Foldable SOFT top???

[Anaconda]

http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB14&Number=517216&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

I kinda hijacked this thread, but someone said that there is a foldable soft top. My question is, do I already have one? I have the standard black cloth top that comes with the car. I don't think it is foldable, but am I missing something here???

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[THOR]

The OEM soft top is "foldable". Slide the clips on the front corners to release the side arms. Then the side arms will pivot back to lay parallel with the the back brace. At that point the front folds back toward the rear brace.

 

[tim721]

folds enough to get it into the trunk

be careful doing it, it really scuffs it up if it rattles around back there..

 

[Randy]

Sure, look in your owners manual. Release two clips (or unscrew two thumbscrews, depends on the year), and it rolls up/folds up, and is barely small enough to shove in the trunk. Put it in the bag that you should have gotten, I usually also put a towel on some of the sharp points so they don't wear into the canvas (or Vinyl, if its a '92), then, TIE IT DOWN with the straps in the trunk, so it doesn't damage your amplifier cords on those hard corners.

 

[carguy07]

Is it true that the top will take a permanent bow/bend if you leave it assembled off the car?

 

[Anaconda]

Sure, look in your owners manual.

Well, I would love to, if I had one....hehehe

So it is pretty easy then? I can just store it in there??? This is just amazing news. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me say that again....THANKS!!!!

 

[Randy]

Is it true that the top will take a permanent bow/bend if you leave it assembled off the car?

Don't know - what do you mean?

I know they ship them assembled as replacement parts (I've gotten three new tops over the past 7 years), so I kind of doubt they get damaged in any way from being assembled.

HOWEVER, when I bought my '95 RT/10 in late 1997, the dealership also had a '92 on the lot, and (I figured out much later), they gave me the *vinyl* top of the '92 ('92 was the only year with the vinyl top). That top was actually warped (from sitting in the sun too long??) - the left rail had dipped a good inch or two down, which caused it to leak more than they normally do, and the right rail had dipped less. So, I guess if you leave the car with the top on out in the sun for a year or so, there's a possibility of warpage.

The four sides look to be plastic or some sort of similar material, but I know there is metal rod embedded in the plastic of the front header - I've sawed through one of my old broken tops in an attempt to make a camera mount out of one of the corners (found a better way of doing it, and never finished that attempt). However, I don't think there's any such reinforcement on the sides. Don't know about the rear section.

 

[THOR]

Is it true that the top will take a permanent bow/bend if you leave it assembled off the car?

One has to be careful how this soft top is stored (assembled or disassembled). The side arms appear to be notorious for warping, or could be described as "sagging" -- especially in higher temperature locations (like AZ or TX, etc.). Never store anything on top of the top (assembled or disassembled).