****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Bestop products are always nice. This one is a little difficult to install, but it's very versatile once installed. Sunrider, full safari top, or soft top all the way down.This is my second of these tops - though the first one was for a TJ instead of an LJ. I loved the first one and it met every expectation. It stayed tight, the windows stayed clear, everything stayed in good working order for the 4 years I used it.This one starts flapping above the front seat area around 40-45mph and slaps the support arch and the whole Jeep feels like I'm inside a drum. I end up running without the top arch as much as I can so it's not there for the fabric to slap, but when we go through the rainy season I'm just gonna have to live with it because I'm certain water will pool there without the arch in place. The overall tightness of the top doesn't seem to play a role because it seems tighter than the first one going side to side, as it's more of a challenge to seat and unseat the sides that hook into the rails on the top of the door surround.Notable differences that should be mentioned is my TJ was a 99 with a sound bar, and my LJ has sound pods - so there may have been more contact with the top fabric along the B pillar area that could have prevented movement. Also, the LJ has a vent in the tailgate, where the 99 did not, so I don't know if there was something to not having the vent that pressurized the top and kept the flapping under control. But if these two are factors, Bestop should know about it and have something in the design to produce a similar user experience regardless of what year Wrangler you happen to have.The new one also has a large, reflective and very conspicuous Bestop logo above the rear window instead the smaller one on the rear window that they used to have. I prefer the smaller one since I don't really like advertising for companies without getting paid, but it is what it is.If you already have experience with a soft top, the this install is a breeze. I installed this top in 50° in the shop, 40° outside. The initial install is simple, but I didn't follow the instructions directly. I zipped up the zippers about an inch or so on all windows, then pulled and stretched until everything is in it's grooves. I loosened the speaker pods a bit to slip the front straps behind them.Once everything is in it's place, then zip the widows in place and tighten the straps, and then lock the front header bar and sunrider pins.Initial test drive was trip around town, and at 60 mph the top didn't move or slap around like the factory top. And can't tell if it's any louder than the factory, but it's soft top Jeep, so who cares about road noise.I'll update after it warms up some.Update: finally warmed up enough to roll down the windows, holy crap, the wind buffering against the top bow is ridiculous, loud!!!Ok the top looks great and for the most part is easy to put on. However let’s be serious the back glass is just over 2 inches to short and really two weeks plus in the sun (high heat) to melt it spit fits snug. Well that didn’t work I even put it into a painting booth at 220 degrees for 45 minutes to bake it which cures paint and it didn’t stretch enough instead it ripped. What’s the point of having a top that takes 2 weeks plus to get it to fit on your Jeep. So I ordered a replacement back glass in March was told 5-6 weeks. Waited 6 weeks and got the wrong part for a different top. Called back and was told a replacement would be sent right out and I’d get it within 5-7 business days. Ya that didn’t happen either. Called back after 2 weeks and no replacement order was in as well as I was told it’s going to take another 5-6 weeks to get my back glass. So pretty much I paid for a part $160 that was shipped wrong and will in all take me 12 weeks or 3 months to get. So by July (hopefully) I can use my soft top of the piece is correct. Customer service was nice but let’s b serous if you send out the wrong part you make it right by getting the correct one to the customer ASAP especially when your company dropped the ball and didn’t order the replacement like asked. Shouldn’t take 3 months to get a back glass for a top!! It’s also starting to wear and rip in places after only 2 years of use. One of those years it wasn’t even on the road !!If installing on a warm day and you leave all the pieces in the sun to warm up it's not bad… the first time I installed it I had to let it warm up then let it stretch in while closing the zippers 4 or 5 inches at a time. I did it this way because I had all day and didn't want to force anything. It gets easier to install the windows as time goes on. The last time I put the windows in was on a cool morning as a storm was coming and I didn't have any issues. I can't wait to take the hard top off and go back to this top!I'm writing this review after purchasing this top last summer and used it for several. I just read some of the reviews and see merit in some of them… here is a little rebuttals to some of them… yes there is not really a good way to take the windows with you since they are awkward in size and you don't want to scratch them… but the way I looked at it was if I was driving around with my bikini top I wouldn't have the option for windows and I just leave them at home if they are going to be off the Jeep. The addition of the door surrounds make it so the driver and passenger don't get too wet (a lot less than with the bikini I had) in a sudden unexpected rain storm. I love the fast back sunroof, and fast back look of the rear… I had the soft top on all summer and into Novemberafter a few serious Oregon rain storms and little chance of warm enough days to ride around in a bikini top… no serious complaints… the stiching is great and no stress points that I saw (thoroughly inspected the top before I put it away for the winter.) Yes it is louder than a hard top, but not bad… I don't have noise from the bar over the driver seat. I had to stop and close the sunroof when going on a long freeway trip… there is a big wad of fabric that causes drag, but it probably saved my shaved head from getting burnt. I only had that issue on the freeway when going about 70. On the highway at 55-60 not noticeable.
