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Mrav8tr
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: La Quinta, Ca
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 Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject: My Bikini Top |
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Most of you clicking here was probably thinking of something else. I wanted to tell you guys about our top on our DuneBuggy. My wife made it for less thsn $25. We used it this weekend up at Big Bear and the trip up and back at speeds of 85+ MPH. She looked at other dunebuggy's and photos of dunebuggy's with bikini tops and said she would make one for me. Cool I said. I have the B&K Sun Visors that lock into the front track of the windshield which eliminates the use of most tops that use this to hold the front of the top. We looked around at our local Home Depot and found some Phifer Super Solar Screening, for window screens. 48X84. This material blocks out (up to) 90% of the suns heat. This stuff is great!!!She sewed "Velcro" the rough part on the front of the material, and used "Industrial" Velcro (with sticky) soft part on the front side of the windshield. Went down to the fabric store and bought some nylon edging and and clips (for bags etc) and sewed it all together. We used the whole width of the screen and cut off about 1 ft off the back and trimmed out the rear window, sewed the edging on with the latches added a couple "darts) near the rollbar and it's done! Here are some photos of her work.
We had to borrow our sons sewing machine, to let you know she doesn't do this for a living. It turned out great. I can sill use my Visors and still have a top.  |
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blueone
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2008
Posts: 52
Location: Glendale, Az
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| Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| That looks great! A screen that still lets some light in. She should look into making some for the rest of us. |
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hcallaway
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2008
Posts: 333
Location: Richmond VA
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EMPIImp69
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2006
Posts: 3374
Location: Dirty Jersey
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:13 am Post subject: |
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Looks good. Is it completely or somewhat waterproof?
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1963 Ragtop Bug |
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carlos_magnum
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2009
Posts: 591
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:36 am Post subject: |
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Nice custom made top; I really like it. Your wife did a great job.  |
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ECRAB3
Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2008
Posts: 100
Location: New Orleans, La.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:43 am Post subject: |
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I guess your windshield is set up right with the slot facing forward? Mine is backwards  That top has to make a huge difference! Its actually too hot to drive mine now, but if I had a top that would change.
Can you post a close up of the front mounting?
Tell your wife she did a awesome job! |
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Mrav8tr
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: La Quinta, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| She said Thank You. We chose this material because it does exactly what screens do, blocks out light but can see through it. This screen material of course should last for years, being thats what it's designed to do. It's high quality and made very well and very thick. It does block a huge amount of heat, and light, (we live in the desert) but we can see through it. It wont stop water, being a Bikini top it wouldn't stop much anyway. To load and unload the back area of dune buggy is easy, just unlatch the latches and pull it forward load and re-latch. I'll take some photos of the front when I get home this evening and post. |
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GTBRADLEY
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2009
Posts: 578
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:24 am Post subject: |
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| This is a great idea for us folks living in the hot south. |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20379
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:11 am Post subject: |
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Not only is top great, your parking brake is very cost effective too...
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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Mrav8tr
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: La Quinta, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| Thinking of having it chromed, what do you think? |
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Mrav8tr
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: La Quinta, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:33 am Post subject: |
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| Never mind, I'd chrome it then somebody would just steal it. |
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GTBRADLEY
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2009
Posts: 578
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| Dale M. wrote: |
Not only is top great, your parking brake is very cost effective too...
Dale |
I was going to point that out as well but thought being a newb it would not be Kool to do so.
Do they come in pairs  |
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Mrav8tr
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: La Quinta, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:13 am Post subject: |
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Our driveway has quite a slope to it and my wife always wants a rock behind it, (I think she had a car roll away in a previous life) Funny thing is she doesn't put a rock behind her car tire, maybe doesn't trust my brake adjustment. hummmm...  |
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PURPLE HAZE
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2006
Posts: 235
Location: JERSEY CITY, NJ
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blueone
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2008
Posts: 52
Location: Glendale, Az
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| a see thu bikini top is always cool! |
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Mrav8tr
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: La Quinta, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:17 am Post subject: |
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I've seen a piece your talking about and the company I purchased my Visors from has the mounts.
I am going to contact him and get (2) small ones to install. No problems yet but I can see where everyone else
is putting something on the ends, most are with a snap. Here's the site:
http://www.bandkmfg.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=28
He says he can machine most parts.
Do you have any photos of what your looking for? |
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racetearoffs.com
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2006
Posts: 160
Location: fl
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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| pet screen is stronger and keeps out heat , if it don't work . We use it for skylight covers 72% heat rejection and we put grommets in it so should work also . |
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PURPLE HAZE
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2006
Posts: 235
Location: JERSEY CITY, NJ
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Mrav8tr
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: La Quinta, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Here's the photos of the front area. This photo is without the top attached just the velcro in place.
The top in place
The nylon edging
and the back adjuster and connector to the body
PurpleHaze I know of the piece you're referring to. My other full top has it sewn to it, but I am using the B&K sun visors (top photo) which utilize the slot or groove of the windshield also, so it's use the full slot and take off my sun visors or use the velcro and be able to use my visors, and my top for now. |
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PURPLE HAZE
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2006
Posts: 235
Location: JERSEY CITY, NJ
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