Soft Top Decision Just Got Harder

[StimpsonJCatt]

Just found out Bestop is having a spring sale going now and the tried-and-true Replace-a-Top is now on sale with upper half doors for $400 vs. what my original plan was to go with the Sierra Off-Road Trilogy top for $329. Bestop is now for me in the same ballpark to pull the trigger on the Replace-a-Top but wanted to ask the class for thoughts.

My Jeep came with an older Sierra and the windows have yellowed so really can't give an honest assessment of it since it is pretty old.

Honestly leaning towards Bestop now....

 

[Chris]

Bestop FTW

 

[wigsajumper]

@pro-tour69 Thanks for the Heads up about the sale! My OEM top and windows are getting pretty ragged

 

[The4bangertj]

If I had any money I’d be buying the best top twill right away.

 

[DakotaTJ]

Just found out Bestop is having a spring sale going now and the tried-and-true Replace-a-Top is now on sale with upper half doors for $400 vs. what my original plan was to go with the Sierra Off-Road Trilogy top for $329. Bestop is now for me in the same ballpark to pull the trigger on the Replace-a-Top but wanted to ask the class for thoughts.

My Jeep came with an older Sierra and the windows have yellowed so really can't give an honest assessment of it since it is pretty old.

Honestly leaning towards Bestop now....

Thanks for the heads up! My afternoon just got a bit more expensive. Pulled the trigger on the OEM replacement with uppers.

My TJ came with a factory soft top, but it appears to be pretty tattered. I'm 95% sure I have all the OEM hardware minus the tailgate bar.

 

[StimpsonJCatt]

Yup, my afternoon got more expensive also (LOL!!!). Just pulled the trigger about 30mins ago. Went with the Diamond Sailcloth with tinted windows and the upper door skins.

It's kind of sad there is that much profit margin because I am pretty sure even with the crazy sale, they are still making money.

 

[DakotaTJ]

Yup, my afternoon got more expensive also (LOL!!!). Just pulled the trigger about 30mins ago. Went with the Diamond Sailcloth with tinted windows and the upper door skins.

It's kind of sad there is that much profit margin because I am pretty sure even with the crazy sale, they are still making money.

What's the difference between diamond sailcloth and sailcloth? May have to change my order. Went with sailcloth.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Make sure it comes with the tramp stamp so people will know it's a Bestop from afar. The twill is only $600.

 

[DakotaTJ]

Make sure it comes with the tramp stamp so people will know it's a Bestop from afar. The twill is only $600.

I saw that. No half door option with that though.

 

[TheBoogieman]

What's the difference between diamond sailcloth and sailcloth? May have to change my order. Went with sailcloth.

“Black Diamond” means the color (Code 35) and is not necessarily a sailcloth material. It is available in both standard weight (23 oz) vinyl and heavy weight sailcloth (28 oz). If you want sailcloth then ensure to order with correct SKU No. that clearly specify “Sailcloth” in the description and product title.
p.s. Twill is 30 oz.

 

[DakotaTJ]

“Black Diamond” means the color (Code 35) and is not necessarily a sailcloth material. It is available in both standard weight (23 oz) vinyl and heavy weight sailcloth (28 oz). If you want sailcloth then ensure to order with correct SKU No. that clearly specify “Sailcloth” in the description and product title.
p.s. Twill is 30 oz.

Got it. Thanks! Went with the sailcloth. Quick google and could probably find matching twill uppers. Would be about $800 all in. So happy at $450 for both in sailcloth.

 

[StimpsonJCatt]

Make sure it comes with the tramp stamp so people will know it's a Bestop from afar. The twill is only $600.

Worst thing about the whole deal...

 

[DakotaTJ]

Worst thing about the whole deal...

No doubt. I thought I had read somewhere that they stopped doing that.

 

[John Cooper]

Make sure it comes with the tramp stamp so people will know it's a Bestop from afar. The twill is only $600.

You told me you loved my Tramp Stamp.......

 

[JEEPSTEVENANAIMO]

have you looked at rampage tops yet? half the cost of a best top and from the few guys i know who have them...they are excellent

 

[WestCoastDan]

have you looked at rampage tops yet? half the cost of a best top and from the few guys i know who have them...they are excellent

We went from an inexpensive Rampage top to a Bestop Supertop in Twill.

The Rampage top fit fine and worked as well as one would expect a $400 soft top to work.
It lasted about 6-7 years in the SoCal sun before several of the threads began to disintegrate from UV exposure (my best guess).
I repaired it a couple of times using a sewing awl, but when the entire seam along the door top gave up, so did I.
Rampage does not offer any replacement hardware, so a complete new top was in order for us.

Rather than buy another "inexpensive" soft top, we opted to sell our hard top and put that $$ towards a better soft top.
There have been issues w/ our Bestop, but nothing major.

I'm not a fan of how they market the Sunrider feature on the TJ; it is nowhere near as useful on the TJ top as it is on the JK (Freedom panel area only).
You cannot open the Sunrider on the TJ while seated, as it requires the outer trim/lip sections to be unlocked from the door surrounds, and the latches do not clear the sun visors (so they must be flipped down and/or to the side).

The rear logo pissed me off, but I hardly even notice it now.

 

[Oberst Oswald]

The rear logo pissed me off, but I hardly even notice it now.

Have the twill and agree about the logo.

 

[rasband]

have you looked at rampage tops yet? half the cost of a best top and from the few guys i know who have them...they are excellent

The only benefit to rampage is they're cheap enough you can replace them more often. I don't love my bestop (in an LJ, so I get lesser quality material), but the rampage wasn't good by most measures. The rampage was super loud and flappy, but it did store the windows and rear flat and in the top - which definitely helped them from deteriorating faster.

 

[lBasket]

You told me you loved my Tramp Stamp.......
View attachment 600447

Is that an AEV pintler

 

[lBasket]

The only benefit to rampage is they're cheap enough you can replace them more often. I don't love my bestop (in an LJ, so I get lesser quality material), but the rampage wasn't good by most measures. The rampage was super loud and flappy, but it did store the windows and rear flat and in the top - which definitely helped them from deteriorating faster.

I really like this feature. It is nice to be able to keep the windows in on the highway and then remove them on the trail and have somewhere somewhat safe to put them.