Bestop tab on rear corner keeps popping out

Kraken72

Bolt Breaker
Supporting Member
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Jan 4, 2022
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192
Location
Louisiana
So got a BestTop for my 98 TJ. The black tab that locks the soft top on the rear corner. It keeps popping out. Any ideas how to fix this?

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Nah it's fine. The tab keeps popping out. If Bestop will not warranty it, I will just cut a piece of 5 gallon bucket to match an drill holes and sew it by hand.
 
Is there a pocket the stiffener tucks into and zips up? Mine does and it does not interfere with the tan that goes into the receiver. Mine does not look like yours.
 
Stiffener is fine. Black piece in second photo keeps coming out.

I understand the stiffener is fine. Does the black tab tuck all the way in the receiver? Does it fit loosely? I had to tap the receiver in a little with a plastic mallet to make the tab fit tighter. It has worked thus far.
 
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Contacted Quadratec, they said they don't see anything wrong. But yet the corner keeps popping out. Will try to contact BestTop. Not too impressed right now. Probably will have to just repair it myself.
 
No I haven't, it doesn't seem to be in the way. The black tab is bending and I think that is the problem. I am going to try to tap down the lip on the tub a bit to see if it will hold.
 
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Mine hasn’t popped off yet but it appears that it will eventually. I use a bungee to secure it when windows are out.
 
Not to pile on the stiffener group, but on my Bestop SuperTop NX I dont see the white plastic stiffener down as far as your picture shows. There should be a zipper on the inside where that stiffener is. Maybe make sure its inserted into the right side and pushed all the way up to the top of the corner. It should have a curve on one end that will match the stitching pattern on the top.
 
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I agree with the consensus that the stiffener is too far down, and pushing the tab out... does it look like that on both sides? Make the side that pops out look like the side that doesn't. I have a TrekTop NX, and cannot see the corner stiffener at all, much less how yours is. loosen the top, and see if it will push back up.
 
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Appreciate all the input. I tapped down the tub rail with a rubber mallet. Straightened out the black tab. Reinserted and so far so good. Hopefully it stays like that. If that does not work will modify the stiffener. The other side has the same design, but it's not backing out.
 
My experience is that tab is particularly difficult to get properly seated when the top is new, or at any temp lower than about 80° F.

The way it is bent indicates to me that it is not getting fully seated under the tub rail. There should be a positive snap when it seats properly.
 
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Heat is no problem here in Louisiana it's almost 90 degrees and 78% humidity. But it seems like the tab is almost too long. It goes in but does not give a positive snap. It's still holding for now, but it has a bend in it. Only time will tell. I have a fender from my utv that is thicker. So might remove the original and sew in a new piece.
 
Agree that the white plastic insert is too far down. It needs to be pushed up pretty much as far as it can go and held in place with the zipper. The insert should stop well before the top contacts the metal. I had this problem when I had a top that didn't have the plastic inserts. Haven't had the problem since i added them.

At any rate, if you bought the top from a vendor and have a receipt (not used), and still under warranty, then Bestop will warranty it. Don't call Quadratec, they are likely just drop shipping those tops. Everything comes from Bestop. If anything, contact Bestop directly.

I had a problem with my RAT zippers breaking. It was around 2 years after the warranty expired and Bestop still sent me a new top after seeing the receipt. Sometimes the tops are just 'off' for some reason. They will likely replace it.