Let's Talk Soft Tops

[Srfnfly227]

Well the time has come to replace to factory soft top on my LJ. I have been putting it off for a few years since I really like the khaki (which they don't make anymore), but it tore itself apart last week when putting it back down. Now I am trying to decide what to replace it with.

I am deciding between the Bestop Sailcloth Replace-a-top and the full Supertop NX. Sailcloth is not available with the frame.

I am leaning toward the Supertop as my Jeep is not my daily driver and it comes with a new frame. My factory frame works, but isn't 100% after 15 years of use. Does anybody have experience with these that can say whether the Sailcloth is worth reusing my factory frame?

 

[en480c4]

Just an FYI... it appears Bestop is now putting a giant logo above the back window. It is not a great look.

Found online:

 

[G Beasley]

I like the factory door surrounds and frame , but if yours is rough then there?s your answer.

I don?t like the best top logo out back.

 

[Srfnfly227]

Just an FYI... it appears Bestop is now putting a giant logo above the back window. It is not a great look.

Found online:
View attachment 134888

That?s awful. Not sure it?s enough for me to risk another brand though  :-\

I like the factory door surrounds and frame , but if yours is rough then there?s your answer.

My door surrounds are perfect. Frame works, but a few connections are loosening up a bit and one of the sun rider slider things is cracked.


I think I?m just going to buy the full replacement. Seems easier, is barely more expensive, and with how I use my Jeep, it will should be fine for me as long as it?s waterproof.

 

[en480c4]

I hear you... I know the Rampage Tops are junk but this is still hard to pass up to have an emergency replacement in hand. My frame is probably an 8/10, so Now that I?ve sold the hard top, there would be some comfort in having a back up.

https://www.rampageproducts.com/rampage-99635-oem-replacement-for-soft-upper-doors

 

[Tyvanwie]

I know you want framed, but I'll just throw my 2 cents in and say I loved my frameless bestop soft top. Didn't have any leaks, and actually had less wind noise compared to my original one.

 

[Srfnfly227]

Ordered my new full replacement Bestop today. One of the guys in my club gets us a discount so delivered price is $919. Here's to hoping I get one from before they started sticking the label on the back.

 

[en480c4]

Ordered my new full replacement Bestop today. One of the guys in my club gets us a discount so delivered price is $919. Here's to hoping I get one from before they started sticking the label on the back.

That?s a great price! Nicely done.

 

[G Beasley]

Ordered my new full replacement Bestop today. One of the guys in my club gets us a discount so delivered price is $919. Here's to hoping I get one from before they started sticking the label on the back.

So painful to buy a new top , but that smell is priceless! I believe I would have to sharpie away a little of the bestop logo.

 

[Srfnfly227]

Long story short, the full replacement wasn?t going to ship for at least another week from today and I needed it for a wheeling trip next weekend. Canceled that order and got the sailcloth replace a top.

The entire install including removing my old top from the frame took a little over an hour. Not bad for working by myself. Unfortunately it does have the new logo. It?s going to take me a while to get used to the black.

 

[Srfnfly227]

Follow up with this. I?m really disappointed with the soft top. It?s really thin and there?s lots of road noise from the flapping since it?s so loose. I need to contact Bestop to see if there?s anything I can do to correct this.

This is every time it rains.

 

[G Beasley]

Follow up with this. I?m really disappointed with the soft top. It?s really thin and there?s lots of road noise from the flapping since it?s so loose. I need to contact Bestop to see if there?s anything I can do to correct this.

This is every time it rains.

That?s a bummer ?

 

[Florpro]

Follow up with this. I?m really disappointed with the soft top. It?s really thin and there?s lots of road noise from the flapping since it?s so loose. I need to contact Bestop to see if there?s anything I can do to correct this.

This is every time it rains.

Tome to kick Amy?s car out of the garage! 

 

[Srfnfly227]

Tome to kick Amy?s car out of the garage!

Not an option  🙁  New house has a small one car garage which is being used for normal garage storage. We plan to build a detached, but that's probably 2 years from being complete.

 

[G Beasley]

Not an option  🙁  New house has a small one car garage which is being used for normal garage storage. We plan to build a detached, but that's probably 2 years from being complete.

Build sooner than later , materials are forecast to be up 25% next year.

 

[Srfnfly227]

Build sooner than later , materials are forecast to be up 25% next year.

We?ll build as soon as we can. Unfortunately won?t be until Spring 2023 at the earliest. Finances just won?t be there until then.

 

[G Beasley]

We?ll build as soon as we can. Unfortunately won?t be until Spring 2023 at the earliest. Finances just won?t be there until then.

Maybe a new president / pending leadership turnover will help correct the market.

 

[Srfnfly227]

Well I finally reached out to Bestop and here is their answer.

?Thank you.  Unfortunately, just like the rest of our softtops water will pool on the tops.  What I do is after it rains or snows is go out and push off the snow or I will push up in the middle of my top and let the water run off. 
Thank you,

Bestop Customer Service Representative
800-845-3567?

 

[G Beasley]

Well I finally reached out to Bestop and here is their answer.

?Thank you.  Unfortunately, just like the rest of our softtops water will pool on the tops.  What I do is after it rains or snows is go out and push off the snow or I will push up in the middle of my top and let the water run off. 
Thank you,

Bestop Customer Service Representative
800-845-3567?

Thats not true , my old bestop which is still on my LJ doesnt pool water at all? And its been outside the last two big storms.

 

[Srfnfly227]

Yeah I'm really disappointing with the answer. Considering the market this as the OEM replacement, I would have thought it would be much higher quality.