Possible To Remove New OEM Skins From Soft Windows For Latest Use Without Damage?

[sab]

Title says the jist of this inquiry. More detail: My LJ came with full doors, an OEM khaki hardtop, and an OEM khaki softop. I've acquired and restored half doors, new BullDawg sliding hard uppers, NOS black soft uppers, and one old OEM khaki soft upper in not-so-good shape. I've been searching for a set of khaki soft uppers for three years and finally found a NOS Bestop set. I tried calling them to see if they sell just the wire frames, but their phone currently goes right to voicemail asking me to call be during normal hours, even thought it's currently during normal hours. I'll keep trying. If I can't get frames from them, I'm exploring removing the black skins from my NOS OEM uppers, but since they're NOS, I'd like to be able to use them in the future.

Is it possible to carefully remove OEM skins and then re-install them later? I know that they are sewn on, so can seams be ripped for removal, and is sewing required for re-installation?

[I could take a look at how they are sewn on, but I'm currently away from my LJ and assume another user must have done this at some time. Thanks for reading this!]

 

[GATORB8]

It was occasionally doing the same thing when I tried. But give the chat function on Bestop's website a try, be sure to get to an actual agent not just the AI.

 

[sab]

It was occasionally doing the same thing when I tried. But give the chat function on Bestop's website a try, be sure to get to an actual agent not just the AI.

I must be blind because I didn't see a chat function available, and after reading your response, I went back and still can't find a chat option.

 

[GATORB8]

I must be blind because I didn't see a chat function available, and after reading your response, I went back and still can't find a chat option.

Well, crap, it's gone and I just used it like a month ago. They even reference it on the help page, but I don't see anywhere to access it now either.

 

[sab]

I saw that reference, too. How can a company be so blind to customer service????? (that's rhetorical )

 

[GATORB8]

The bestop uppers you have are the OEM style, not the soft door style, right?

QT and a few other places have "OEM style" frames available.

 

[sab]

The khaki upper skins are supposed to be Bestop (don't have them, yet, but that's how they were described). The black mounted uppers (with frames) are Jeep OEM. new old stock (NOS). I'm aware of the other brand frames, but I'd like to stick with OEM or Bestop (maker of the OEM frames, from what I understand) because I've seen negative posts on all those alternative frames. So, to sum up my choices in order of preference:

1. Get a set of like new OEM Jeep soft upper frames (been looking for three years - no luck), or
2. Get a set of new Bestop soft upper frames (if they ever answer their phone - I did send an email), or
3. Carefully remove OEM Jeep black upper skins to use those OEM frames, but only if I can salvage the NOS black upper skins in the process.

 

[GATORB8]

The khaki upper skins are supposed to be Bestop (don't have them, yet, but that's how they were described). The black mounted uppers (with frames) are Jeep OEM. new old stock (NOS). I'm aware of the other brand frames, but I'd like to stick with OEM or Bestop (maker of the OEM frames, from what I understand) because I've seen negative posts on all those alternative frames. So, to sum up my choices in order of preference:

1. Get a set of like new OEM Jeep soft upper frames (been looking for three years - no luck), or
2. Get a set of new Bestop soft upper frames (if they ever answer their phone - I did send an email), or
3. Carefully remove OEM Jeep black upper skins to use those OEM frames, but only if I can salvage the NOS black upper skins in the process.

Just to clarify, I believe Bestop makes two types of uppers, OEM style and a different style that only works with soft doors (and maybe their tube doors).

I'm not sure if the canvas/vinyl is different, but the frames look different.

 

[sab]

Just to clarify, I believe Bestop makes two types of uppers, OEM style and a different style that only works with soft doors (and maybe their tube doors).

I'm not sure if the canvas/vinyl is different, but the frames look different.

Yes, that is my understanding, as well.

 

[Moglocker]

Yes, that is my understanding, as well.

I have 3 sets of frames,don’t know how to tell if any are oem?

 

[sab]

I have 3 sets of frames,don’t know how to tell if any are oem?

I haven't figured that out, either, which has made me reluctant to buy some used ones (that and the fact that used ones could be bent and I wouldn't know it).

 

[sab]

Well, I emailed Bestop Monday afternoon, and I got a response yesterday morning:

We do not offer just the door frames. Our door skins are for Factory frames. You will have to go a Jeep Dealer or moparparts.com or Quadratec. They are your best options for find door frames.

That's helpful.

The search continues...

 

[sab]

Regarding how to tell if the frames are OEM or not, can anyone confirm a theory I have? I found a couple sets of frames on ebay that are advertised as OEM frames, and both have a five-digit number (not a typical Mopar part number) on the inside rear of the horizontal rod like this:

Assuming that both of the sets I've seen are OEM and both have numbers in this spot, that may be a way to tell OEM from aftermarket. I'd be obliged if someone with a set they know are OEM could look and see if they have a number in that location.

 

[TRevs]

I had a similar situation; my LJ came to me with a black soft top (Rugged Ridge fabric on an OEM frame) and full doors. I wanted half doors and a tan/khaki top. I ended up with used upper window frames, and got a pair of new dark khaki upper skins from Sierra off-road. They attach with velcro, and are a good color match to the used OEM Dark Khaki soft top.

I think your best bet is to carefully seam rip the black skins; they can certainly be re-sewn later if you want. You could possibly sew on velcro and make it easy to swap the skins at will.

 

[Moglocker]

Regarding how to tell if the frames are OEM or not, can anyone confirm a theory I have? I found a couple sets of frames on ebay that are advertised as OEM frames, and both have a five-digit number (not a typical Mopar part number) on the inside rear of the horizontal rod like this:
View attachment 654752

Assuming that both of the sets I've seen are OEM and both have numbers in this spot, that may be a way to tell OEM from aftermarket. I'd be obliged if someone with a set they know are OEM could look and see if they have a number in that location.

It looks like Jamison c answered this question a year ago,looks like you asked it?

sab​

"Semper Discens"​

Original poster

Lifetime Supporting Member
JoinedJun 12, 2021Messages4,148LocationDITHOT

• Jul 3, 2024
• 
  
• #12

Thank you, Jamison C! That is exactly what I needed! Happy Independence Day!

 

[sab]

It looks like Jamison c answered this question a year ago,looks like you asked it?

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]sab​

"Semper Discens"​

Original poster

Lifetime Supporting Member
JoinedJun 12, 2021Messages4,148LocationDITHOT

• Jul 3, 2024
• 
  
• #12

Thank you, Jamison C! That is exactly what I needed! Happy Independence Day!

He did, but since then, I've discovered two things: 1) Other companies make similarly constructed frames, and 2) there appear to be two different designs of the OEM frames - the mounting pins have an extra 90° bend in some of them. These two new discoveries have made it difficult to procure known OEM frames, so I'm trying to determine if there are other telltales of OEM frames.

And I think I may have found that telltale. In the photo I posted above, there is a five digit number, and the frame is the style with the extra 90° bends in the mounting pins. I have the two NOS black OEM windows, and I looked this evening when I got home from work. They, too, have the five digit number in that location, and they lack the extra bend (straight pins). I also have an OEM khaki window (just one). It has both the number and the straight pins.

At this point, I'm hypothesizing that the extra 90° bend in the pins was an early design, and the straight pins are a later design because all three of the straight pin windows I have are from later TJs.

 

[Moglocker]

He did, but since then, I've discovered two things: 1) Other companies make similarly constructed frames, and 2) there appear to be two different designs of the OEM frames - the mounting pins have an extra 90° bend in some of them. These two new discoveries have made it difficult to procure known OEM frames, so I'm trying to determine if there are other telltales of OEM frames.

And I think I may have found that telltale. In the photo I posted above, there is a five digit number, and the frame is the style with the extra 90° bends in the mounting pins. I have the two NOS black OEM windows, and I looked this evening when I got home from work. They, too, have the five digit number in that location, and they lack the extra bend (straight pins). I also have an OEM khaki window (just one). It has both the number and the straight pins.

At this point, I'm hypothesizing that the extra 90° bend in the pins was an early design, and the straight pins are a later design because all three of the straight pin windows I have are from later TJs.

Is he still on here to see if his has the numbers?,I have 3 sets I need to check for those numbers,I have a new set of windows I want to make a new set of uppers out of,and my old ones with tears can be used for woodsy stuff.

 

[sab]

Is he still on here to see if his has the numbers?

He is, and I'll post in that original thread to see if he can check.

 

[leon jones]

...
Is it possible to carefully remove OEM skins and then re-install them later? I know that they are sewn on, so can seams be ripped for removal, and is sewing required for re-installation?

[I could take a look at how they are sewn on, but I'm currently away from my LJ and assume another user must have done this at some time. Thanks for reading this!]

sab , used2 waz we could buy replacement top & 1/2 door skins frum several after mkt suppliers

back then the replacements were installed w/ a VELCRO strip across the inside of the bottom of the new skins

when you do get back to your pile of stuff hava looksee and imagine sewing a strip of velcro along the bottom of the skin on the inside once it has been removed

long shot butt worth pondering

leon