Soft Top Frustration M1123

[mrandig]

I'm finding the installation of my new 2-man soft top to be more of a struggle than it should be. It's almost like the top is two sizes too small for the truck it's being installed on.

Assuming that some warm weather and sunlight will help soften and stretch things up a bit, I'm still left with the two ears on the b-pillars. Routing these flaps around the b-pillars, over the padding, under the seatbelt, I'm left both high and short of any mounting point.



Even assuming the material was longer, I'm still going to be in between turnbuckles. The -10 shows the installation of the 2-man top, but it's no help here; it doesn't even show this part of the installation.


Any thoughts here? This seems like it should be the most obvious thing on the planet, but apparently, I'm missing something.

 

[WillWagner]

I am gonna go look at one tomorrow. I can have a look/take pictures.

 

[Thunderbirds]

When I installed mine, it was tight, but with a heat gun and lots of work, it did eventually fit. I think I also used some wide vice grips...

You may need to install the turnbuckles. I had to for the curtain.

 

[Bulldogger]

Is it an OEM top, or an aftermarket top? Aftermarket, except for Blue Ox's hand-fitted options, are notorious for being sewn from a pattern and never fitted.
Bulldogger

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

That top was never meant to cover the B- pillar head pad, there Is an extension piece in the OEM kit to extend that flap

 

[mrandig]

Not sure if these add anything to the conversation, but here's some better pics. The top is now totally unhooked, but still no joy. The eyelet ends up right in-between the two turnbuckles.

Left side.


Right side.

 

[mrandig]

That top was never meant to cover the B- pillar head pad, there Is an extension piece in the OEM kit to extend that flap

Thank you, sir.

This is the answer I needed.

 

[mrandig]

Is it an OEM top, or an aftermarket top? Aftermarket, except for Blue Ox's hand-fitted options, are notorious for being sewn from a pattern and never fitted.
Bulldogger

Based on the number of eyelets that I've cracked getting it installed, and the otherwise poor fit, I'm going to guess it's probably not OEM. I'm going to contact Bill and see what he can do.

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

Based on the number of eyelets that I've cracked getting it installed, and the otherwise poor fit, I'm going to guess it's probably not OEM. I'm going to contact Bill and see what he can do.

looks OEM to me

 

[mrandig]

That top was never meant to cover the B- pillar head pad, there Is an extension piece in the OEM kit to extend that flap

Thanks again RWH.

This is becoming almost more trouble than it's worth. I may just break out the zip ties...

I can't find any extension listed in the -24P, and there's nothing shown in the instructions in the -10. The P/N for the top (12340736-18 ) matches the UOC for the M1123 (NNN).

Any thoughts on how to find these missing extensions? I don't even have an idea what I'm looking for, what they look like, or what the proper nomenclature is.

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

Thanks again RWH.

This is becoming almost more trouble than it's worth. I may just break out the zip ties...

I can't find any extension listed in the -24P, and there's nothing shown in the instructions in the -10. The P/N for the top (12340736-18 ) matches the UOC for the M1123 (NNN).

Any thoughts on how to find these missing extensions? I don't even have an idea what I'm looking for, what they look like, or what the proper nomenclature is.

 

[Bulldogger]

Thanks again RWH.
This is becoming almost more trouble than it's worth. I may just break out the zip ties...
I can't find any extension listed in the -24P, and there's nothing shown in the instructions in the -10. The P/N for the top (12340736-18 ) matches the UOC for the M1123 (NNN).
Any thoughts on how to find these missing extensions? I don't even have an idea what I'm looking for, what they look like, or what the proper nomenclature is.

Either Bill or I can modify that top to better suit you, meaning move a few turnbuckle grommets and extend the B pillar lower grommet.

If all it needs, at a minimum, is those extensions I can make them if we can get good measurements.

Let me know.

BDGR

 

[mrandig]

View attachment 959275

I'm at a loss for words. I've spent quite a few hours trying to figure this out.

There's a lot to be said about the value of this site and the sharing of information here.

Thanks again.

 

[DREDnot]

Did you remove the upper seat belt bolt and that pad assembly? That has to come off to install that flap.



Remove the seat belt bolt.
you will see two small screw heads...loosen but dont remove them.
Now the pad assembly slides down and off.
Now wrap and fasten top flap.
Reinstall pad assembly and seat belt

 

[DREDnot]

Two small screws to clamp lower clamp plate.



When reinstalling notice how the pad assembly hooks around the back of the B-pillar on that ridge

 

[mrandig]

Did you remove the upper seat belt bolt and that pad assembly? That has to come off to install that flap.

View attachment 959290

Remove the seat belt bolt.
you will see two small screw heads...loosen but dont remove them.
Now the pad assembly slides down and off.
Now wrap and fasten top flap.
Reinstall pad assembly and seat belt

I've got the top off now, as I need to drop the windshield to figure out why the wipers are intermittent. Once that's back on, I can mess around with this a little more.

I'm all for giving this a try to see what happens, but the length of the flap isn't as much of a problem as the height. I need to either go up or down about 3" to snap it in.

 

[Thunderbirds]

I've got the top off now, as I need to drop the windshield to figure out why the wipers are intermittent. Once that's back on, I can mess around with this a little more.

I'm all for giving this a try to see what happens, but the length of the flap isn't as much of a problem as the height. I need to either go up or down about 3" to snap it in.
View attachment 959311

.
It seems to me you are missing the turn buckle... See if there are 2 tiny dimples in the pillar where a turnbuckle should be. On mine, I had to install every one for the curtain. there wasn't any for it installed. Not hard to do if you have a rivet gun, rivets and turn buckle.

 

[DREDnot]

Start by making sure the top is tight along the top of the B-pillar.
You need to remove the upper seat belt attachment and pad assembly first.
You aren't missing any of the twist locks and they are in the correct place.



The front and rear grommets attach to the same (lower) twist lock stud



Sorry I dont have mine mounted at this time but You should get the idea from this old pic of it for how far down it should fit on the outside

 

[DREDnot]

You may have your top's rear grommets fastened one stud over from center?
I cant see it even fitting this way but its just a thought

 

[DREDnot]

Post a picture of your center cross bow.
I'm wondering if maybe you got yourself an ambulance cross bow which is way too tall