[vj_k2001]

How does one go about booking it....and what would be the lead time for delivery along with the anti roll bar setup. Excellent and practical design by Prabhu. Can the costs as well as booking order process be shared for the top and the anti roll bar

Regards....

[absynthguzzler]

Originally Posted by maverick56

The design of the hardtop is spot on, good job guys
BTW am a fam of New Mars designs by Prabhu/Fazal bhai, love the Rubicon replica....
Questions about the HT
- can it be made without the roof rails, too short for my liking
- can the two roof panels be avoided in the front, leaving only the back one for, photographers

Originally Posted by vj_k2001

How does one go about booking it....and what would be the lead time for delivery along with the anti roll bar setup. Excellent and practical design by Prabhu. Can the costs as well as booking order process be shared for the top and the anti roll bar

Regards....

There will be different versions of the HT made available for sure.
The roof rails are an add on for the sun-roof version alone. This is actually a grab rail for people standing (not a luggage rack one)
The anti roll bar setup is independent of the HT. I've not looked into the actual design,but I'm guessing you would have to send your jeep over for it to be custom fitted.

Rest of the details shall follow post the corrections/modifications made after the HT's first OTR @ Bangalore. I suppose 1st/2nd week Feb would be the right time for Prabhu to start answering the commercial queries .

[Sutripta]

Hi,
What is the thought process behind not having rectangular cutouts for the roof panels?

Regards
Sutripta

[absynthguzzler]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Hi,
What is the thought process behind not having rectangular cutouts for the roof panels?

Regards
Sutripta

An aesthetic touch that looks good from outside. The Thar front roof is sloped forward naturally and this feature adds to the design instead of looking plain.

[Sutripta]

^^^
Form before function!

My take:
The protrusion will dig into the torso of the person standing.
Will make implementing a 'tilt/take out' scheme that much more difficult. I feel the tilt function will be very useful. For venting out hot air trapped in the car (when stationary). And as a vent when moving. Remember our practice of driving with the windscreen slightly open.

Regards
Sutripta

[absynthguzzler]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

^^^
Form before function!

My take:
The protrusion will dig into the torso of the person standing.
Will make implementing a 'tilt/take out' scheme that much more difficult. I feel the tilt function will be very useful. For venting out hot air trapped in the car (when stationary). And as a vent when moving. Remember our practice of driving with the windscreen slightly open.

Regards
Sutripta

Surely any sane person would use the front sunroofs for standing only whilst vehicle is stationary. In that case digging of the protrusions is negated and not sharp edged to feel uncomfortable even. Tilt design is still viable , I don't see how the protrusions hinder it. Of course these are features that can be implemented ....as long as its guaranteed to be leak proof in the long run. When producing items in small numbers, it just not viable to go through extensive trials and ensure a part open roof to be successfully implemented considering the speeds a THAR can do. Function does come before form. And when it doesn't ....be creative ! .

[Samurai]

During the Annual Bangalore OTR I was able to check out this hard top. Even though it is still a prototype, the fit and finish look very good. I suspect it will be impeccable once fully finished. I rode the Jeep in a very rocky terrain and I could hear nothing, not a squeak from the hard top. I was even more impressed by the roll cage that is right under the hard top.

This will be a great product.

PS: Sorry, I couldn't shoot any photos from inside since I thought we still had 1.5 days to do it. But I never got to see it after that.

[absynthguzzler]

Originally Posted by Samurai

During the Annual Bangalore OTR I was able to check out this hard top. Even though it is still a prototype, the fit and finish look very good. I suspect it will be impeccable once fully finished. I rode the Jeep in a very rocky terrain and I could hear nothing, not a squeak from the hard top. I was even more impressed by the roll cage that is right under the hard top.

This will be a great product.

PS: Sorry, I couldn't shoot any photos from inside since I thought we still had 1.5 days to do it. But I never got to see it after that.

Cheers on the feedback , very encouraging !

Last night, Ravs popped by to light the chimney before crashing out after the long drive . I had 2 mins to go around the car and look at the after effects of the OTR.

1. Quite a few scratches on the HT -whether its caused by extremely narrow trails with strong thorns on both sides or just normal branches is to be concluded . Probably a different finish is to be provided to the hard core OTR buyers lol.

2. some minor mods were already accomplished during the highway drive to suit the Thar speeds and suppression of road noise - these are to be incorporated into the design.

Shall await feedback and more pics before we list out the mods.

Rest i suppose

[manasm]

I had a chance to look at the top as well during the OTR. Amazing fit and finish and have learned a few things from it! It looks compact and neat and all the vehicle had the bad scratches on them including mine...lots of brush and scrub on the trail.

I did not get a chance to ride in it, but had a chat with Samurai about it as well during the OTR and he is very justified in his statements about it being silent.

Regards,
Manas

[fazalaliadil]

Originally Posted by manasm

I had a chance to look at the top as well during the OTR. Amazing fit and finish and have learned a few things from it! It looks compact and neat and all the vehicle had the bad scratches on them including mine...lots of brush and scrub on the trail.

I did not get a chance to ride in it, but had a chat with Samurai about it as well during the OTR and he is very justified in his statements about it being silent.

Regards,
Manas

Manas,

Very gracious of you.

The top was on test on highway and off road terrain, (reason the Rubicon type had to be dropped at the last moment for this OTR).

On the highway there was wind whistling from above the A pillar at 80-120 kmph, the leak was identified and pasted with fevicol.

No problem on the OTR and zero rattle and squeaks after it though the Thar articulated at its max as stated by Sharat to you, he rode as the front passenger midway of the OTR.
Regards,
Awaiting pics from Ravveendrra.

[Ronnie Zach]

Thanks Fazal, for the pictures of the HT. I must say that it is very tastefully done ! The design of the HT also seems to gel in very well with the natural contours of the jeep.Is the MRP fixed yet?

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by absynthguzzler

Surely any sane person would use the front sunroofs for standing only whilst vehicle is stationary. In that case digging of the protrusions is negated and not sharp edged to feel uncomfortable even.
I think the 'spotter' worked from a moving vehicle.

Tilt design is still viable , I don't see how the protrusions hinder it.
The base on which it tilts is now narrower. One corner now essentially unsupported. Might flutter/ create noise under wind loads. As I said, just that much more difficult. Not impossible.

Hi,
Don't get me wrong. I think it's a great effort. But better to think through as much as possible. Because once production starts, it is very difficult to change anything.

Regards
Sutripta

[absynthguzzler]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Hi,
Don't get me wrong. I think it's a great effort. But better to think through as much as possible. Because once production starts, it is very difficult to change anything.

Regards
Sutripta

Ah! well , i get your point now Sutripta sir. I was thinking of a back side opening tilt so that we avoid too much air gushing in and stressing the joints whilst your suggestion is of a front opening.Yes indeed, in your case, there would be a "loose end" .

It would have to be back side opening , similar to all ventilator modes as provided in auto sunroofs. This would remove the case of a loose end as described cause the lift-hinge would be centrally placed ( or two on either sides)

PS: Never got you wrong , its what this forum is for and thats why Prabhu's HT is being discussed.

[Ricky_63]

All the reports so far seem very encouraging. Just a small querry. Would there be a top without the openings whatsoever ? Then the question of leakages of water etc are not going to have to be addressed at all :-) Would also bring down the cost I guess..

Looking forward to the pics & further details



Cheers

[fazalaliadil]

Originally Posted by Ricky_63

All the reports so far seem very encouraging. Just a small querry. Would there be a top without the openings whatsoever ? Then the question of leakages of water etc are not going to have to be addressed at all :-) Would also bring down the cost I guess..

Looking forward to the pics & further details

Ricky,

Planning two variants, with the opening panels a must for outdoor guys, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and also without the top opening panels for guys who don't need it.

There will, should be no leakages on either models.

Further pics are awaited from Ravveendrra's camera.
Regards,