Design help needed for custom top

fishandfly

Hey guys. The cart is going to a metal fabricator tomorrow to build the top. Off the top of your head, what design considerations would you plan for?

I've come up with the following:

- top will be covered in canvas (like a bimini) and will need to have a perimeter outside the seating area since the water will go directly off.

- Will need to be removable, of course

- will need to extend to the very back of the cart so the back seat is covered in preparation for the wooden cargo bed idea.

- it will be in 1.5 inch tube steel, anyone think that is too big?

- I intend to fabricate a complete door set and enclosure by winter, so it needs to have a hinge point at the very front (near where it mounts to the cart at the front) to allow for future hinges for the front doors.

BGW

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scottyb

THat looks Good ! How many cross members? They may be needed to keep the sag out of the fabric especially when it is full of rain water?

DOOmsman

Maybe tabs for zeus fasteners for side panels made of alum sheets like pontoon sides.

dock98

if you live in a place that has hot summers etc.you might want to think about more overlap in front to shade driver and passenger.just a thought.

fishandfly

Awesome ideas guys!

I extended the front and added the crossmembers.

I wonder if the zeuss fasteners would work better than snaps for attaching the top.


Here is the updated photo:

This is the winter plan.
I would like to take small diameter tubing and bend out the design of the doors, contoured and all to fit perfectly in their spots. I think I'll get the fabricator to provide a good hinge mounting point at the front most part of the cage.

You'll notice that their is an additional section of pipe between the front and back seat. I think I'll get him to fabricate that now, and will just bolt it on every winter. This will provide a good mounting point for the back doors.

I think as long as the hinges are really good quality the doors will work out well.

My only idea concerning keeping them closed so far is that I'll attach a really good magnet (which I already have a bunch of) to the doors so that as they close they will hold in place.

Next, concerning water drainage. Dock98, your idea for the front solves my issue of water coming in from the top of the windshield.

As for the doors being water tight, I think I'll just place a couple straps on the inside top and front of the door so that as it is closed, you can pull the upper portion of the door underneath and inside of the roof tube, instead of it being in it's normal position on the outside.


So, how's this stuff sound?

Also,
Would you enclose the entire back or leave the cargo area/rear seat exposed?

Would paint be sufficient? I know that powder coating is better, but I'm sure that is another couple hundred bucks.

DOOmsman

The zeuss fasteners are for rigid material, your hinge points will need to be plumb with each other or the doors will semi gull wing.

edeger@comcast.net

try the paint for a year to see how it holds up (the whole ideal). You don't want to powder coat to find a flaw somewhere. After a year it should be flawless by then.

tonyton

My dad built some years ago. Canvas and steel tube. They were like removable jeep doors. 3/8" round steel, bent to shape. Hinges were welded and the latch was a velcro strip. I think he spring loaded them so they auto closed. It was nice.
The canvas was sewn over the frame.
That's a nice looking cart you have.

tonyton

Here's a thought...(they told me not to do that!) Install a bar between the seats on each side. Use that bar for a vertical point to mount all the door hinges. The front would have suicide doors and the rear would be normal.

DOOmsman

That is a great idea, who helped you on that LOL.