camper shell topper cut in half mod

[MPGsteward]

So i have been thinking of getting a fiberglass camper Shell topper for my truck & diagonally cutting it down so i Am left with a Frame for a Aero topper. Been searching and cant find anyone who has Done it.
Suppose to be getting one for my ranger tomorrow. I Am surprised more are not trying this.
Any ideas for what material i should use for the top? Maybe i can salvage some of the top i cut out. Was also thinking abs sheeting with aluminum to stiffen it up. Ive Never molded fiberglass before.

[Jasen]

It's basically like doing a chop top. The bottom of the shell is wider then the top. You have to 1/4 the top and add material to make it longer and wider so it will mate up to the dimensions of the bottom.

[Frank Lee]

Great minds think alike!

I just acquired a 'glass cap for the F150, somewhat damaged and free off Craig's List, with the intention of doing a fastback chop. I was planning on doing the necessary work to patch it all together in fiberglass.



Earlier I'd gotten an 8' cap that would have made for an easier chop (no or little material addition; just subtraction) but I didn't want the extra height and it's in nice shape so that one went to work on a long box truck.

[kalifornia]

you might check out how they make those custom speaker boxes in all sorts of shapes, they stretch out some sort of fabric and apply some type of stiffening agent, then you might beable to glass over that.

[hoover]

I thought about this project myself, ended up moving to South Carolina and the time for this just has not happened yet. I was going to use an eight foot long topper to cut down for mine, I have a short bed and figured out the top length would be real close when angled down. I figure it would be easier to shorten a top piece than to lengthen one. Just my two cents worth.

[MPGsteward]

Got my topper today. Wish i could find one without windows. I like the idea of getting a topper for a long bed & putting it on my short bed. I might resale this one & look for one, i dont know. It will be a fun project though

[deejaaa]

it's a good idea. have thought of it myself but never went anywhere with it. i do know that the gap at the top of the cab will be increased from the angle created but could be filled in or another section removed to remedy that. aluminum would be lighter and usually have a steel frame on the older ones making it easier to weld.

[MPGsteward]

Here is the topper i got for my ranger. Not exactly what i had in mind, bit it was inexpensive. Ill cut it soon thats the easy part, but it might take me awhile to modify it it due to my lack of experience in this type of work.

[hat_man]

Sounds like a neat project. If you cut on the green lines and remove the upper section (I'm pretty sure it's taller than the cab) that would help quite a bit. I can't tell if it's the angle of the picture or not but if the height at the cab (red line at cab end) is taller than the red line at the rear it would give you a slight downward slope. Not the optimum 12ish degrees but better than an open bed. you would also be able to keep the windows and tailgate window intact.

[MPGsteward]

Even the line you are calling red is slightly above the cab in the middle. So I will be cutting below that to make it flush with the cab. From there I will be cutting diagonally down through whatever windows are in that path. I am sticking with the 12 degrees for best results. However it will probably be a straight diagonal line, iow no curve in the cut. Now I Need to buy a new angle grinder & start cutting.
Been thinking a lot about what to replace the top with. I wont know until I actually do it the way I am. I like the idea of having a top thats hard with hinges and lift supports.