converting a hardtop rocky to a ute

[sly]

the title says it all.. i am considering converting my 1984 hardtop (fibreglass top) to a ute.

I am already pretty sure of how i want to do it except for the rear window.. i am thinking that i might just leave the window and find a soft top for it with a rollover bar welded in the back of what will become the tray to support it.

also, is there anything that i would have to watch out for after cutting the door down to sit flush with the sides of the tray other than relocating the locking mechanism (i want to keep it sideways opening for something a little more original) and relocating the spare tyre holder and making sure it is all well welded up?

anyone done anything like this before? anybody reccommend it? anyone think it's a retarded idea?

[HotFourOk]

Nath drives his resin top round with no roof on... looks like a ute

You could do this, but take everything after the front seats out and trim it like a ute if you wanted to. Best thing its always reversible then

The other method is to chop the body after the front cab section, and completely seal it up, then use a flat tray like Mull has done to his.

I think ARB used to do a Rocky Ute conversion kit.. I'd drop them a line.

It all depends how much work you wanna do... and if you really want a tray back ute, why not buy one.

[r0ck_m0nkey]

I am already pretty sure of how i want to do it except for the rear window.. i am thinking that i might just leave the window and find a soft top for it with a rollover bar welded in the back of what will become the tray to support it.

Try looking at finding a rear wall from another ute cab that will give you the window shape you want. Or use the back of a Rocky ute cab if you can find one in a wreckers. So you can graft it to the back and use the window frame. Just one idea.

also, is there anything that i would have to watch out for after cutting the door down to sit flush with the sides of the tray other than relocating the locking mechanism (i want to keep it sideways opening for something a little more original) and relocating the spare tyre holder and making sure it is all well welded up?

Try finding either a Soft Top SWB Rocky rear tailgate (good luck) or possibly look at a Feroza rear tailgate to get the lip right around the top edge to match the one hidden under your resin top.

[RockyF75]

also, is there anything that i would have to watch out for after cutting the door down to sit flush with the sides of the tray other than relocating the locking mechanism (i want to keep it sideways opening for something a little more original) and relocating the spare tyre holder and making sure it is all well welded up?

I chopped my spare rear door like this, didn't have to touch the locking mech , or the tire holder for that matter... although i dont use it as the door hinge bolts are wearing out. (some pics here http://www.putfile.com/rockyf75/images/69879 )
I reckon they look like this

If i was going to do it permanently, I'd just get a sheet metal shop to fab up a frame around the old door glass, with bolt holes around the side that line up with the factory holes where the fiberglass bolts to the part behind the front seats, then add another rail below that to bolt too as well. This way its sorta reversible, would take a wile to change over, but the options there if you need it.... and chances are no thief's going to bother to undo 20 bolts to get into a rocky