I want to make a way to "flip back" my freedom top. Yes, I'm that lazy that I don't want to put them in back after taking them off. So, a locking hinge is what I was thinking. With a rubber stop just like folding down the windshield? Ideas?

A

 

Let us know how that works out. . .

 

Great idea but it will take some time and money to get a working product... Also how many people would buy it. Only people with 2007-2013 jeep wrangler.. also they have to have a hard top... Also you to think how many people take the whole top off not just the freedom panels.... Sounds like a slim market to me

 

I would think you would also run into problems when you start drilling holes into your hard top to install hinges. Also, you're gonna need more holes further back in order to install some kind of bracket to secure the panels when they are "flipped" back. That is gonna be a pain in the a$$ to keep sealed up.

A different way to approach it might be to install some small rails (like the tracks that sliding glass doors ride in) on the largest (rear) panel of the top and figure a way to pop up the two front panels and slide them back into the rails where they sit flush on top of the rear panel. You'd still run into the problem of attaching the rails to the rear panel and causing leaks though.

 

I figured a paint shop would be able to mount screws and hinges with proper gaskets to keep out water. And Make the roof the opposite look of the hood.

I like the rail idea. Like the two door moon roofs where the front lays on the back of the roof.

Houston has some well known body mod people that ill talk too. I thought for sure someone on this forum must have had the same idea?

 

If you build it, they will pay.

 

I actually think its a great idea. Also, the hinges would eliminate for those PITA hand screws that hold the rear of the freedom panels to the roll bar. It takes me about 5 minutes to take the panels off. Id rather pull the 6 latches and flip them back real quick. You just need to find the right hinges and fab up a reinforcement plate for the inside of the hard top at the mounting locations.

 

I'd also be interested in seeing how this would work. I'm also in Houston so if you need a vehicle to try a prototype on, let me know, lol.

Mac

 

potentially wouldnt be to hard if manufatured. If you could start with a 100% solid top, like a wildboar fastback top. that has reinforcement between the outside and inside panels of the hardtop so the hinge doesnt snap the fiberglass top. then use clamps like the softtop uses on the footman loops up front.

I agree. people would buy it

 

you could use a piano hinge and a strip of rubber roofing for weather proofing. Keep them latched together in the middle so you only need to undo the front and back latches. Then add some hooks like the front to the back of the top and use the front latches to hold it down. If your any good with fiberglass you could mount all your brackets then just fiberglass everything back in.

Or just carry them around to the back like everyone else