Revised pricing and ordering information
Mark 3 HMMWV Soft Slant Back Kit Information
Tops will be made to order, with some materials pre-cut, per-welded, to make assembly time shorter.
Several options will be available priced from $590, plus delivery.
Standard soft slant back contents:
Steel conduit frame, welded and covered with insulating foam, ready for assembly.
Soft slant back cover in 1000D Cordura Nylon with a zippered center panel (no window).
Printed assembly instructions and advice with pictures are also included.
(See ikoinu post 125, this is that kit.
https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showt...p-Slant-Back&p=2184435&viewfull=1#post2184435)
Standard kit price: $590 plus FedEx
Upgrades:
Ballistic Nylon 1650D +
$50
Clear 20 gauge Marine vinyl center panel (i.e. a sort of window) +
$30
[Deleted reference to insulation, my prototype is having delamination problems, so nevermind!]
With all options, the DeLuxe version comes to $670, plus shipping.
(Edit: I would consider trades of useful HMMWV parts or hunting equip, etc. But the deposit cash is still needed to cover material costs.)
Other options or custom build features can be discussed offline. Insulation can be done, but must be sewn in, greatly increasing build time and labor costs.
Color options:
C
ordura colors available are OD Green, Desert Tan or Black.
Note that there is no Camo option because I cannot guarantee color match and painting would add noticeable time to the construction. I can source woodland camo or digital camo Cordura sometimes as a special order, but it of course would not match up with the large bold factory camo scheme. I didn't notice the mismatch of the OD Green vs camo on my truck after a short while.
Ballistic Nylon colors available: Black, OD Green (Black in stock, OD Green special order.
I do not know of a source of Desert Tan Ballistic Nylon, though it is certainly made.) Because special order fabric must be ordered by the roll, 50+ yards, it is unlikely I will buy an entire roll of Desert Tan Ballistic even if I find a source.
Kits come ready to assemble with all materials included.
The only after-assembly consideration is whether to spray it with a sealant or weld the frame.
I have tried both Stay-Brite and Scotch Guard Outdoor sealants, both seem to work reasonably well.
I recommend some kind of UV protectant, but don't include it because it adds time and cost, and making the top water proof would eliminate the option of shrinking it to fit (it will shrink very slightly after the first deep wetting) or allowing it to sun fade slightly to better match your paint better.
If you are not pleased with the top or frame, I will work with you to make it right. Post 125 in this thread is an example of how I handle issues: I replaced the top entirely rather than take up a lot of time figuring out how to fix it while the buyer waited. I did repair that top, taking my time, and sold it later to a satisfied customer.
I believe in establishing a relationship with my fellow HMMWV owners and am always available for questions or to help guide you through assembly. No one has had to call me, I might add, so I think my instructions are adequate.
Some will find this price too high. I understand. For what it's worth, this price is still far less than professionals told me to charge.
The posts for this build are there for you to copy if you care to try, go for it. I figured it out, so can someone else. The only thing I haven't posted is the specs of my personal patterns.
I will open a thread in the Classified's when I am ready and able to take orders. I am still waiting on shipments of materials and some small pieces of equipment.
Lastly, a $150 materials deposit will be required. That is to reduce the occurrence of folks wondering off and because taking a deposit naturally obliges me to get started and to finish sooner.
Bulldogger
(Edit 2/16/19, I dropped the estimates by $100. Despite the fact they were already too low compared to the marketers advice, they just felt too high.)