement.



I'll make another copy of the Barrett pictures.

Great news! Thanks for the pics too.

Looks good, nice job Kevin.



I had some birthday money burning a whole in my pocket. Since I missed the meeting last month I ended up ordering the Bestop mesh safari top from JCWhitney.

Cool! Did you do all the sewing by hand?! 😲

"Bender" wrote: Cool! Did you do all the sewing by hand?! 😲

No sewing. I left the rough edges and folded over where I put in the grommets. The material is pretty strong. I'll see how it does over time.

Maybe I missed something. How did you attach it to the front of your jeep.Is it to the cross bar behind the windshield?

"rick-rock" wrote: Maybe I missed something. How did you attach it to the front of your jeep.Is it to the cross bar behind the windshield?

Bungee ball through the footman loop at the top center of the windshield frame.

For those that were interested, here's the direct link where you can select the exact length of fabric...



http://www.arizonasunsupply.com/Textilene-80.html

"FAM" wrote: I ended up ordering the Bestop mesh safari top from JCWhitney.

I ordered from JCWhitney on 5/16 and the expected ship date kept getting pushed out. I gave up this morning and canceled my order so I'm back to square one again.



I started using my factory soft top as a safari by rolling up the rear sail panels and bungying them to the roll bar under the rest of the top. I got the idea from the Clover Patch Convert-A-Top. I used a couple nylon straps I had laying around to put some tension on the rear top support to keep the fabric tight. It's working pretty well. This isn't my Jeep, but you can get the idea of what I'm talking about.



I like the way I did it better because the sail panel is more hidden that this.



I may end up getting some of the textilene material and try making a mesh top like Kevin's.

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I finally got around to ordering a Bestop mesh safari top. It arrived yesterday and I got it put on today. So far I really like it. It still gives that open air feeling but provides some shade at the same time.

Cool! 😀



After a year my homemade screen top is holding strong.





Is this going to be the only post today?

"kevheb" wrote:

Is this going to be the only post today?

No.

"Justin" wrote: [quote="kevheb"]

Is this going to be the only post today?

No.

Thanks for keeping the board alive.

It Lives 😎