Soft top discussion (what’s the best lately?)

[JKP]

Yes, Bestop or any of the other vendors. Just go to their website and look for the support link.

Bestop used to sell the Sunrider top for the TJ as a complete top kit only. I don't think I have seen them lately though. They were also the supplier for them to Jeep.

 

[Bobbycat83]

Yes, Bestop or any of the other vendors. Just go to their website and look for the support link.

Bestop used to sell the Sunrider top for the TJ as a complete top kit only. I don't think I have seen them lately though. They were also the supplier for them to Jeep.

Thanks !

I am looking in the bestop web and seem that they don’t sell anymore the sunrider kit

So sad, the day mi softop dies ! I will lost this option I love

 

[JMT]

Black Magic Tops would fly off the shelves, but @mrblaine might go broke with the cost vs sales for our old Jeeps. I am grateful for everything he makes.

Yeah, bc what he makes actually works, is well thought through, and is well-backed up by lots of experience. He’s THE TJ GURU. Nobody else.

 

[Bobbycat83]

Black Magic Tops would fly off the shelves, but @mrblaine might go broke with the cost vs sales for our old Jeeps. I am grateful for everything he makes.

But who is he? I haven’t heard about him at all ! What does he makes @mrblaine

 

[WWII Jeeper]

Thanks !

I am looking in the bestop web and seem that they don’t sell anymore the sunrider kit

So sad, the day mi softop dies ! I will lost this option I love

Check the corners (rear) on the inside. Are there zippers going top to bottom ? If so, there are plastic inserts that go in those pockets and should tighten that portion of the top.

Also check the bars that go from the rear, to the roll cage behind the driver seat (more or less along the side windows). There should be a bracket with an ear that points toward the back. My 2006 had the original bracket with one hole for the pin. My bestop after mkt came with brackets that have 3 holes each. These holes allow for tightening of the top if needed.

I've had slight fitment issues with the top measurements, at the top of the windshield. I extended the front of the top by a half inch and it seals fine.

Hope this helps
Ray

 

[TheBoogieman]

"Black Magic Tops would fly off the shelves, but mrblaine might go broke with the cost vs sales for our old Jeeps. I am grateful for everything he makes."

But who is he? I haven’t heard about him at all ! What does he makes @mrblaine

 

[Bobbycat83]

Hello again my friends, I continue in the hunt of a softop.

After your help I got to the conclussion that I wanted a oem used top. Till there everything clear.

But here go my final doubts to see what I finally do.

I saw on my vin number in the decoder that my Jeep came with hardtop, I don’t know if that means the softop was included in the day, or not.

I say this because maybe in the past somebody put on a softop from 2003-2006 and I don’t know. Or may be this is not possible.

The thing here to try to be clear. Is that O have talked to some guys on eBay and also what I have read here and the say both tops, 1997 or 2006 are valid, the only thing that changes is the direction of the window zippers. Maybe here someone can tell me something so I check and see what year is my top to be sure. Because I will need to use the lateral windows because it’s difficult to find a hole top.

In the other hand I have te issue of the sunrider feature. That we talked about, and I know as @WWII Jeeper told me , that te sunrider has the split tabs and the corner stiffeners, but my top does not have the stiffeners either, and I have seen second hand tops and every oem top has the front tabs to insert split into two. And all sellers on eBay tell me that the top is the Same only changes the frame for the sunrider.

So that’s the shit I am now.
I will like to buy a oem top and pray that would work with the oem sunrider frame I have.

At the time I have one searched in eBay but is from 2003-2006 , and I don’t know if my top is from 1997 o 2006 for the zippers

Little crazy stuff haha

 

[TJsean0308]

Hello,

I know this doesn't help you in Spain, but I wanted to share my experience from today with a QuadraTop replacement top. First off, it's cheap. I recall paying ~$400 for the Bestop sailcloth top I replaced about 6 years ago. This was less than $300 on holiday sale.

I went with the QuadraTop because of price mostly. I much prefer clear windows and don't see any replacement tops from the usual folks with clear windows anymore. That tightened the wallet some so I went with a lower cost option.

The material is much thinner than the sailcloth as expected. The zippers are not YKK and definitely of lesser robustness. The side windows don't really seem like the zipper is on in the right place. The vertical zipper in the rear doesn't really lay forward and flat, it more sticks out perpendicular like a bump out window and the front lip was about 1" off from the door surround groove. I was able to get it stretched on, but the top looks extra wrinkly across the top zipper flap. We'll see how it works in with a few temp cycles. This was in 60f (15C) temps and in direct sunlight for several hours.

Overall I'm glad I got it on sale and will be keeping the old top to see if I can get it fixed. I don't have high expectations for this top. There is no way it's lasting 6 years like the last one. I do feel like I got what I paid for at ~$250, but I wouldn't buy it at full price.

I wish we could still get the clear window sail cloth tops from Bestop. I think my next replacement will be the Sierra Offroad based on this thread. I don't have any experience with Bestop in the last few years other than the top I just replaced which held up great. This is the second Sailcloth Bestop I've had on this Jeep since the OEM one wore out. I would gladly have bought another if they still made them and with clear windows. Not sure I want the remaining options they sell based on feedback from the last few years.