Need a Trektop NX hack

[MikekiM]

I know this is an old thread, but based on the number of replies it's as close to a TrekTop NX superthread as I found...

I just installed mine. Coming from no top... I hate door surrounds. I hate the front bow above the front seats. I'm sure I'm going to like not getting soaked when it rains, though.

Anyone run the NX without the front bow? It probably just keeps rain from pooling... I don't foresee ever installing the side and rear panels, but I bought this top rather than a bikini so I could if I wanted to. I don't like looking up at it.

I run without the front bow all the time. I tuck it back on the rollbar just in front of the sound bar when the sunrider is open. With the sunrider closed, it’s fine. Maybe a little more flapping but no issue at all. If it rains, water will pool on the top. Just know it’s going to happen and get in quick or your weight will have the water flowing over the side in onto your lap.

Near every day the front bow is out and if the sunrider is closed the side tabs are left undone.

 

[LONGJP2]

Anyone run the NX without the front bow? It probably just keeps rain from pooling... I don't foresee ever installing the side and rear panels, but I bought this top rather than a bikini so I could if I wanted to. I don't like looking up at it.

I run without the bar without issue.
However, mine's not a daily driver and I only run the soft-top a few weeks a year.
YRMV

 

[DeltaNu1142]

OK, so, tonight I ran around a bit and got to try it out. At 45-50 mph, I reached up to find the top fabric wasn’t touching the front bow anywhere… as in, zero contact. And no flapping. I had to slow to between 25-30 before the top dropped down to the bow. So, yep—I’m going to remove that the first chance I get.

This is with half doors, no windows, in safari mode… so YMMV.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

OK, so, tonight I ran around a bit and got to try it out. At 45-50 mph, I reached up to find the top fabric wasn’t touching the front bow anywhere… as in, zero contact. And no flapping. I had to slow to between 25-30 before the top dropped down to the bow. So, yep—I’m going to remove that the first chance I get.

This is with half doors, no windows, in safari mode… so YMMV.

Same here. I believe its there to prevent pooling of rain water when parked.

 

[MikekiM]

OK, so, tonight I ran around a bit and got to try it out. At 45-50 mph, I reached up to find the top fabric wasn’t touching the front bow anywhere… as in, zero contact. And no flapping. I had to slow to between 25-30 before the top dropped down to the bow. So, yep—I’m going to remove that the first chance I get.

This is with half doors, no windows, in safari mode… so YMMV.

I can hear the soft top material lift off the bow as I approach 20-25 mph. Below that it rests on the bar. Anything faster and it's good finger and a half above the bar.

 

[DeltaNu1142]

Another thing… why the adhesive strip on the bow? I ignored the instructions to remove the paper from the strip when installing. I see no reason to have that stick to the top fabric, especially if you want the sunrider to flip back…

 

[MikekiM]

Curious if anyone runs the TrekTop Nx without roll bar padding.

Only place it will matter is at the top back where the roll bar turns down..
Curious what it does to the shape of and tension on the top.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Another thing… why the adhesive strip on the bow? I ignored the instructions to remove the paper from the strip when installing. I see no reason to have that stick to the top fabric, especially if you want the sunrider to flip back…

It's not adhesive, once you remove the paper strip it's just soft foam. I think the paper is just to keep the foam from getting torn up during manufacturing and shipping.

 

[DeltaNu1142]

It's not adhesive, once you remove the paper strip it's just soft foam. I think the paper is just to keep the foam from getting torn up during manufacturing and shipping.

That makes sense... and actually, I was mistaken. This is what the manual said:

It's the paper that's adhesive, not the foam.

While I'm over-analyzing this front bow/top arch thing... it's missing from the TJ installation manual entirely. The LJ installation manual has it, though. So, the top arch was either only for the LJ (which doesn't make any sense) or the bow was added to the top system as a revision at some point because the front half was pooling water and soaking people getting into the vehicle (more likely).

 

[Artsifrtsi]

That makes sense... and actually, I was mistaken. This is what the manual said:

View attachment 552727

It's the paper that's adhesive, not the foam.

While I'm over-analyzing this front bow/top arch thing... it's missing from the TJ installation manual entirely. The LJ installation manual has it, though. So, the top arch was either only for the LJ (which doesn't make any sense) or the bow was added to the top system as a revision at some point because the front half was pooling water and soaking people getting into the vehicle (more likely).

The instructions for my TJ top had the bow in it...

 

[DeltaNu1142]

The instructions for my TJ top had the bow in it...

Yep. That supports the 'revision' theory. The manual I linked might be rev0.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Yep. That supports the 'revision' theory. The manual I linked might be rev0.

My top is also a pre-"Tramp stamp" version... not sure if that matters...

 

[DeltaNu1142]

My top is also a pre-"Tramp stamp" version... not sure if that matters...

Dunno either, but I'm jealous. I knew it was there before I bought and hoped it was embroidered so I could take a sharpie to it. It's printed, but I still might give it a try.

 

[Austin O.]

Curious if anyone runs the TrekTop Nx without roll bar padding.

Only place it will matter is at the top back where the roll bar turns down..
Curious what it does to the shape of and tension on the top.

I do. It actually makes it much easier to put everything together, its all a bit less tight... takes me about 7 min to fully install the whole top from nothing. The only issue there where you mentioned is that the metal bar in that spot that is connected to the top likes to scratch the paint on the roll bars. I just put some duct tape around the ends and that fixed my issue.

The more prominent issue is where the top sits on top of the sound bar. My roll bar right there doesnt have padding either and if I have the front windows open but everything else on, the top likes to flap against that and make an obnoxiously loud and annoying sound. I can stuff a t-shirt or something similar up there and that fixes that issue. Really annoying though. Fortunately I almost always have it in bikini mode, so I dont experience that problem too often.

 

[DeltaNu1142]

Seven minutes... does that include the door surrounds? Man, I really dislike those. And they were by far the most difficult part. They shouldn't be, but I had a hard time aligning the front hole on the passenger-side roll bar. The bottom (threaded) side of the surround didn't want to go over the bar. There was no padding in the way or anything... it just didn't want to line up.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

That makes sense... and actually, I was mistaken. This is what the manual said:

View attachment 552727

It's the paper that's adhesive, not the foam.

While I'm over-analyzing this front bow/top arch thing... it's missing from the TJ installation manual entirely. The LJ installation manual has it, though. So, the top arch was either only for the LJ (which doesn't make any sense) or the bow was added to the top system as a revision at some point because the front half was pooling water and soaking people getting into the vehicle (more likely).

The one I bought for my previous TJ in 2017 had it, just like the one I bought for the LJ in 2021.

I actually used it in the TJ and it didn't bother me, but in the LJ, the fabric slaps it incessantly once over 45mph if a window is open, so it collects dust in the garage. My LJ is a garaged weekend toy and if the weather is bad I usually just drive something else.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I do. It actually makes it much easier to put everything together, its all a bit less tight... takes me about 7 min to fully install the whole top from nothing. The only issue there where you mentioned is that the metal bar in that spot that is connected to the top likes to scratch the paint on the roll bars. I just put some duct tape around the ends and that fixed my issue.

The more prominent issue is where the top sits on top of the sound bar. My roll bar right there doesnt have padding either and if I have the front windows open but everything else on, the top likes to flap against that and make an obnoxiously loud and annoying sound. I can stuff a t-shirt or something similar up there and that fixes that issue. Really annoying though. Fortunately I almost always have it in bikini mode, so I dont experience that problem too often.

Do you fasten the straps around that part of the bar?

 

[DeltaNu1142]

Do you fasten the straps around that part of the bar?

That took a little time for me. On the passenger side, it slid right through. Driver side, the speaker pod left no room and I needed to loosen it up.

If I want to remove/reinstall the fabric only, it won't be tool-less unless I space that pod out a bit.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

That took a little time for me. On the passenger side, it slid right through. Driver side, the speaker pod left no room and I needed to loosen it up.

If I want to remove/reinstall the fabric only, it won't be tool-less unless I space that pod out a bit.

Yeah it's a bitch for sure, I have the same issue and have thought about notching the foam in that spot to help get the straps through. I keep mine in bikini top mode most of the year and have never run without the straps. But I wonder if his top would flap less if he fastened those, and he should have plenty of room without roll bar padding.

 

[DeltaNu1142]

Yeah it's a bitch for sure, I have the same issue and have thought about notching the foam in that spot to help get the straps through. I keep mine in bikini top mode most of the year and have never run without the straps. But I wonder if his top would flap less if he fastened those, and he should have plenty of room without roll bar padding.

Don't notch the foam! Notch the pod!!! Those pods are probably $30 unloaded. The roll bar covers though... almost unobtanium for LJs.