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Want to get a soft top

3K views 41 replies 13 participants last post by  T.Wagner 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
So my next big purchase for the jeep will be a soft top. I'm new to jeeps and I've done a little searching and I'm a little overwhelmed when it comes to picking out a top.

My 03 jeep had a hard top. It came from the factory with hard and soft top according to the build sheet but when I bought it the previous owner only had the hard top and no hardware for a soft top if there was any. I don't have a good spot to store the hard top so I plan to just sell it once i get a soft top. garage has 8 foot ceilings so can't really store it there. I have full door if that matters

I want a soft top that is easy / quick to put up and down and obviously water tight. I see frameless tops - are those the ones that have less hardware and have the slanted back? i like that look so if those are easier to put up and down maybe that is what I need.

Shouldn't there be two brackets on the top of the tailgate where the bottom of the back of a soft top latches? If so I don't have anything there. it looks like something used to be mounted there on my jeep but it isn't there any longer. Do I need that or does everything you need to mount a soft top come with it?

I'm really in the dark with all the soft top options and would love some opinions and assistance.

thanks,
 
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#2 ·
1. You can build or buy a dolly to store the hard top upright on wheels which will take up significantly less room than you think, or you can store hard top outside under a tarp. Just something to consider as you might sell the hard top and regret it at some point. You might want to give it a full season with a soft top before you decide.

2. Some full soft top kits will come with all required hardware. Bestop Door surrounds and tailgate bar are the same as OEM. You need to make sure whatever vendor you go with is compatible with Bestop\OEM Surrounds or if they use\require their own surrounds.

3. If you are going to be putting the sotftop up and down a lot and you need it with you at all times then you probably want a framed top. If this isn't your daily driver and you keep it garaged then maybe you don't need that.

I have the rampage frameless and I love it. For most of the summer I have kept the top on without the windows and doors and that is my favorite combo.

Bestop is probably the best aftermarket soft top you can get, but they are expensive and maybe a little over complicated.
 
#3 ·
This isn't my daily driver and it will stay parked outdoors most of the time. I think I'd like to be able to take the top off when I go somewhere but then obviously have to be able to put it back on when I come back home for the night. I just realized that the frameless ones are meant to keep the top roof part on all the time and you just unzip the side and rear windows. If I want to completely take off the top and put it back on quickly the framed one is what I need correct?

I just have too much stuff in my 3 garages for the hard top. Wife's car and kids' stuff in the 2 car garage and woodworking tools, workbench in my single garage.
 
#9 ·
This isn't my daily driver and it will stay parked outdoors most of the time. I think I'd like to be able to take the top off when I go somewhere but then obviously have to be able to put it back on when I come back home for the night. I just realized that the frameless ones are meant to keep the top roof part on all the time and you just unzip the side and rear windows. If I want to completely take off the top and put it back on quickly the framed one is what I need correct?

I just have too much stuff in my 3 garages for the hard top. Wife's car and kids' stuff in the 2 car garage and woodworking tools, workbench in my single garage.
Move and eliminate, problem solved. Of course you may be sleeping on the couch for a while:D

I am looking at a frame less for mine and recently saw a guy with the Rampage top. Looked good, fit nice, material seemed sturdy. The only negative I saw were the rear straps that are on the outside of the top. Kinda cheesy IMO but not a deal breaker.
 
#4 ·
OK so it sounds like you want a framed soft top. The hard top is fiberglass, you could tarp it and keep it in the yard. Used ones are hard to find and are not cheap so just make sure you definitely want to get rid of it. The more you spend on a soft top the less likely you will miss the hard top. The more expensive bestop soft tops are comparable to OEM soft tops you will find on the JKs.
 
#7 ·
thanks, so it sounds like i want a frame oem style top so i can slide it off and back on quickly and twill to last in the tx sun longer.

2 questions on the oem frame style tops.
- - do the side and rear windows zip out so you can just have the roof on and nothing else like a frameless?
- do you have to zip out the side and rear windows to put the top down or do they stay in place when you put the top down?
 
#8 ·
You can ride with the top up and all of the windows out. And the windows do have to come out on an OEM style top when taking it all of the way down.

For extra $$ you can buy the soft top frame with the Sunrider option, or get the standard soft top frame and add that feature later.

Good luck!!
 
#10 ·
Get one with the Sunrider option (flips back right over the front seats. The rear window is the only window that needs taken out). If there's really nice weather and I just want a quick open roof experience I just flip back my front section. Takes one minute to open or close everything compared to taking the whole top and up and down.
 
#15 ·
I think I have narrowed down my choice of soft top to the Best Top framed top with the sunrider option and the Rampage frameless trail top.

Pros for Best Top - sunrider option, take entire top back and back up easily.

Pros for Rampage Trail top - frameless look, storage for windows built into roof of top.

Pretty big price difference between the two. anyone have the Rampage top and have an opinion of it?
 
#17 ·
Bestop has a frameless top and it has the sun rider feature. You'll regret the Rampage top, mine only lasted three years, all the straps had dry rotted and broke, it started leaking right above the front seats (I fixed with a little flex seal) and the front overhead pocket started sagging after a year.
 
#19 ·
Thanks for the feedback. I guess I was really liking that the Rampage had the compartment to store the windows in the roof. Seems like a really convenient feature but it looks like Best Top is better quality.

People with the Best Top with a sunrider feature - please with it? Does it install and operate easily? No issues with it?
 
#20 ·
Thanks for the feedback. I guess I was really liking that the Rampage had the compartment to store the windows in the roof. Seems like a really convenient feature but it looks like Best Top is better quality. People with the Best Top with a sunrider feature - please with it? Does it install and operate easily? No issues with it?
Bestop is the best you can get and the price reflects that. The window compartment is definitely a nice feature though.
 
#21 ·
my jeep doesn't have the brackets on the rear of the tailgate that the back of the soft top hooks to as pictured below. i can tell that they used to be in the jeep but they aren't there any longer. do i need to buy those to install whatever soft top i get or does that come with and specifically for whatever top i get?

also, for those that keep their windows with them how are those roll up storage bags?

 
#22 ·
Looking at Softopper

I am in the same boat regarding making a soft top decision, except I plan on keeping the Hardtop for winters. I've looked at all the tops: Factory; Bestop; Rampage; Frame; Frameless; Used/New; etc... and spent time checking out existing tops on other club members rigs. I am heavily leaning towards the Softopper Frameless top. I did not like the Bestop with sunrider option because I plan on (sometimes) taking the whole top off going topless. The Sunrider only folds back and I did not want to mess with disassembly of the frame every time. Not messing with frames; brackets; etc.. was key for me. Your call.

Check out the Softopper. You can take out just the windows and run like a safari top; or roll up the roof top and go totally topless very easily...and easy to store w/no frames.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R64ghjLvCrE

FYI - research shows the Softopper works better with Factory like door surrounds instead of their included ones. This is the TJ02 option on their site. Jeep Wrangler 1997-2006 (TJ) - Jeep & SUV Tops
 
#27 ·
I have the Pavement Ends Sprint top which is the same as the Bestop Trektop but I had to reuse my factory hardware. I love it because it has the sun rider front section. I can have the whole top on and flip the front back or any combination of Windows and top section. I looked at the Rampage top but didn't like the lack of sunrider and that it takes longer to completely remove.
 
#29 ·
I would not buy a smittybilt top over Rampage if you are going the frameless route. It isn't as good and is more expensive.

The brackets you referenced for the tailgate bar will be provided with any full kit you purchase. If you buy a soft top that requires the OEM Door Surrounds the best top OEM Door Surround\Tailgate bar combo also comes with these brackets.
 
#31 ·
Soft Top

X2 for the Best Top I have had mine now for 1 year the Sun Rider is great
Pay the right price and only buy once, cheap options are not worth it.
The original top was a Sun Rider with very worn fabric and frame work.
Was years old maybe more than 10 years and was still keeping the weather out, but looked very untidy and not looked after by the PO so could not remove the side windows, so this replacement will be well cared for
 
#35 ·
Soft top

Must add that the information I gave was not fully clear, the original top was a Sun Rider tan with clear widows and due to the poor condition I replaced it with the Sun Rider NX as I had to replace the well worn iron work and the NX came with factory type door surround and all fixings.
UK is not known for CA type weather but I picked a good dry warm day and all in all with removing the existing top and fitting the replacement took two and a half hours and the new top fitting whent well.
Yes it was expensive just over £800.00 this was due mainly to shipping and our rip off import duty, but I wanted the dark windows with the tan roof and in this country could only get clear windows and the cost was over one thousand UK pounds.
I still say you get what you pay for and yes expensive but I am happy to have a long lasting product that looks good, that's my dime worth:iamhappy::iamhappy:
 
#36 ·
Somone mentioned that the trektop nx comes with everything i need. does it? i see they sell the door surrounds separate for $270.

on best top's site the regular trektop nx is about $730 and the black twill is about $1170. black twill worth an extra $430? it has a lifetiem warrany where the regular one has a 2 year. other than that is the fabric that much better?
 
#37 ·
answered my own questions. i called best top and spoke to someone. it does come with the door surrounds and everything else needed. after talking with them i don't think the twill is worth another $400 so it looks like i am getting the regular trektop nx.

just need to sell my hardtop now.

thanks for the assistance.
 
#38 ·
I bought the Rampage frameless back in June. The first fit was kind of a pain, but to be fair, there wasn't a warm day in sight so we had to make do. After a couple months, it fits well, looks good, doesn't leak, and isn't too loud even at 60 (no freeways around my area). The storage is really nice to have too.

I did have to buy all new hardware, including door surrounds, so my total came to a little over $550 from amazon. Been pretty happy with it overall, but I'm a little concerned that the zippers won't hold up over the long term.
 

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