Has anyone converted a slider to barn doors - Page 2

jhpsurfboards · 05-09-2014, 08:33 PM

Thanks! I'll give it a shot

86Scotty · 05-11-2014, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhpsurfboards

I am just starting, but I'm already in love with my van(and I don't have kids). She's already gotten me and my friends out of some tough spots, wouldn't trade her for the world. The ultimate surfmobile!! Thanks for the advise.

Nothing wrong with that, sounds like you've got what you want which is awesome. I just thought I would point out a couple of things about the sliders that a lot of people don't think about before they get them. It sure would be nice if someone would make a minivan style electric slider opener/closer like modern minivans have. Yes, it sounds a little 'wimpy', but I'm never walking in and out of my van without something in my hands, and that would make it silent too. We had a Honda Odyssey for awhile that spoiled us.

jhpsurfboards · 05-11-2014, 09:04 AM

A friend of mine just bought one of those Honda vans, I love the double sliders! He is looking for someone that can make it a pop top.

86Scotty · 05-11-2014, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhpsurfboards

A friend of mine just bought one of those Honda vans, I love the double sliders! He is looking for someone that can make it a pop top.

Derek at Colorado Camper Vans can, if someone like Fiberine makes the fiberglass top. I kinda doubt it for a Honda minivan though, not really any market for one I bet.

jhpsurfboards · 05-11-2014, 09:44 AM

Colorado Camper Vans pop top looks awesome. I'm definantly going that route for my van. I have a SMB shop very near me in Austin but I doubt they do the quality of work I've seen from CCV although I've only seen pictures. The top is also taller and longer, which is great for someone 6'4". I do have some concerns about how cutting the entire top out would effect the rigidity of the body. Do you have any opinions on this?

**BroncoHauler** · 05-11-2014, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhpsurfboards

... I do have some concerns about how cutting the entire top out would effect the rigidity of the body. Do you have any opinions on this?

Check DaveB's posts about body cracks, and that's with an SMB-sized hole. Dave does take his van places most people don't though.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13596&hilit=+crack

Herb

86Scotty · 05-11-2014, 01:25 PM

Herb's (and Dave's) concerns are important, but luckily he is about the only one I know of that's had problems with stress cracks. As Herb said, Dave takes his van a lot of places most of us don't, and he does it a lot too.

Derek (CCV) does NOT cut the whole top out. He only cuts a hole from the support right above the driver/passenger's head back to the support about 2 feet forward of the rear door (on a regular body van) and probably 4 feet on an extended. In fact, he doesn't cut a hole as big as SMB does. Also, you should find some of his stuff on Youtube (DSW4X4 is his username). He does some extreme wheeling in his old 7.3 window van, which was his first pop--top experiment I think. He still has the same van as a daily driver. I've ridden in it. It is stout.

jhpsurfboards · 05-12-2014, 09:55 AM

I tend to forget how much useful information there is available on you tube. Those CCV tops look awesome, And I didn't realize how much of the roof they left in tact. I'm sure I won't be doing the type of four wheeling Dave does, mine primarily consists of beach driving, soft sand, no rock crawling. Thanks for the advise guys

E350MAN · 08-03-2014, 06:54 AM

I converted my 1990 E350 from slider to barn doors....doors fit opening no problem...cut out slider mechanism on top....cut out slider mechanism on bottom with sawmill.....make door hinge backing brackets...not that hard.....

The hard part-filling in slider groove in side of van....used a pipe that matched radius....and get a good-GOOD body man to do it and not warp side of van with welding heat...which also can be fixed by a good body man....he had to do it on mine when welder heated metal too much.....

total cost about $2500

sidetrak06 · 10-20-2014, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhpsurfboards

Colorado Camper Vans pop top looks awesome. I'm definantly going that route for my van. I have a SMB shop very near me in Austin but I doubt they do the quality of work I've seen from CCV although I've only seen pictures. The top is also taller and longer, which is great for someone 6'4". I do have some concerns about how cutting the entire top out would effect the rigidity of the body. Do you have any opinions on this?

I have a top from CCV and can attest to the quality of work. They do cut the entire factory roof out but weld in cross members and supports for structure. I rock crawl the hell out of my van and can't even hear a squeak or rattle out of the roof /pop top to indicate that there is flex happening. I would definitely recommend their tops and Derek is a great guy to work with.