Partial hard top - remove just the front three pieces?

[Drex]

I was also curious (as others read the OPs post) if you could just run the front parts of the hardtop. Kind of like a hard bimini. I guess that's what ratchet straps are for lol.

See the first three replies

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[BostonGuy]

You mean like this? Yes.

Exactly what I want to do! Thanks All!

 

[zrizik99]

Hi All,
I feel like this should be obvious but I can't seem to find it anywhere. I reserved a 4 door OBX MIC hard top only. Are you able to take off and ride on the highway with just the front three pieces (driver, passenger, rear seats) parts of the top off? In my mind I just keep picturing the back as a parachute if I can't open any of the windows on the large back piece.

thank you!

I don't think it work down the highway, but if you look at the rubicon trail testing photos they had the back off and the 3 front panels on.

Down the highway im sure you need all 4 pieces interlocking given the speeds. I'm buying the Bimini soft top from Ford for summer/spring daily driving. It covers the front and back seats while leaving the bed uncovered. It's $500 and can be added to your build. Late availability though per my dealer like everything else .

 

[dwbronco]

I don't think it work down the highway, but if you look at the rubicon trail testing photos they had the back off and the 3 front panels on.

Down the highway im sure you need all 4 pieces interlocking given the speeds. I'm buying the Bimini soft top from Ford for summer/spring daily driving. It covers the front and back seats while leaving the bed uncovered. It's $500 and can be added to your build. Late availability though per my dealer like everything else .

Why?

Open sunroofs aren't a problem on the highway. Why would taking off the first two rows be any different than a sunroof being wide open on the highway? In fact, driving with all four windows down, on the highway, would be just as unlikely to work as driving on the highway with the front two rows off the roof. I just don't see the issue you seem to have imagined.

 

[zrizik99]

Why?

Sunroofs aren't a problem on the highway. Why would taking off the first two rows be any different than a sunroof being wide open on the highway? In fact, driving with all four windows down, on the highway, would be just as unlikely to work as driving on the highway with the front two rows off the roof. I just don't see the issue you seem to have imagined.

I misread the initial post. I thought it was referring to the front 3 pieces staying on and taking the back off. Removing the back section would impact the stability of the front 3.

And doors off with the Bimini top is most likely my daily driver. Hard top is for bad weather and the cold .

 

[mhtucker78]

May not be an exact example, but I think it is a similar situation to the old tailgate up or down query... There is a low pressure area inside the cab which would cause airflow over the vehicle rather than outside air flowing down into the ‘parachute’ of the rear clamshell.

https://www.symscape.com/blog/tailgate-up-or-down

...to add that’s not to say it wouldn’t be ‘windy’er’ with the setup you described I just don’t think it will be a parachute situation.

 

[swaing]

Exactly what I want to do! Thanks All!

Another option too would be to run this way, but leave the rear glass open for pass through. Just be careful pulling into your garage.

 

[cbrenthus]

What a revival, but just in case anyone is still wondering, I have been on the highway with the front 3 panels removed and the rear glass closed and everything was great!

I don't think you could run just the front 3 without the rear though.

 

[tjzoli]

I have just taken those 3 panels off a number of times. its totally fine, and safe. no real clamshell braking effect that i could tell. the back seats get pretty breezy though. my teenage kids wore baseball hats. And even though it was a pretty warm sunny day, they used the pack blanket I leave in the car. And my 11 year old feel asleep…

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