Top

[Advokat]

I just took off the hard top and installed the previous owner's soft top. It looks like it will need replacing pretty soon. I've followed the posts about which top to buy and it seems that there is a split of opinion between the JBugs top and that manufactured by Thing Shop. I guess I'll have to take a poll or something.

Anyway, can one of you tell me the correct way to stow the top in the open or down position. Mine is now down/open and it looks kind of like a convertible Bug-top seems to stick up too high.

Thanks,
Rick

P.S. Just installed the front disc conversion from Vince/Mike. It was a pretty easy, straight forward job.

[DieselDr78]

According to Volkswagen you are suppose to remove the top from the frame. I d/l the owner manual and I have the VHS tape from the Thing Shop showing the correct way of taking the top down. The tape shows removing it from the back and folding the sides in towards the center and then letting the frame down and finish folding the top and tucking it into the car. I would suggest to get the cover boot from The Thing Shop to finish off and protect your top. I didn't get one and regret it.
It is a lot of work to take the top down and I did it by myself this morning before leaving from work. It is much easier to have 2 people doing this manuver then one.
You just reverse the procedure when you want to put the top back up.

Mrs. D

[Guest]

Thank you Mrs. D. By the way, do you think it would be possible to copy that tape? I am, of course, happy to pay for the tape, shipping, etc.

Thanks,
Rick

[Guest]

For whatever it's worth: I just installed a new Thing Shop soft top over my old soft top frame this past weekend. The procedure is fairly sraightforward, and took me about 2 hours from start to finish. Since I used my old frame, I needed to do a bit of glue and rivett work, but there are no special skills or tools needed there. The new top looks great and fits perfectly. It also seems to be better reinforced than the aftermarket top that it replaced. The most important (and possibly the most difficult) part of the whole process is making sure that your top frame is straight. I straightened mine out with a couple of pieces of wood, a straight edge, a coupe of hammers and a bit of elbow grease.

Stowing is just like mrs d wrote. It's a real pain to put the top up or down by yourself, and if you have a rollbar, you run the risk of scratching it up or tearing your padding, if you don't line things up just right. The advantage of taking the top off it's side and back tabs, and folding it in is that you can protect your rear window from dust and scratches. Folding it in will also lower the profile just a little bit, but it will still stick up about 5 inches or so from the back of the car.

[dr. no]

Do you really mean you are supposed to undo the tabs around the back of the top (all the little metal loops through the holes)? All I ever do is undo the clips over each door, open the latches, fold the whole back (front part still straight), then bend the front part while tucking the loose material foreward from the back of the car. I keep a big beach towel on the back shelf to keep the window from rubbing on metal. It does stick up some, and since it can catch the wind and billow out I run a bungee cord from the back seat over the top to a convenient loop. Whole thing takes a minute (more if the wind is strong), a whole lot less convenient than reaching behind you and pulling as with an Alfa Romeo, but not bad at all.

[Guest]

Everyone does it differently. The Thing Shop advises undoing all of the tabs around the sides and back of the soft top before taking it down and folding it in. This is only practical if you have another person to help you fold it up. It's also the best way to stow the top if you have a roll cage, since it gives you a bit more clearance in between the back bars and the folded top.

The original Thing owner's manual suggests undoing the tabs only on either side (not the back) before taking the top down. Also a 2-person method.

I used to keep the clips on the frame too, but it ended up putting stress on the vinyl, and eventually the sewn seems gave out.

I have a friend who'se done away with the frame entirely on his things (three of them). He had a piece of canvas measured and sewn to fit as a top. The back and sides attach to the tabs in back, he uses a roll bar to provide support for the mid-section, and a simple velcro setup secures the front to the windshield. It's a snap to put it up or down, it takes up virtually no space when stowed, and it works pretty well.

No matter what the method, it's all worth it when you're driving down the road on a warm sunny day with that top down.

[Advokat]

Mrs. D:

Maybe you want to sell the tape you have altogether? I really need a visual aid here.

Thanks,
Rick

[DieselDr78]

Mrs. D:

Maybe you want to sell the tape you have altogether? I really need a visual aid here.

Thanks,
Rick[/b]

I would give you the tape, but I haven't the slightest idea where it is. You can call them at 1-800-898-4464 and see if they will sell you the tape. But I assure you, you don't need the tape just follow these steps.

1. Remove the windows.
2. Unlatch the front Bow.
3. Go to the back of the vehicle and pull each cloth tab out of the eyelet
around the sides and back.
4. Remove each clip from the frame (You may have to collapse the frame
to do this if the top is new).
5. Lift the edge of the top away from the eyelets.
6. Fold the sides of the top toward the center of the top. Make sure to
protect the back window. I use a towel to keep it from getting scratched
7. Now begin rolling or folding the back edge toward the front of the top.
8. As you get closer toward the front, beginning collapsing the frame.
9. Collapse the frame and finish folding the top.
10. Place the folded top in the vehicle. If you have a boot to cover it, lucky you. If not, then may I suggest 2 bungies cords placed on the frame pulled over the top and then can be attached at the eyelets or the swing out tire rack like I have. This secures the top and keeps it from blowing out of the vehicle.
11. Reverse the procedure to put the top up.

Like most have said here it is a two person job, but I can do it by myself and so can you.