Running a class 3 Bronco with your hard top on or off?

[BajaBronco13]

What's the pros and cons to either running hard top on or topless? Just throwing it out there since I've seen the Moss guys, and Ken's Anger Bronco running topless and others racing with the top on. Give me your $.02, please.

CP

[convoy]

If caged and it's tied-in to the body in numerous locations, then the bronco should hold up to the abuse of racing off-road with the shell off. Without a cage the body will become structurally compromised. The shell is supporting the integrity of the back half of the bronco.

Just look at your rain gutters above your door, the cracking is a great indication of the amount of frame and body flex that is occurring.

Pros would be lighter in weight, mount fan coolers in the back, better access to supplies, jack, and spare tires.

Cons would be lack of security, increased dust - i.e. silt beds, exposure to the elements, lack or air conditioning (if you lucky bastards still have it).

[retroblazer]

What's the pros and cons to either running hard top on or topless? Just throwing it out there since I've seen the Moss guys, and Ken's Anger Bronco running topless and others racing with the top on. Give me your $.02, please.

CP

Ditch it. Too much weight. Oh wait, well have to see what the rest of "Club Bronco" thinks.

[Blanco]

A true race truck would most likely have the windsheild removed, so why would you keep the top on it? :confused:

But then again if I ever get Blanco to a race, I'll probably keep the top on & the windows up with the A/C cranked! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/wiggle%20tongue.gif

[straightaxle]

For a single purpose, race only vehicle, you are trying to ditch everything extra you can. They are heavy! The other problem is keeping it on there in race conditions, it will blow out the fiberglass around the original bolts. The top, at least on the FSB does nothing for structural integrity. They have to beef up the fenders and that structure at the tail lights from the factory as it is. The roof does not hold the body together, instead it tries to push the fenders apart. Let's mess with Retro and tell him that the new class rules call for us all to bolt stock tops back on...........

[retroblazer]

For a single purpose, race only vehicle, you are trying to ditch everything extra you can. They are heavy! The other problem is keeping it on there in race conditions, it will blow out the fiberglass around the original bolts. The top, at least on the FSB does nothing for structural integrity. They have to beef up the fenders and that structure at the tail lights from the factory as it is. The roof does not hold the body together, instead it tries to push the fenders apart. Let's mess with Retro and tell him that the new class rules call for us all to bolt stock tops back on...........

Yeah, ha, ha... I'll put one on if you put it on first...