Any tips on installing the Sunrider Top?

[EP]

My top will be arriving today. I've been driving around Seattle this last week with no top at all. Finally I won't have to sit on plastic bags! :D

Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys had any tips for me to make the installation go quicker. I'm going to try and do this after work. Is 2 hours enough time or should I wait until tomorrow?

[TTU-XC]

Hey EP,

I think I have already given you some tips, but here goes.

I would wait until tomorrow (I guess it is today, Sat). Definitely read the instructions thoroughly and have them nearby. Lay the top out first before you start putting the hardware on. Take your time and do everything right. A hair dryer can be used to warm the top to get it to stretch more. The door surrounds can be a pain to get on. Be careful to avoid messing up the threads and make sure they go in straight.

HTH

Ryan

[EP]

Thanks Ryan. I got it on. Well, sort of. I think they sent me two left pieces on accident. You know the pieces that attaches to the front rollbar? I think I got two lefts because the center support bar doesn't fit right. The two pieces are identical. They aren't marked left and right but the manual indicates that there should be both left and right. Did you have this problem?

Yeah, those door supports are a ***** to get on. Just getting the screws in. I had to put on my weight lifting gloves on just to save my hands.

Edit: Didn't know I couldn't say that word. Well, it starts with a B and rhymes with itch.

[TTU-XC]

Do you mean the bows that fold back?

I just looked at mine outside (the bars look to be the same shape), so here goes:

Did you mount the center bow to the front bows on the side towards the center of the vehicle? Is everything mounted correctly: door surrounds, brackets, bows, etc.

I am not sure exactly what you are refering to, so if you could give me some more info I can try to help some more.

Ryan

[EP]

Yeah, I'll try to be more clear.

I did install the center bow to the insides of the front bows. But you know how there's a, I think the manual refers to it as, a knuckle on the bows? I would think that they should both be on the insides but there not. On mine, they are both on the left side. So I guess I got two right pieces not two left pieces?

Does your center bow fit right? It seems strange that the back ends don't connect more securely. Just snaps on? Kind of weird.

This really sucks. I ordered twice from Performance Products and they messed up my order twice. I don't understand this one because you would think that they got this box straight from Bestop.

[TTU-XC]

OK, I have the instructions off of the internet now.

The knuckle is the hinge in the front bows, correct (step 8 and 9)

Do you mean that the bushings between the center and front bows are both on the left side of the front bow. They should be 'between' the center and front bows. (step 10)

I have the top down right now, so I think that the center bow kind of rests on the front bow with the little feet that wrap half way around the front bow (kinda snap on, but not really tight). (step 10 again)

Ryan

PS: Do you have AIM
I am XC TTU, if you want to chat over this

[EP]

Well not the bushings but the little part that the bushings slip over. I'm looking at the instructions right now and that part's not labeled. Is it the "standoff"? I don't know, I think you know what I'm talking about though.

On my door supports, they are both located on the same side. Isn't it supposed to be on the insides?

I got another question for ya....Have you had this top on with the doors off? Do you leave the door supports on or will the top not work without the door supports? I'm not going to even try taking the top down until I get my other problem fixed. It doesn't feel very secure with the center bow not on all the way.

Yeah, I have AOL IM. My username is: laksjdfoaiwenova

Thanks for the help!

[TTU-XC]

I THINK I'VE GOT IT!!

OK, the standoff is the piece that the 2 screws go into from either side of the bow. Well, the standoff can slide in and out. SO, you want to unscrew the side where the bushing is on the outside and move the bushing to the inside and reinstall the screws and center bow.

Outside > Screw > Front Bow > Bushing > Center Bow > Screw > Inside

Leave the door supports on there, the front bow won't be secure without the spring plunger thing attatched and that is on the door support.

I think we may have it figured out, I sure hope that you get it right and working properly. It will take a few times of operating the top to get it to go down easily and fairly tidy. Folding back the front is very easy though.

HTH

Ryan

[EP]

I just tried that but it doesn't look like the stand off slides in and out. It looks fixed. Do you think the front bows are the same in shape except for the standoffs? It seems like center bow wouldn't fit right even if the standoff was on the right side.

I'm about to go out there and try to work with it again. Thanks again for your help.