Best Soft Top?

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[stevel]

Looking for a new soft top for my 2005 TJ -- any opinions on the best one to get?  Quadratec has several from $250 - 600.  MOPAR is like $1300.  Hard to tell about quality and durability from the ads.

Thanks
SteveL

[SPYDER]

id stick with a best top replace-a-top if you want to keep the frame style top.  if you want to go frameless i have no first hand knowledge but they all appear to be about the same.  best top is who makes the factory tops for jeep, or atleast used too.

on a different note, depending on what you actually need, i probably have what you want.  i have a few tops in good shape im trying to get rid of.  if you are interested shoot me a PM.

[Axle]

someone recently had a used one for sale here i think.

[RustedWrangler]

I have a Bestop Supertop. The canvas and windows are pretty good. The metal bow system is really flimsy, windshield frame attachments are impossible to use (I use a zip tie) and window zippers are hard to use. I had to warranty it once, when I first bought it, because the tabs that lock the bow in place would not hold. Since then I have had mild success with the replacement.

I don't have experience with other brands of soft tops, and all in all it's functional, but the supertop is supposed to be a pretty good top and I don't feel like I got what I paid for. I will usually leave it up for an entire season and just take the windows out. I prefer the wind hammer and bikini top combo, they are much better products.

[Elias 4wd Center]

I PM'd Steve.

We sell Rough Trail by Crown, when we have a choice.

Personally, I sold a lot of tops in my previous life.  Personally, I wouldn't wish a Bestop purchase onto anyone.

If you're familiar with the saying, "It's a Jeep thing..."  you know it means living with a little imperfection.  Like heat and working windows.  And a Bestop with a broken rear window zipper.   

So given a choice, I always choose Rough Trail.  Better zippers, pockets above the sun visors, better hardware (when so equipped) and 100% better purchasing experience (price, value, delivery, customer support, fit).

As far as hardware goes, if you needed a complete top with hardware, you will DEFINITELY like the Rough Trail product better.

The market for replacement tops 100% dictates a chinese product, so at least get the best top you can.  All the vinyl materials are manufactured here in MA, for all brands selling replacements.  All the tops are assembled and shipped here from China.  Most are the same top with a different label, Bestop being the only exception.
One replacement top seller has buying power like Walmart and they offer a very bottom of the barrel product.  Withomix saying anyada names, don't find yourself on the ragged ridge of quality regretting your purchase at the first change of seasons.

My vote is for Rough Trail, based on experience selling 100s of tops to customers all over the world.

And with any top purchase, you have to go into your install with a body work mind set.  Your results will be very dependent on a commitment to prep work.  Get it up to temperature, spread out on a clean surface.  80 degrees and sunny is perfect.  It needs to be stretched into place.
Some people will do one extra step and use tent seam sealer on the sewn edges. 

 

[Widow Maker]

I purchased a Rampage Bowless Soft top in January of this year after my Bestop got demolished by a tree falling on my Jeep.  I really like the low profile bowless design - I can take all the windows off and have a safari top or no top at all.  And it only takes a matter of minutes to reinstall the whole top back on again.  Only issue I have is I pulled too hard on the passenger side window zipper pull last weekend when installing it back on again and the zipper pull broke off.  Two year warrenty against defects so I am in the process of obtaining a replacement window.  Hopefully this won't be a reoccuring situation.