hardtop

[lifeisgoodin29]

Does anybody know if you need to remove the soft top pivots to install a hardtop. Or do they just slip over the pivots. Thanks Eric

[Ron Domeck]

If you are using a VWoA hardtop it will set on with no modification. You cannot use the factory hardtop with a factory roll bar. Don't know about the Fiberjet tops.

[uberautowerks]

Correct, an original VW factory hard top will fit with zero modifications.
-
Incorrect, sorry, a factory hard top WILL fit with a factory roll bar. However a factory top will NOT fit with an aftermarket roll bar. The factory roll bar has "Y" shaped rear bars.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)

[lifeisgoodin29]

Thanks guys, I think it is a voa top. eric

[uberautowerks]

Hey, your an Eric too? I'm Eric.
Anyway, the VWoA top is easy to spot, 5 ribs on the roof and a metal "hoop" around the rear which bolts to the body.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)

[eurotrashrabbit]

I had a roll bar on on my 73 and had a factory hardtop and it fit with a Rogue accessories roll bar. I doubt this company is still around

[ZIACOMM]

any pictures of a factory roll bar?

[lowsquare]

I believe the VW accessory roll-bar is a 4 point. Basically a hoop at the front with 2 legs to the rear. Here is a picture from the '73 Thing Accessory Brochure.

I believe this is an actual picture of one from the gallery...

This is what I have in mine. It's a 5 point and I don't know if a hardtop will work with this type of bar or not? I have no problem with the soft-top at all...

_________________
PRAISE THE LOWERED.
1973 THING

[lifeisgoodin29]

Thanks to all who helped me with this. I appreciate all the information. Eric

[laughatgravity]

[yellow73kubel]

^ That is most likely a Thing Shop "show bar". Mine is roughly the same thing, minus the "V" bars. I have a factory hard top that was cut by a previous owner to fit the cage. I posted a few pictures in this thread by carterzest: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=398522&highlight=roll+bar.

There is a lot of confusion over exactly what is a "factory" roll bar. Most people agree on the 3-tube 4-point design with brackets to bolt to the door pillars, as lowsquare said. There is no part number or documentation to confirm which cages are and are not factory. That said, I don't believe that VW ever added the "V" bars to their cages.

[SilverThing]

The issue with 'factory' roll bars is that they weren't factory per se. They were dealer installed options. My Thing came with one of the 5 point roll bars (not TTS remake) from the dealership, but a previous owner removed it before I bought the vehicle. Thingshop's remake has bend at the door pillar in the front hoop that the original 5 points did not have.

Two pages from a dealer accessory brochure showing the 5 point version of the roll bar:

_________________
"I like how everyone likes talking about Zeke's Thing yet he's the only one that's ever seen it." - Katie
"I've seen pictures..." - Jeremy

[[email protected]]

There are actually two factory roll bars, a 4 point, mainly used on the east coast and a five point used mainly on west coast.
if they use backing plates, they are most likely original.
the 4 points have two hoops not like the 4 pt in the picture.
_________________
Michael Basso
http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173

[yellow73kubel]

And just to add to the confusion...

As far as I know, my Thing traveled from Oregon to North Carolina before I picked it up. It has a 4 point cage with two hoops and backing plates. Is there any chance of that being a dealer install?

[[email protected]]

the factory 4 pt roll bar normally comes straight down in back. and also looks very similiar to the one in the catalog picture, so maybe there were three dealer roll bars.

i guess if its on a thing it must be a thing roll bar
_________________
Michael Basso
http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173