With the rainy season approaching I wanted to tackle some leaks I have with the top but I did not want to just slap some silicon in the seam and hope for the best.
Started breaking rusted bolts last night and was thinking this is gonna be easy.
Yeah right. What a PITA. TrekkerPaul stopped by and helped me get the top off.
Winnebago used bolts, screws, rivets and some insanely sticky butyl tape..
Using a combination of putty knives, utility blades, pry bars, grinder and door shims got the POS off:

Trekkerpaul trimming stuff on the inside, no way I would have gotten this done with out his help:


The butyl tape is sticky even after 30 years:

I was happy to find minimal rust around the cab:

It will probably take me a month to scrape all of that crap off
I think it looks pretty cOol with out the top. My plan is to add some nutserts or similar attachments so I can take the top off on a regular basis like a 1st Gen 4runner:


Having the top off will allow me to get 360* welds on the cage and to get paint on all of the cage.

 

So those tops were never meant to be removed?

 

Dude I agree, the rig looks really good with no top! Good stuff.

 

Lookin BA with the top off.

 

Freaking Sweet!!!! Love the idea of making it like a 1st gen 4runner. Looks bad@$$

 

that thing looks sick without a top on it man, love the idea of a removeable top on it

 

nope-winnebago did a crappy job of their design so I had some stuff to fix on it.
I just wish I had the weather like you have in AZ where I could run with out the top most of the time
thanks!

thanks..
Visiblity with out the top is awesome!

 

kind of playing around with the idea of bobbing the trekker:


need to take some measurements but I think I can get 9" out from behind the rear wheel..
the part that could thwart this is the angle at the back of the canopy:


dunno, might be fun to try...

 

do it, do it

 

how about like this:



(ignore the lines on the bed, was playing around with stripes)

 

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 

That is a great idea Ian! Another possibility is to go with smaller windows, maybe sliders out of a double cab canopy. I think I could probably sell or trade my trekker windows, they are hard to come by and these thing are in great shape.


My wife and kids think it is pretty cool. If I am gonna do it, now is the time.
Have to look at the subframe Winnebago installed under the bed, but I think this is totally doable.
I can section the Marlin bumper easily, just the mounts around the rear shackle would be a PITA.
Wabbit thinks it is cheating since the bed is fiberglass

 

My vote is no. It's a great looking truck, I wouldn't mess with it.

 

It definitly seems doable and would look pretty siiick when done. I too like the way Ian layed out the cut for the top. Its alot more cutting but you wouldnt have to worry about that angle in the back. How good can you fiberglass?

 

IMO i think it would be messing with a rare and desireable body, but its your truck and do what you want, just dont cut off the rear half of the truck

 

DON'T CUT IT!!! Making the top removable is awesome but dont cut it up. Its super rare and it looks awesome

 

even though i gave you that idea, i think it looks like a short bus when bobbed, imho. i do like the original look, but i can see why you would want to bob it.

whatever you decide, i know it'll look great

 

Not that u asked for my opinion, but I like the idea of making the top removable. I think some trucks look cool bobbed, and the trekker is no exception.
Do what you want, it's your truck. It's not like that trekker is stock or will ever be returned to.

 

DO IT. i dont think anyone has bobbed a trekker?

 

I am gonna go ahead with the bob. If I go 71/2" I will still have enough room for a 35" spare behind the back seat.
I understand peoPle's opinion about the Trekker being rare but the last couple of years there really is no market for these things. They are not selling for any more than a regular 1st Gen truck. The Jack Safro 'restored' Trekker is up for sale again. I think it hS changed hands 2-3 times in the last couple of years, each time the owner taking a huge hit when it sold. Someday they might command a premium, but today's reality says otherwise.
Mine would take way too much effort and $$ to bring back to stock.

Gonna take this aspect of the project one step at a time so I hopefully don't fubar it. Picking up more resin and fiberglass tomorrow