Who makes best soft top?

jacksonpinz · Post by **jacksonpinz** » Tue May 06, 2008 1:52 pm

My top is showing it's age and I need to replace it. I want a heavy duty top in a color other than military green. Who makes a nice heavy duty replacement? Thanks

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Tue May 06, 2008 2:55 pm

It looks like our very own forum sponsor, Expedition Imports, has different versions of the soft top available. It looks like different window configurations and colors are available for what looks like a pretty reasonable price.

Has anyone out there had experience with the EI crafted soft tops?

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Tue May 06, 2008 4:39 pm

scott does make a nice one but i bet he will agree tough river is better quality. [url]http://www.toughriverstuff.com/pinzgauer.htm[/url]

Bruce Berger · Post by **Bruce Berger** » Tue May 06, 2008 4:48 pm

I have one of the double insulated tops from Tuff River Stuff. Ray at Tuff River Stuff makes an excellent top with lots of nice features like sewn in screens for the windows, inner and outer privacy flaps, and velcro attached vinyl windows. The insulated top is much cooler in the summer and it also absorbs some of the usual Pinzgauer noise.

I've received a lot of complements on the top and have often been asked if they are available for Jeeps, Unimogs, etc. They are not inexpensive but I think they are well worth the money.

I purchased it through Cold War Remarketing. I'm not sure what's up with Patrick these days so your might want to contact Ray at Tuff River Stuff directly.

http://www.tuffriverstuff.com

(800) 421-7007

Pinz Enthusiast · Post by **Pinz Enthusiast** » Tue May 06, 2008 6:33 pm

You should probably talk to Scott, I was at his shop last month and tops are one thing we discussed, his supplier is, well not always consistent, your other option would be to contact a boat upholstry shop or sail maker, Bernhard and myself had the local North Sails, shop replace our windows in our stock tops, also any competent uphulstry shop should be able to knock one out, just be prepared for sticker shock....

Profpinz · Post by **Profpinz** » Tue May 06, 2008 11:56 pm

Those insulated tops from Tuff River look VERY nice!

Fortunately I have an original factory top in very good condition (it was removed from a new Pinzgauer that was being fitted with a hardtop) but if and when I ever replace it I might look at those as an option!

Are the Tuff River tops made from the vinyl-canvas like material as per the original Pinzgauer tops, or are they pure canvas?

GenevaPinz · Post by **GenevaPinz** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:32 am

I inquired about the EI replacement tops one month ago and the answer was that EI don't carry them anymore...

I had not heard about Tuff River so I'll check this immediately !

My first idea was to run the already available tops against offers from local boat top repair shops / manufacturers who could do a custom one.
I will have to balance the fact of buying locally (from a guy who probably has never seen a Pinzgauer before) against buying overseas from someone experienced in Pinzgauer tops...

Jan

STPPINZ · Post by **STPPINZ** » Wed May 07, 2008 9:49 am

Sad to say, I don't think Tuff River makes tops anymore. I had one on my 710 and it was the best addition that you can do. The guy that makes them only does it during the offseason of river rafting. Last time I heard, he only made a handfull a year and then stopped making them. Hopefully I am wrong because they are awesome. But you are looking at $4K+

Pinz Enthusiast · Post by **Pinz Enthusiast** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:00 am

Peter,
They are actually a cloth/canvas material, I remember reading on CWRI site that it was a german made soft top material, to me it felt like a carriage top on late model lincolns or cadillacs, a bit softer than true canvas but with a superior water repellancy, just loked again at CWRI site and the top section seems to have lost its detail, maybe contaction tuffriverstuff directly will produce some results.

STPPINZ · Post by **STPPINZ** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:13 am

Profpinz wrote:Those insulated tops from Tuff River look VERY nice!

Are the Tuff River tops made from the vinyl-canvas like material as per the original Pinzgauer tops, or are they pure canvas?

It is a canvas, almost pillow top material. After shocking the material they are water tight. A very soft material. I slept some cold nights in the back of a 710 with a Tuff River top and was more than warm with just body heat. Not that that is applicable to your situation...

McCall Pinz · Post by **McCall Pinz** » Wed May 07, 2008 11:57 am

I haven't seen the Tuff River ones in person, but I remember the best VW/Porsche tops were made from Haartz Stayfast fabric.

ExpeditionImports · Post by **ExpeditionImports** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:02 pm

Hi Guys,

All good points. First and foremost the nicest quality tops that I have ever seen were tough river tops. The quality and craftsmanship that went into them was excellent. I do not know there current availability, but if still available and the price is acceptable, they make an excellent addition.

We have a limited ability to build custom canvas tops. However, our supplier also uses the work as "filler" and not a priority. Average delivery time runs 8-12 weeks, start to finish. The tops being made are of good quality, non-insulated, primarily out of Sunbrella material or rubberized canvas if requested. I consider the tops all weather, but they are less than ideal for cold weather/snow......we are in sunny CA!

Cheers,

Scott Ingham

Bruce Berger · Post by **Bruce Berger** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:54 pm

The materials Ray was using were Seamark and Sunbrella. They are from Haartz in Germany. Seamark is the same material as Sunbrella with a vinyl backing to improve water resistance. They are both used extensively on boats, exterior awnings, and large outdoor umbrellas. If you're familiar with the bright blue boat covers seen around marinas they are almost always made from Seamark material.

With the fall of the dollar in relation to the Euro I imagine that making tops from these materials is getting prohibitively expensive here in the U.S. That shouldn't be a problem for you in Switzerland.

The most popular color for Pinzgauers was "Toast Twead" which is a light tan. It works well here in the American West since it's about the same color as the local dust stirred up on the trail.

jacksonpinz · Post by **jacksonpinz** » Wed May 07, 2008 5:58 pm

Scott,
How much are your tops? I am about ready order.

John

ExpeditionImports · Post by **ExpeditionImports** » Wed May 07, 2008 9:36 pm

Prices range from $1600-2000 depending upon the options and fittings used, 710/712, material, etc. Best bet is to call us and discuss the specifics. Just back from Europe so I am available in the office for the indefinite future.

Cheers,

Scott