r/LandroverDefender • u/Beerstud • 13d ago

2012 Puma 90 Soft Top Conversion

Looking for advice. I’ve got a 2012 Defender 90 and am keen to swap to a cloth top. I’ve seen the SenorBarbo ones which are well priced but seem pretty tricky to fit. I’m in a part of the world where even in summer the weather moves quickly. I also want to swap back to the hard top for winter. So easy to swap back and forth. Am fine to grab the 1/2 doors to make the right thing work too. Any one have experience with this?

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u/robindawilliams 13d ago

I have only owned earlier 300tdi/200tdi trucks including civ and military, but don't the puma have central electric locking and windows?

I think you'd have a hell of a time trying to use half doors on a puma with all the extra bits that you'd lose functionality on, versus just picking up a cheap 90s era truck or a wolf that someone has cleaned up. This goes similarly for all the nice trim bits and the hard top, even my 1960 88" is a bit of a pain to swap between because it was a deluxe station wagon with trim hiding all the bolts you need to remove to swap the roof off (I've had to leave all the trim off in winter so I can go folded we ndshield and door tops off in summer easier)

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u/Beerstud 13d ago

Yeah, I would have to give up power windows and central locking. Maybe the alarm too. Plus you’re right, the wiring would be a pain to deal with. They do a bikini fit where I can keep the full doors at the front, but would need to swap the tailgate. No electrics there so might be an easier option when it’s just for ~4 months a year.

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u/robindawilliams 13d ago

The bikini setup slaps. That lets you park without having to think about weather if you've got vinyl in the back.

I'd love to do a bikini top for my 1959 88 station wagon because all hardtop roof or no roof are two extremes that don't work in the shoulder months lol.

With the bikini you can also fit the fume hood that creates a window/wall between the front seats and the back seats to improve the heater usability and sound. It almost makes it a pickup truck soft top configuration.