• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Canadian Snugtop Parts

Bronik

Full Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Messages
20
I've had a snugtop since I bought the Truck in 04. About 5 years later I smashed the rear window/door. At the time, the only Snugtop dealers were in western Canada. I'm in Ontario, and here we are another 4 years later and still no Ontario snugtop dealers. Between the price of the part and shipping 4 years ago, they wanted just shy 1000$ to replace the back window. I decided at the time to take off the snugtop and store it in a buddies storage locker. Well I'm starting to miss the cap and decided I want to put it back on but I'm still having the same dilema, I'd like to replace the rear window, but I'm not interested in spending a thousand on one.

Does anyone have any suggestions for where I could get a replacement window made or aftermarket or anything. I still have all the hardware. The local glass places at the time of the lost window had no idea that cap existed and couldn't make me a replacement. Is there a way I could get the specs on the window so they could build me one?

Any suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
:welcome: to CAFCNA!!

I'm in Windsor, I don't know of anyone with a Snugtop in Ontario, but there are a couple lurking in the states.

There will be quite a few Avy's in Niagara Falls next weekend, let me see if anyone going has a Snugtop.
My suggestion would be to get one made out of Lexan but a template would be helpful.

Try to make it to Nationals it's gonna be a blast, lots of great people, fun events and lots of gorgeous trucks!!!

http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,138491.0/topicseen.html

Click on the link above or on my signature pic for more info!!  (y)
 
Try local glass shop... maybe they can remake?

Or plywood or plexiglass comes to mind
 
I agree with above comments, I don't know how they work in Canada but in my area of the U.S. the local glass and mirror shops do use a parts type of catalog to get a replacement piece of auto glass but they also can cut and install custom pieces of glass and mirrors. I would guess the shops you contacted didn't have a replacement part number for a Snugtop glass so they said no.
I once had a mirror glass cut for a Harley rearview mirror that Harley wanted $200 to replace the whole assembly since they didn't sell just the glass. If I remember the custom cut glass that was cut and installed was about $25.
 
The only thing with a custom cut piece of glass is that it you would have to pay to have it custom cut, then box it up and ship it to be tempered, then shipped back to the local glass shop for final install.

Still probably way under a grand, but I still think Lexan or Plexi is a much better way to go.
 
I would go Lexan before Plexi. The Lexan will be more expensive but you will be a lot happier with the Lexan. 
You might get a glass shop to cut down a windshield I have had this done for my CJs. I have a friend with a glass shop it is tricky so no guaranties for breakage.
Found this.
http://www.dullesglassandmirror.com/tempered-glass.asp
 
DouglasOak said:
I'm in Windsor, I don't know of anyone with a Snugtop in Ontario, but there are a couple lurking in the states.

There will be quite a few Avy's in Niagara Falls next weekend, let me see if anyone going has a Snugtop.

:welcome:  to the club Bronik 

I'm in Flint, Michigan an hour west of Port Huron/Sarnia, hour north of Detroit/Windsor. I'll look into if a reasonably priced replacement glass can be found stateside. Hey DouglasOak, Niagara Falls might be too short a window (pun intended) to find one, Woodward Dream Cruise is in one month. If one is to be found that gives another window of opportunity (sorry I couldn't resist) to relay it Canada.
 
Flint4x4 said:
:welcome:  to the club Bronik   

Woodward Dream Cruise is in one month. If one is to be found that gives another window of opportunity (sorry I couldn't resist) to relay it Canada.

We will be at Dream Cruise on Woodward around 12/13 mile area Wed/Thurs. Friday we start in Pontiac with dinner and walking around all the show areas, then we cruise down Woodward to Ferndale.

We will keep you posted in this thread...
http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,136957.0.html
 
Thank for your warm welcomes to the club!  :love:

I've called around to some glass shops and can't seem to locate one that is willing to cut me a window. I was advised that Lexan is better then pexi for this project but that the rear gate is curved. The problem with Lexan is that is retains memory so unless it's molded curved it will eventually flatten back out. I don't have any first hand experience with Lexan though.

The gate from a Canadian supplier is 540 + 125 crating and shipping to me at 665 + 12% tax = 745 (considerably less then a thousand now)

I'm going to call the closest US supplier and see if the drive down is worth the fuel in savings.
 
This maybe a long shot but there are some places that simply do used toppers. Check around you may find a glass to fit and cheaper than new glass. The down fall is now you have a canopy with no back glass to get rid of. 
 
Bronik said:
. I was advised that Lexan is better then pexi for this project but that the rear gate is curved. The problem with Lexan is that is retains memory so unless it's molded curved it will eventually flatten back out. I don't have any first hand experience with Lexan though.

Not really sure how much of a curve there really is to the back glass. I have never owned one, but the ones I remember looked pretty flat to me. But your shop is correct about one thing...

Plexi will retain curves and bends awesome, but scratches easily. and will not withstand as much pressure as Lexan.
I have used both when I was doing custom car audio, and will agree that Lexan will always want to go back to it's original shape (more rapidly when heat is involved)

I have seen in the past a couple used SnugTops in the U.S.sell for about the same as what you are gonna pay for just the glass.
 
Hey Karl,

Thank you for the personal message, I'm in the gta (pickering) Apparently I'm not allowed to reply too or send private messages yet!?!?

I got the top out today and painted (well plasti-dipped) the silver bars black. the body shop is going to put it back on tomorrow for me, looking at the hardware I really don't see why a flat piece of lexan wouldn't work. Oh well... I'll see what I can McGuiver up in the next few days and keep you guys posted.
 
Bronik said:
Hey Karl,

Thank you for the personal message, I'm in the gta (pickering) Apparently I'm not allowed to reply too or send private messages yet!?!?

I got the top out today and painted (well plasti-dipped) the silver bars black. the body shop is going to put it back on tomorrow for me, looking at the hardware I really don't see why a flat piece of lexan wouldn't work. Oh well... I'll see what I can McGuiver up in the next few days and keep you guys posted.
Pickering?? That's just a hop, skip, and a jump over to The Falls!!!!
Come see us on Saturday!! We'll be on the Canadian side for a good part of the day.

Check it out here!!!!
http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,138491.0/topicseen.html
 
I'd love too, but I'll be off camping up at the lake all weekend with a few friends and the dogs. I was reading that thread, looks like you guys are going to have a great time. 
 
Bronik said:
I'd love too, but I'll be off camping up at the lake all weekend with a few friends and the dogs. I was reading that thread, looks like you guys are going to have a great time. 

I heard there was a 15% chance of rain at The Falls, but there's a 96% chance of rain at "the lake"

:kidding: Hope you have a great time, we'll post pix and rub it in a little!!!  >:D
 
DouglasOak said:
I heard there was a 15% chance of rain at The Falls, but there's a 96% chance of rain at "the lake"

:kidding: Hope you have a great time, we'll post pix and rub it in a little!!!  >:D

so mean!  >:D
 
here's my temporary inexpensive solution....

I found a plastic shop locally after doing enough google searches I found a thread of tuner car enthusiasts comparing local plastic shops. I found a family run shop that was willing to cut out my 'shape' and give me the materials for less then Home Depot wanted for the materials alone...

I went in with the intention of using lexan but after they took a hard look at what i wanted to do with it and how i was going to force it to fit (straight piece in a curved hole) they convinced me to go with acrylic, as a bonus it came tinted and cost even less. I went with 3/16 thickness so I'd have more 'bend'...

I would consider this my trial run and the cost of learning how to make it much better. I took on the project in three steps.

1) First I had the cutter come measure the basic lengths and curves to cut the basic shape I wanted and then I attached all the lower hardware.

2) Second I lined up the top brackets as best i could and marked to have the holes cut

3) next i cut the hinge holes bigger and bigger and then BIGGER... lol ... cause the gate was sitting about and inche too low to line up the latches once installed.

After an hour of wiggling and jiggling it into place so it would close, here's the final product.









So it looks ok closed, the main problem I'm running into right now is that the pressure from the hydraulix is pushing the gate down and out of range of the clasps, so I have to pop out the hydraulix to close it. No quite ideal yet, I'll think on it a little for the future but this will keep the racoons out of the coolers for the camping trip this weekend lol..

I think I just need to mark where the hinges need to sit and wedge something in the hole where the difference is. I'll also find some type of large gasket or something to go in between the hinge and the plexi to cover the hole and give the hinge a little more hold. For less then 100$ I'm pretty happy with the results so far. Now I can take my time and find a cost effective solution for replacing the actual rear gate.

 
Back
Top