Chopped roof idea for 4Runner

[NC994Run]

I have been playing around with the idea of cutting off my roof for a while and was wondering what everyone thought of the idea. My idea was to cut the roof behind the headliner and replace it with a roll cage and some sort of soft top similar to a Wrangler. I realize the issues this could create as far as leaks and extra noise, but I'm ok with that. I know it seems silly to cut off a perfectly fine roof/ sunroof, but I've always missed the open air feeling of a Wrangler, which is why I made tube doors earlier this year. The soft top would go the length of the roof, and then come down and cover the cargo area of the truck (where the rear glass is, but I would still try to keep the rear hatch and window the way it is by somehow mounting the old hinges to the cage.

Please feel free to give any feedback (positive or negative), but I really want some constructive criticism or insights as to problems I may run into, such as wiring issues, or anything else. I will be looking into the cost of this over the next month, as I don't trust my welding skills/ my small welder to be strong enough to do this safely. Also, I am looking for tube recommendations, I was originally looking into 1.5" .250" wall DOM.
Thanks,

Rob

[04 Rocko Taco]

Check out Mossyrocks' 4Runner.
Also, I would talk to him as by now I am sure he has the MOST experience with it. :)

[NC994Run]

I have seen his 4Runner and I like his chop, but I was hoping to keep the cargo area covered instead of a truck bed style like he made his. After looking at a few jeep pictures, my idea would be closest to a 4 door Wrangler like this one in the link, except the rear portion of the cage would go the length of the truck instead of slanting.

http://my.project-jk.com/showphoto.php?photo=19678

I'll send him a PM and see what suggestions he has
Thanks

[neliconcept]

give me a side shot of your truck Rob, ill photoshop it for you

[Whitey]

I have seen his 4Runner and I like his chop, but I was hoping to keep the cargo area covered instead of a truck bed style like he made his. After looking at a few jeep pictures, my idea would be closest to a 4 door Wrangler like this one in the link, except the rear portion of the cage would go the length of the truck instead of slanting.

http://my.project-jk.com/showphoto.php?photo=19678

I'll send him a PM and see what suggestions he has
Thanks

Sounds like you want a stock bodied 4Runner.

[NC994Run]

Sounds like you want a stock bodied 4Runner.


More or less, I want to replace the roof sheet metal and rear glass with a removable canvas top, I've also been toying the idea of trying to add a truck style tailgate and eliminating the rear hatch, but nothing is set in stone right now

[Cheese]

That is gross overkill on the cage tube. 1.5" .120 is the standard for interior cages. Aesthetically I prefer smaller, by the time you hit 2" it is pretty.

I always wonder why do this on a late model truck. For something different, yeah sure. It sounds like you want a 1st Gen 3rd Gen.

Good luck, ask questions and please do a good job.

[NC994Run]

I will not be doing this personally. If I go through with this, it will be done by a local off-road shop with experience in building buggys, cages, etc. I do want a 1st gen, but don't want to have to deal with paying insurance on multiple vehicles (my 3rd gen will become a weekend only truck in May) and I will already be paying for that + a daily driver, so this seems like a logical combination of the 2, as I don't want to sell my rig in order to build a 1st gen.

Thanks for the input, I definitely won't let this be a half-ass job

[4runnerchevy]

My 86' cost me 10 bucks a month, liability + un-insured motorist, in insurance and I have three vehicles and two perfect drivers ? I also live in Cali. Buy a 1st gen for the price your gonna invest.

[Tankota]

My 86' cost me 10 bucks a month, liability + un-insured motorist, in insurance and I have three vehicles and two perfect drivers ? I also live in Cali. Buy a 1st gen for the price your gonna invest.


^^ What he said. The older they are the cheaper to insure. I'm 22 and my '83 is peanuts to insure.

[YotaFun]

My 86' cost me 10 bucks a month, liability + un-insured motorist, in insurance and I have three vehicles and two perfect drivers ? I also live in Cali. Buy a 1st gen for the price your gonna invest.


do you guys have clean driving records?
I tired to price together insurance for me to get a 88 Runner and still ended up paying 250!
I am chalking it up to my speeding ticket and my once accident where i totaled my car...

^^ What he said. The older they are the cheaper to insure. I'm 22 and my '83 is peanuts to insure.

[NC994Run]

I know insurance wouldn't be that much, but I don't have a place to keep a 3rd vehicle and it's just another vehicle where some part could go bad or fail, plus it would be stock, whereas my 3rd gen is F+R Locked, geared, with 35's and F+R bumpers winch, lift, etc. so it would be a lot of $$$ to get an older model up to the wheeling capability.

I have considered a 1st gen in the past, but for the couple grand I would invest in that, I could probably do this.

Thanks for the ideas though

[thook]

Avy, it helps to get married............but, don't go doing that!

[avstanley]

I like the idea of turning a 3rd gen into an open air truck similar to a 1st gen. It sounds like you have it pretty well outfitted, so it would be shame to have to start over with a new truck. I look forward to seeing the results if you go trough with it.

[Whitey]

More or less, I want to replace the roof sheet metal and rear glass with a removable canvas top, I've also been toying the idea of trying to add a truck style tailgate and eliminating the rear hatch, but nothing is set in stone right now

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jrwhite13/IMG_2249.jpg

[NC994Run]

My idea would be like that except with the soft top covering the seating area as well

[neliconcept]

here it is from my perspective of what you want

then of course you would cut all the way up to the sunroof leaving about 1 inch on either side for the door jams and reinforcing the side parts with another part of the cage id assume

http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn04542ef5.jpg

[Cabin2N]

Not quiet as much cutting as you where talking about, but if you did this and left the back window open, it would be a lot of air flow.
http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/body/154_0805_street_beat_custom_jeep_cherokee_sunroof/index.html
I saw Stacy David from Trucks! put one on a tocoma or something. I you feel you have a steady hand with a sawz-all you could do this yourself.

[slosurfer]

Not quiet as much cutting as you where talking about, but if you did this and left the back window open, it would be a lot of air flow.
http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/body/154_0805_street_beat_custom_jeep_cherokee_sunroof/index.html
I saw Stacy David from Trucks! put one on a tocoma or something. I you feel you have a steady hand with a sawz-all you could do this yourself.


That is really cool!!!! I just added that to my favorites.

[Whitey]

That is a factory option on new jeep liberty's.