Cj5 Top Specs

[Vick68]

Does anyone have the measurements on a CJ5 top. Ive got a buddy that is an upholsterer he said that he would make me a top for free with some extra material he has around the shop. I tried to google it but cant find any info out on it. I guess if anyone has ever taken there top and laid it out and seen how long it has to be and how long the windows need to be. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sasquach]

It would not be a simple procedure to give a few measurements and send you on your way, not all the pieces lay flat and there are some angles that need to be somewhat pecise to have any chance of fitting well. That said I like the idea and your buddies offer but I doubt he has considered the complexity involved. I do have mine off and up in the attic and would be willing to get it down to help but as I said.........
kinda odd sounding that it's off as I sit and watch the weather channel and the east is in record low but here today was 75 and last fri in the low 80s, we got the reverse problem here and are in a record dry period.

 

[Vick68]

Yea he makes tops for convertibles so he has an idea of what he is doing. I also got the idea off jeepforum about doing a fastback top. There is a guy on there that makes them out in colorado. They look cool but I don't know how it would be for people riding in the back. He is substantial cheaper than a new bestop 350 or so but again its a fastback and not a normal top. I thought I might be able to do a tigertop style it seems to have less curviture. But I figd any measurements he could start with and he has the jeep so we should be able to fig it out. I live in South Carolina, and the weather is suppose to be like 30 high and 8 low tomorrow so it looks like a cold winter ahead. Thanks if you do get any measurements.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

My recommendation would be to find a junk top for cheap. Give that to your guy for a pattern; it could be disassembled or cut into pieces as needed to cut and shape the pieces to make the new top.

 

[mstar]

Will the extra material all be the same color? mike s.

 

[Sasquach]

Do you have the bows and track? Factory and Bestop are not the same as far as I know.
The junk top for patterns sounds like a good idea, but then theres a problem with stretching since a new top is a pain in the ### to get on and an old one might be stretched too much to copy?

 

[IOPort51]

The hardware is going to be the problem, if you don't already have it. I would think that if you had that your buddy could make something happen for you.

 

[hdgapeach]

If you could stand to do it, and the guy making the top would let you, could you take the Jeep to him and let him make a top from the measurements he takes from your vehicle? That would allow him to double check and make adjustments as he whittles it out. You'd end up with a custom, 1 off soft top that ought to be a perfect fit.

Probably wouldn't enjoy the ride over, but it might be worth the trouble. I feel your pain. I'm in Georgia and we're supposed to get down to single digits tonight also.

 

[Hedgehog]

Agreed, the guy upholsters (makes custom tops) vehicles for a living, dropping your Jeep off shouldn't be out of the ordinary.

 

[Vick68]

Alright new revealation, I found a bestop top with doors for 40 bucks the other day and figd that if it was total then I could use it to make one. Went and picked it up yesterday and its dirty but looks like its in good shape. So I'm probably going to use it for now and have him to make me a fastback top as a spare. New ? What do yall use to recondition your tops to make them soft again and to clean them.

 

[IOPort51]

what it is made of will have a lot to do with how you clean it, and what kind of "dirt" you are talking about.

 

[mtnwhlr]

Bestop sells a cleaner for there tops you might want to look into it.

 

[Vick68]

I thought about ordering the cleaner from them, dirty as in dust dust dust and more dust. The guy had it in an enclosed trailer and it was just gathering dust. The material seems kinda dried out to. Wondering mainly what can I do to soften it back up.

 

[IOPort51]

I have used a lot of words to describe a jeep soft top but I do not remember soft being one of them. a lot has to do with temperature. Cold makes these things almost unmanageable. Clean it up and let it warm up in the house for a bit before making judgments. If it is dry rot it will tear the first time you put it on there would be nothing to do about it. as long as it was out of the sun I would bet it is good.

 

[mtnwhlr]