Bestop vs Quadratec for noise ratings

[996Pilot]

My last TJ (1997 Sahara) had a hardtop (and no soft top). My present TJ (2002 Sport) came with just a soft top (newer Quadratec) so I have no prior experience with soft tops (on TJ's). The 2002 is actually quieter than the 1997 due to the previous owner completely coating the inside of the body with a nice rubberized undercoating type of material and installing a full carpet kit - until I get past about 40-45 mph. Then the wind noise kicks in and I get all kinds of flapping and flopping noise from the top. I notice that the part of the top forward of the roll bar balloons up at speed and gets quite tightly bowed outward - tighter as I go faster. All of the frame and straps seem normal.

My question is — Is that normal behavior for a TJ soft top? Does the part in front of the roll bar slightly sag at a stop then slightly balloon at speed? Is the flappy-floppy noise normal? Is there something that can be done to this Quadratec top to quiet it down? Would a Bestop top be any better than the Quadratec?

I want to keep a full soft top on it as it is now with the option of removing or folding the soft top occasionally. I would just like to mitigate some of the noise at speed. Suggestions?

 

[KennethS]

The top will lift due to air flow across it -think of an airplane wing. The air coming over the windshield then flows across the top, creating lift. This is actually a good thing as it tightens the top.

This is where the noise comes in:

Years ago I noticed another Jeep on the highway and its soft top was flapping madly. The top was lifted up, the rear windows were sucked in and flapping around, and the rear window was sucked in. After watching it, and thinking about mine, I realized that turning the fan on, or AC on NORM, pressurized the cabin and ballooned the soft top so the windows were pushed out enough the flapping stopped and it was significantly quieter. AC on MAX resulted in flapping since it was not pulling in as much outside air to pressurize the cabin.
I think you can crack a window slightly to equalize the pressure, but it’s been many years so I’m not 100% certain that works as well.

I will say that if you’re driving on a highway with grooved pavement, just be ready for noise. I had to turn the radio off and not even attempt to talk to the passenger it was so loud.

 

[dbbd1]

If it is the higher quality Quadratec, it's probably close to the Bestop.

 

[Rickyd]

I have had both the quadratec and bestop supertop.The bestop supertop has an aluminum bow that goes between the windshield frame and rollbar. It helps with the flapping. It is still loud compared to the hard top though.

Ear plugs or Bluetooth ear buds for music go a long way to mitigate the driving fatigue.

 

[Woodrow]

My last TJ (1997 Sahara) had a hardtop (and no soft top). My present TJ (2002 Sport) came with just a soft top (newer Quadratec) so I have no prior experience with soft tops (on TJ's). The 2002 is actually quieter than the 1997 due to the previous owner completely coating the inside of the body with a nice rubberized undercoating type of material and installing a full carpet kit - until I get past about 40-45 mph. Then the wind noise kicks in and I get all kinds of flapping and flopping noise from the top. I notice that the part of the top forward of the roll bar balloons up at speed and gets quite tightly bowed outward - tighter as I go faster. All of the frame and straps seem normal.

My question is — Is that normal behavior for a TJ soft top? Does the part in front of the roll bar slightly sag at a stop then slightly balloon at speed? Is the flappy-floppy noise normal? Is there something that can be done to this Quadratec top to quiet it down? Would a Bestop top be any better than the Quadratec?

I want to keep a full soft top on it as it is now with the option of removing or folding the soft top occasionally. I would just like to mitigate some of the noise at speed. Suggestions?View attachment 603282

I have a Best Top (trek top so it doesn’t use the inside bows in the back). It flaps at speed too. TJs are just loud. Between wind noise and MT tires its a tiresome highway vehicle.

 

[mjonesjr84]

I have had both the quadratec and bestop supertop.The bestop supertop has an aluminum bow that goes between the windshield frame and rollbar. It helps with the flapping. It is still loud compared to the hard top though.

Ear plugs or Bluetooth ear buds for music go a long way to mitigate the driving fatigue.

As a first responder, please don't wear ear plugs or ear buds of any kind. You will not hear a siren until it is too late.

I have a Best Top (trek top so it doesn’t use the inside bows in the back). It flaps at speed too. TJs are just loud. Between wind noise and MT tires its a tiresome highway vehicle.

My Trektop has a bow in the top on the back and the bow above the front seats and is super tight. It doesn't flap at all.


IF you go with a Bestop, spring for the twill material. It is heavier and better quality.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Neither of those for me. I use the fan trick like @KennethS mentioned. My top is much quieter than my old Bestop. It's the first thing my wife noticed when I took her for a ride in the Jeep and didn't tell her I replaced the top. Three years later, I deeply regret buying my Sierra Offroad Trilogy top because I can hear her talk the entire time now.

 

[996Pilot]

Neither of those for me. I use the fan trick like @KennethS mentioned. My top is much quieter than my old Bestop. It's the first thing my wife noticed when I took her for a ride in the Jeep and didn't tell her I replaced the top. Three years later, I deeply regret buying my Sierra Offroad Trilogy top because I can hear her talk the entire time now.

 

[996Pilot]

The top will lift due to air flow across it -think of an airplane wing. The air coming over the windshield then flows across the top, creating lift. This is actually a good thing as it tightens the top.

This is where the noise comes in:

Years ago I noticed another Jeep on the highway and its soft top was flapping madly. The top was lifted up, the rear windows were sucked in and flapping around, and the rear window was sucked in. After watching it, and thinking about mine, I realized that turning the fan on, or AC on NORM, pressurized the cabin and ballooned the soft top so the windows were pushed out enough the flapping stopped and it was significantly quieter. AC on MAX resulted in flapping since it was not pulling in as much outside air to pressurize the cabin.
I think you can crack a window slightly to equalize the pressure, but it’s been many years so I’m not 100% certain that works as well.

I will say that if you’re driving on a highway with grooved pavement, just be ready for noise. I had to turn the radio off and not even attempt to talk to the passenger it was so loud.

Thanks I'll try that

 

[Rickyd]

As a first responder, please don't wear ear plugs or ear buds of any kind. You will not hear a siren until it is too late.

I've been a first responder for almost a decade. I value what hearing I have left over hearing some clown going code 3 too fast a little bit sooner.no way ear plugs are going to stop that racket from getting through.

If you rely on people to get out of your way so you don't crash into them you shouldn't be driving any emergency vehicles,you are driving way too fast.if we can't get there safely we aren't going to be helping anyone.

 

[mjonesjr84]

I've been a first responder for almost a decade. I value what hearing I have left over hearing some clown going code 3 too fast a little bit sooner.no way ear plugs are going to stop that racket from getting through.

If you rely on people to get out of your way so you don't crash into them you shouldn't be driving any emergency vehicles,you are driving way too fast.if we can't get there safely we aren't going to be helping anyone.

20 years this year for me. I agree, but there are plenty of distractions in the car already that keep people from paying attention and ear buds or ear plugs will add to it.

 

[Rickyd]

20 years this year for me. I agree, but there are plenty of distractions in the car already that keep people from paying attention and ear buds or ear plugs will add to it.

It's true.A large percentage of the population aren't competent drivers. Use at your own risk!

Congrats on the 20 year commitment! I hope you get a nice dinner, awards ceremony and a gold pin or badge for the huge contribution to your community!

 

[bobbyo]

Neither of those for me. I use the fan trick like @KennethS mentioned. My top is much quieter than my old Bestop. It's the first thing my wife noticed when I took her for a ride in the Jeep and didn't tell her I replaced the top. Three years later, I deeply regret buying my Sierra Offroad Trilogy top because I can hear her talk the entire time now.

That's funny. Just turn the radio up!

I'll agree with you about the Sierra Offroad soft top. I just bought a 2000 Wrangler that the previous owner had installed one of their tops on. I don't know what model it is but it's about 4 years old. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. I see people talking about noise and I'm wondering what noise? It seems tight as a drum but definitely not as loud as one. Maybe after I get a few miles with it I'll start noticing things, but for now I don't even think about it- it just there doing it's job with no complaints.

 

[macleanflood]

Rugged Radio intercoms fix all issues. You don't even need a top.

-Mac

 

[JKP]

There's 3 weights of top material:
1. Vinyl
2. Sailcloth
3. Twill

Less noise and more insulation as you go up. Price goes up as well.

 

[Rickyd]

It's true.A large percentage of the population aren't competent drivers. Use at your own risk!

Congrats on the 20 year commitment! I hope you get a nice dinner, awards ceremony and a gold pin or badge for the huge contribution to your community!

Our small dept has an awards ceremony and dinner every December with recognition of our guys and gals small and large achievements(and funny stuff like radio missteps and dinging the apparatus).

 

[JustDandee]

Picture of a Hooke overhead storage console.. The reason I purchase it was not for the storage but to span the distance between the windshield and the roll bar. I have about 2” piece of padding running the distance on top that is putting slight upward pressure and support on the fabric. It increase the speed necessary for Bernoulli principles to get lift off and also restricts the amount of free space the fabric can flap. Significantly improved the acoustics.

 

[996Pilot]

Neither of those for me. I use the fan trick like @KennethS mentioned. My top is much quieter than my old Bestop. It's the first thing my wife noticed when I took her for a ride in the Jeep and didn't tell her I replaced the top. Three years later, I deeply regret buying my Sierra Offroad Trilogy top because I can hear her talk the entire time now.

Cannot find the Sierra Offroad Trilogy (material) anywhere on the web. Looked at all of the places on the Sierra Offroad website. Two of the places (on the website) don't even exist. Best I can find (from Sierra Offroad) is Sailcloth Vinyl not the Trilogy Vinyl.

 

[JustDandee]

Right… it’s a difficult hunt to match that up. Black vinyl sailcloth is what i purchased from AutoTops. Seems I came across some some reference to fabrics weight but it’s been awhile. Not 100% confident.

 

[TheBoogieman]

That's funny. Just turn the radio up!

A 1200w amp and two 10" subs can't drown out my wife's yakking.