Looking For Top Experiences And Input On M38-a1 To Cj5

I can’t seem to find any actual bow measurements anywhere. I’m wanting to confirm they will clear my existing roll bar before I consider this. Could you possibly get me a measurement of the height of each bow from say the hing points and the angles would be of great value too?

 

I'd be happy to, but that jeep is all heavily wrapped up under tarps right now.

Maybe try asking one of the top-makers?

I did once use a military bow set on a '74 CJ5, and I know that it cleared the OEM roll bar.

 

Ok, thanks.

 

I have a super top on my '67 and I'm setting up to do an original top on my '53 A1. I personally love the super top. I have two whole tops, one in black and one in tan. Most of the time I just run the doors and top, no windows. I've hit my head many times but the jeep is so small and compact that I'm always hitting or catching my clothes on something. The main thing is to tell passengers not to grab the top or vertical post when getting out, grab the roll bar. The best top parts will not hold up to the weight.

The A1 requires two forward flanges where you fix the bow when it's stowed. When installed, there are two plugs further back and two specialty hand nuts. I have all these parts completed and still need the bars that drop down to the door jams and the top. I wish I was finished so I could give you a definite answer but I'm thinking the best top is probably better just looking at the setup so far.

 

I see you are in Texas. I gave up on a full top a number of years ago and just use a Bestop bikini top and the half doors from the Kayline full top I had.

It seems like here in Texas the weather is either too hot to drive the Jeep or otherwise perfect for a bikini top.

I added a family style rollcage recently and couldn’t find a longer top so I just extended it by cutting it in half and sewing in 15 inches. It was flapping a bit too much for my liking in the middle so a couple weeks ago I added a few more 1” nylon straps directly to the rollbar. It works out really well.

I haven’t had the full top on it since probably 2005 or so.

 

I actually keep the jeep at our mountain cabin. I have a bikini top but it doesn’t work well with my roll bar by not providing any rear seat coverage and it flaps like crazy in the rear affecting my use of the rearview mirror. So I'm just looking at options. During the cold times up in the mountains, I definitely need the full super top with doors. I just find the Supertop a pain to take the sides and rear off and especially to put back on. And the bows just don’t fold down to stow as they catch on the roll bar. Just trying to figure something out for now.

 

That totally make sense! The bikini top doesn't sound like a great solution. Interested to see what you come up with.

 

Is your rollbar higher than normal?

 

To me it looks like Karl's is an inch or two higher then normal but mickey's is typical. The rear family hoop is where the issue is.

on mine the 70's factory roll bar is level with the windshield frame and the civilian canvas bows go up about an inch. My 90's bestop tigertop bow goes right above the rollbar like the canvas bows. so the tigertop profile is a little different then the bestop bikini.
The bikini is a different arch and width so the tigertop bows don't fit.

 

I don’t know the exact height as it is at the cabin right now, but when I had it made, I had the Supertop Boswell so he could make it fit under the top bar. What I didn’t really get correct is that family bar section being able to clear the bows for coming down. That’s really where the frustration started. And I have no one to blame but myself.

 

Maybe this is a dead letter, but I finally uncovered my M38A1 with the military bows, and took some measurements.

Vertically above a point 4" to the rear of the wheel-tub's front top edge, the top of the forward bow is 33-3/4" above the wheel-tub's top surface.

The rear bow rides essentially directly above the tailgate. It's upper side is 34-3/4" above the top of the wheel tub.

The bows are about 1" in diameter, or a touch more. They are dead straight in their side-to-side span, not arched at all. Their precise location can vary slightly depending on how tightly the top is tensioned, etc.

I hope this helps.




Not mine, but similar.

 

This will help a lot. I am at the cabin where the jeep is, but head out in morning to youngest daughters wedding in Colorado but will be back next week and will study your post and see what I find. Thanks and will post back here. Definitely not a dead letter.