So like may 3rd Gen Ttop cars my storage bag is in rough shape and I want to install an amp where the ttops are normally stored, so I'm looking at creating a rack of some sort to store them. I looked at the ideas that people have done to store them vertically in the back but I don't like that for many reasons. So I rigged up how I would want to store them with some scraps of wood, but now the hard part will be to figure out how to make a rack that will stay when driving and will be easy to use.


I'm using the strap from the ttop bag so I need to figure out how to protect the ttop from the metal of the strap, that is what the piece of wood is across the top. The other thing is how to support the bottom ttop, the one piece of wood is supported on the ledge across the back, I need to figure out how to make this stay.


The other thing I need to figure out is some sort of way of supporting the front of the ttops, I was thinking maybe a piece of wood with some slots on it to slid the front of the ttops in. Then I have to figure out how to keep everything from moving.
Any ideas or improvements would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, David

 

Do you typically have passengers?

If not, why not just make a rig that attaches to the folded down back seat so that you don't have to sacrifice all your limited storage space?

 

I thought of that, but I have kids so I need the back seats, I had the amp under the back seat instead of the bottom cushion before kids! Thanks for the idea.

 

What if you mount the amp to the back side of the wheel hump(the vertical part) so it's under the t-tops when they are in the back?

 

I would look hard at moving the amp to one of the following locations:

-Spare tire area, if you do not have a spare.
-In the storage area "rear glovebox"
-Under passenger seat, if it will fit.
-Behind the dash on the passenger side (it would fit here on mine, might not if there is a computer).

What you have there even as a prototype looks like a mess. If you are dead set on something like this. I would build box to raise them up (clearing the amp), carpet it to match the carpet. Secure it to the floor. Box would be between the amp and seat and then maybe on either side of the amp (amp would look to be recessed in the box, also hide the ugly amp wiring). Then use the bag with them resting on the above box. Top could be hinged to get some extra hidden storage.

 

My amp is mounted in the rear well against the gas tank side of the hole. You have to be carefull not to drill or run a screw into the gas tank.

 

Thanks for more ideas, I'm not sure I have long enough cables to go much farther back but that can be taken care of. I have a spare and the amp is too big for the storage area. So I will look at the back of the hump or if it will fit under a seat, but I'm a little concerned with not having enough air flow if under the seat, anyone else have experience with that? My thought was since I had to figure out a solution to storing the ttops since the bag is nearly unusable this would a solution to 2 problems.

How I'm showing it is just the positions of how I think it may work, I would want to come up with something that would hold them and are easy to use. My though was a a piece of would rest on the ledge as I show it, but maybe a piece of wood with slots in it to hold them in place, I just don't know how to keep all of it in place.
As you can tell by how slow I'm responding to this I'm in no rush, the car isn't running right now so I'm trying to get these small cheep projects done while I'm waiting to get the money together to get back on the road.
Thanks everyone for your help and ideas.

 

I have seen some of the 4THGENS that have a small "rack" slot in the rear lower area that might hold them. I always make sure mine are secure in the rear as you don't want "flying blades" coming at you in case of a quick stop or an accident. I also have an amp in the rear deck and the ttops are okay on top of it for a few hours.
Do you need a newer bag? I find them quite frequently down here in SA.