SMB Pop Top Install

[DFarkas]

Hey medicfernando great to hear from you. I'd love to know the cut size of the hole the top came out of. Any chance you'd know that?

cheers

[DFarkas]

medicfernando ... yes i got the penthouse beds too. Cheers and thanks!

[medicfernando]

Originally Posted by DFarkas

medicfernando ... yes i got the penthouse beds too. Cheers and thanks!

Hey there. Glad you got the beds too, they were in excellent shape and used rarely. Unfortunately I do not know the cutout size. My van is an EB. I bet someone on the forum would know the cutout size. If you have any other questions, let me know, I am happy to try to answer them. I look forward to watching the transformation and seeing the finished product. If you’re interested, I have Yakima racks that amount to the mounting plates that are already on the side of the van. I would be happy to send them to you if you were interested.
Cheers, Fernando

[DFarkas]

MedicFernando ... I'd love the yakima racks if they're available!!!! Cheers and thanks

[boywonder]

Dfarkas: Is your van an EB body?

[DFarkas]

Boywonder...nope i've got an RB. The pop top came off an EB so I'm hoping to get it to fit. Measuring it out the top will cover most of the RB's roof length so a precise cut will be critical.

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by DFarkas

Boywonder...nope i've got an RB. The pop top came off an EB so I'm hoping to get it to fit. Measuring it out the top will cover most of the RB's roof length so a precise cut will be critical.

Check out AndrewST's install thread.....we won't be able to help you on fore-aft cutout location....

[DFarkas]

Well ... I went ahead and got the top on. I measured the hole cut many many times just to be sure then cut it. It went a lot smoother than I anticipated.

After that I bought a bunch of beer and food and had my friends come out and help me get it on top. That went better then I anticipated too. Haha. The hole was perfect and the fit of the rails excellent. After lowering it the fiberglass top fits nicely in place.

Overall I’m pretty stoked.

A big issue I am trying to solve is a bracket I’ll need to make in the front and back to handle the pressure of the rail ends on the roof. I’m putting an EB top onto an RB van so there’s an issue of the cross member rails being removed. Thus the added weight onto the roof without the cross member support.

[DFarkas]

I have an idea of what the brackets should look like yet if anyone out there has any experience in this please let me know. Gonna draw them up tomorrow and look for a Fab place in town.

Thanks to Wonderboy, BMerritt, and others for their awesome forum posts. Really helped me out.

[medicfernando]

Originally Posted by DFarkas

Well ... I went ahead and got the top on. I measured the hole cut many many times just to be sure then cut it. It went a lot smoother than I anticipated.

After that I bought a bunch of beer and food and had my friends come out and help me get it on top. That went better then I anticipated too. Haha. The hole was perfect and the fit of the rails excellent. After lowering it the fiberglass top fits nicely in place.

Overall I’m pretty stoked.

A big issue I am trying to solve is a bracket I’ll need to make in the front and back to handle the pressure of the rail ends on the roof. I’m putting an EB top onto an RB van so there’s an issue of the cross member rails being removed. Thus the added weight onto the roof without the cross member support.

Looks great! Well done! My old top lives on, love it!