Best soft top?

[Just 1 More]

Who makes the best soft top option for the 33

[cob427sc]

I got mine through FFR but it's made by Rod Tops. Not cheap but very well made and once installed it's easy to remove and replace.

[narly1]

Not an expert, but I have a suspicion that the top dimensions might be specific for the FFR33 design.

Earl

[Jeff33Ford]

When I researched it I could not find anyone but RodTops that made one for the FFR 33. You can only order it through FFR. RodTops will not take the order directly. I have had mine on order for over a year. Last I talked with Chad at RodTops he said they just got the materials in that they needed and hope to start completing tops by the end of the year. Fortunately I do not need it right now.

[33fromSD]

RodTops here too on my 33.

While The RodTop price is spendy (mine was $3549), the price is actually not out of line. I found a guy in town locally who does custom one-off soft tops for people who want to convert their classics with hard tops to soft tops or doing some other custom project and he wanted slightly over $6K to do it. He said there is a lot that goes into figuring out the framing / finishing, as well as the labor / time involved in the number of paper templates he makes before even starting to stitch the material.

I'm very happy with my soft top from RodTops. My only "wish" was if you could leave it in place and fold it down and cover it with a boot but there is no way to do that. The guy I noted above would have made a similar design, he noted there just isn't enough frame material or space on the 33 do to a top that can go up/down.

Jim

174987

[Nigel Allen]

Looks awesome!

[dan's33]

i have the rod tops through FFR and fits perfect, looks great
once you have put it on a few times it gets easier, easier with 2 people
i plan on having mine on all the time in the down position, i just use a few velcro straps to keep it from flapping around in the wind, it drives great, dont even know its there
i live in florida and you never know when a 5 minute rain shower will hit
i keep the side windows in the trunk
i have some of the tan leatherette left over from my seats, i might have someone make me a boot cover for it that snaps in
ive read you can put the whole thing in the trunk but i dont see how, at least not in mine
174996

[cob427sc]

It will fit in the trunk inside the bag that comes with the top but you basically have to disassemble the entire top to make it fit. Someone on the forum actually had a custom boot made (I believe by Rod Tops). Probably search around and you can find it.

[33fromSD]

i have the rod tops through FFR and fits perfect, looks great
once you have put it on a few times it gets easier, easier with 2 people
i plan on having mine on all the time in the down position, i just use a few velcro straps to keep it from flapping around in the wind, it drives great, dont even know its there
i live in florida and you never know when a 5 minute rain shower will hit
i keep the side windows in the trunk
i have some of the tan leatherette left over from my seats, i might have someone make me a boot cover for it that snaps in
ive read you can put the whole thing in the trunk but i dont see how, at least not in mine
174996

Just caution on leaving it on full time folded down. I actually talked to Chad at RodTops about doing the same and he emphatically advised against this. He noted the only real anchor point for the top is the 3/16" - 1/4" thick fiberglass (thickness varies per body) which will not stand the stress of vibration, bumps, etc., and he noted those stainless steel u-bolts where the metal frame go into with the pin could sheer off.

Just FYI, do as you wish, but thought you should know.

Jim

[dan's33]

Good to know Jim, Thanks. Another good reason to get a boot made.

[shmelty]

RodTops here too on my 33.

While The RodTop price is spendy (mine was $3549), the price is actually not out of line. I found a guy in town locally who does custom one-off soft tops for people who want to convert their classics with hard tops to soft tops or doing some other custom project and he wanted slightly over $6K to do it. He said there is a lot that goes into figuring out the framing / finishing, as well as the labor / time involved in the number of paper templates he makes before even starting to stitch the material.

I'm very happy with my soft top from RodTops. My only "wish" was if you could leave it in place and fold it down and cover it with a boot but there is no way to do that. The guy I noted above would have made a similar design, he noted there just isn't enough frame material or space on the 33 do to a top that can go up/down.

Jim

174987

I ordered my top from FFR and then called Chad to make a boot. He has the pattern and has made them for other FFR owners in the past. I ended up cancelling my order as it has been a year and just wanted to move on.

[33fromSD]

I ordered my top from FFR and then called Chad to make a boot. He has the pattern and has made them for other FFR owners in the past. I ended up cancelling my order as it has been a year and just wanted to move on.

I'd make / sell something too if someone is willing to pay for it. That doesn't mean the top is designed / meant to fold down and lay on the back of the 33HR 100% of the time. Unless folks have somehow put some steel behind the fiber glass to re-enforce it I know I wouldn't run it that way but for folks that do, I would keep an eye on each mounting point looking for stress cracks.

Jim

[33fromSD]

I ordered my top from FFR and then called Chad to make a boot. He has the pattern and has made them for other FFR owners in the past. I ended up cancelling my order as it has been a year and just wanted to move on.

I'd make / sell something too if someone is willing to pay for it. That doesn't mean the top is designed / meant to fold down and lay on the back of the 33HR 100% of the time. Unless folks have somehow put some steel behind the fiber glass to re-enforce it I know I wouldn't run it that way but for folks that do, I would keep an eye on each mounting point looking for stress cracks.

Jim

[Svtfreak]

Another rod tops through FFR user here. I haven’t driven with mine yet, but it’s been on and off a lot and I am very happy with it and have no doubt it’ll be just fine.

As far as the boot, a few people have and it’s a great idea. But it doesn’t just fold up into place like a true convertible top. Just an fyi. I will probably have a boot made also eventually. Maybe lol. That said, I reinforced the back side where the anchors are with a small price of steel to help spread out the force some.176262176263

[Just 1 More]

Another rod tops through FFR user here. I haven’t driven with mine yet, but it’s been on and off a lot and I am very happy with it and have no doubt it’ll be just fine.

As far as the boot, a few people have and it’s a great idea. But it doesn’t just fold up into place like a true convertible top. Just an fyi. I will probably have a boot made also eventually. Maybe lol. That said, I reinforced the back side where the anchors are with a small price of steel to help spread out the force some.176262176263

That looks great

[TxMike64]

I read in a different thread that Rod Tops finally got material back in stock; but then in another different thread, read that they are going to stop making the soft top?

Does anyone have any solid info on this? Due to the cost I was going to wait to buy the top, but may have to bite the bullet and buy it now? [Kinda silly, I don't even have Stage 2 yet!]

[Jeff33Ford]

I ordered mine with the kit in black. About 1 1/2 years ago. Oddly enough it just showed up yesterday. I have called a few times and was always able to get ahold of them. They would just say they are busy and pumping them out as fast as they can. I think only 1 or 2 people work on the FFR orders.

[Svtfreak]

That looks great

Thanks! I can’t wait to see it with color on the body and hood and all in place.

[TxMike64]

The email response I received from FFR:


Sorry, we no longer are taking orders for the soft top. We were having production delays with the vendor, so decided to stop taking orders for the soft top for right now. We hope to offer them again, but do not have a timeline on when that may be.