I just bought one last week for my JK-
Haven't put it on yet due to the 8,000+ pollen count in ATL. I bought it because I hated the fit of the regular safari top so I'm hoping this is much better. Guess ill know in a few weeks after the pollen dies down.
I would really like to see yours when you get it on, we have near the same jeeps. I need to see it on a 2 dr before I buy another summer top, last year I bought 1 from pavement ends and it was junk I never used it once.
From what I have heard, it is a huge improvement form the standard safari bikini. It fits tighter than the original one, and won't flap around as much. The only real downside to this bikini to compared to a standard, is that it's a little more involved of an install and to remove if you want to be 100% topless.
We have the Bestop Cable Bikini top ready to ship out today if you order before 5 Est. Also we offer a discount for Wrangler Forum Members, and free shipping on orders over $75. I'll shoot you the discount code over in a PM so you can use it on your orders from us in the future. If you have any further questions, feel free to shoot me a PM or give one of our Jeep Experts a call.
I have an 08 2dr with the safari bikini top and not sure if I like it or not. I put it on as directed and when out on the freeway. I thought I have it installed fairly tight but at 70 mph and it ballooned up and was whipping in the back. I was almost afraid it was going to rip the header channel off.
I have since tightened it as much as possible and used some paracord to tie down and extra tie down tab and then used the paracod to sench rear tie downs together to tighten the fabric across the backend.
Is this normal? Maybe only meant for like around town driving?
I debated which to get, spoke with a guy that worked at the dealership I bought my new to me Jeep from, he owned both the cable and non-cable Bestop and said hands down the cable version was MUCH quieter, however the non-cable was fairly quick to put on. I have the cable version hanging in my garage, so far I'm enjoying the 85 degree weather to much to put the top on.
Yes the above post is mine, it is extremely worth it to purchase this top. it fits amazing. You do have to have the newer style surrounds for it though, which sucks buying if you dont have them. once this weather starts to shape up, it will be this and the tonneau all summer.
For the people that have the old style top, I.e. the tops and bikinis tuck into the rain channels, the cable style bikini will not work. I have no tried the cable bikini without the surrounds. You can see from my attached photos how it sits with the surrounds. To bikini came with a bolt and washer for people without a soft top so they could screw into the pre drilled holes on the roll bar. For the flaps you talk about tucking, these don't have them on there.
Cool. Thanks. I have a different door surround, but I looked it up on Bestop and it's allowed to be used. I will post pictures, if it ever stops raining.
It all depends on your top. If you have a 10 or newer and purchased a soft top that the flaps tuck into the drop retainers, then this shouldn't work. When they say it's for years 10 to 13, that means surround types, not the year of the jeep. Mine is an 07, but I bought a brand new top so I have 10+ styling.
Mine is a 2012 Jeep jku. Cable top and then the aftermarket bestop door surrounds. the cable drops into the channel of the door surround. I have it installed and seems to be working well. http://www.bestop.com/images/installation_guides/52594.pdf
Ahhh yes if you have bestops surrounds, it will work. I just figured that wasn't the case bc those are pricey so not many have them. But cool, you will enjoy it, no flapping, and if you can find a cure for the plastic tightness above the sound bar from dingin around up there while driving, let us know
I'm sorry which issue with the sound bar? is yours banging around while driving? I will post pics of mine later I have a unique setup that I am trying to hack to make work.
When you pull the attachers around the sound bar and put into the hardtop holes, then you pull it tight on top of the sound bar. That plastic clip on top bangs against the metal up there, kind of annoying
ya I did mine tight but not over the top. The only thing mine wanted to do is at highway speeds with the doors off, the cable wanted to walk out of the channel. It didn't, but you could tell it wanted to. I can't wrench the cable straps any tighter so.... lol.
Finally got my Bestop Cable-style Safari Bikini put on yesterday - I like the fit a lot better than the regular bikini or safari top that I had It's a little bit of a pain in the rear to get it put on. I think the fit will be even better over time as it stretches out some- and It comes down a little farther than I would like in the back so it cuts down a little visibility @ the top of the rear view mirror but I'm sure that's just me being weird. Overall so far so good. I Haven't had it out on the highway maybe this weekend.
Can you comment on how easy it is to take the top down and put it up? I am considering using this as my only top. I use my soft top, without windows, only for rain. It takes only a couple minutes to put it up or down. Is this top equally convenient, and can it be stowed rolled behind the rear seat of a 2 door? I like the idea of having no rear sail panels, and the tight fit along the door surrounds. Thanks.
Finally got my Bestop Cable-style Safari Bikini put on yesterday - I like the fit a lot better than the regular bikini or safari top that I had It's a little bit of a pain in the rear to get it put on. I think the fit will be even better over time as it stretches out some- and It comes down a little farther than I would like in the back so it cuts down a little visibility @ the top of the rear view mirror but I'm sure that's just me being weird. Overall so far so good. I Haven't had it out on the highway maybe this weekend.
I finally installed my Bestop Cable Safari Bikini on Sunday due to rain showers in the forecast for Monday. The install took a while as some items in the instructions were not as clear for my type of understanding. However now that I've gone through it I can see getting it on/off in about 5 minutes. Few things that helped me was taking it out on a drive after I installed it, I was then able to tighten it up a bit more. Also though it seems like the cable and flap would fit in the channel on the back door it actually does seem to belong on the outside, doing this seemed to pull the top and cable better into the "gutter" on the sides, but this is also one item that takes time to pull tight - warm weather will help. I'm not having any issues with the strap buckles hitting the sound bar, when I get to about 40MPH the top does rise up, but I don't hear anything when it comes down, in my case the pull straps lay over the strap going to the back of the sound bar.
Well my top came in, I put it on hoping for the best. I took 1 ride down the street and removed it. Way to much flapping for me. Another $200.00 bad idea.
I'm going with the hard top off completely or just the front panels in.
I have a Bestop Safari Bikini top and head rail with 3 miles on it I'll sell cheap.
I installed the non cable bikini top from bestop and after different try with the strap I got a setup that does not flap at all up to 90kmh and flap a little at 100.
Maybe it will start to flap once stretch out but for now its all good I love it.
I also sew some strap (from an old school bag) in the back that attach to the 3rd light to be water seal because there was not enough tension back there.
I attach the strap for the top on the rear seatbelt, DONT USE THE LOOP STRAP that are arround the tonno cover, one big wind and the plastic that slide in the body to hold the tonno cover will break.
I installed the non cable bikini top from bestop and after different try with the strap I got a setup that does not flap at all up to 90kmh and flap a little at 100.
Maybe it will start to flap once stretch out but for now its all good I love it.
I also sew some strap (from an old school bag) in the back that attach to the 3rd light to be water seal because there was not enough tension back there.
I attach the strap for the top on the rear seatbelt, DONT USE THE LOOP STRAP that are arround the tonno cover, one big wind and the plastic that slide in the body to hold the tonno cover will break.
From those picture's it looks like you also have the door surrounds, without the surrounds there is no way to get the top tight. Thanks for showing me yours. I'm good with mine without a top and I have my front panel with me if I need them.
Also, does anyone have problems with it not reaching over the top of the surround? mine reach the top, but I would like it to go further. I wonder if I have to fudge the cable more toward the end of the top.
Actually the more I read what I just typed, it doesnt make sense...hopefully someone can answer the question.
The cable that runs from the header to the back...isn't all the way to the outer most edge of the top, is that why I have the gap?
Not sure, But make sure the cable isn't riding high towards the seam. Move the cable to the outer edge as much as possible.
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