'98 Sahara soft top recommendations please

[Ikepeej]

Hi,

New here thanks for having me. Looking for a soft top for my '98 Sahara. Preferably one that is easily retractable for rainy or sunny days in the summer. Any recommendations appreciated!

 

[Steel City 06]

Do you have a preference on framed versus frameless? I much prefer the framed soft top myself.

By far the best brand top for your Jeep is Bestop. Bestop is the supplier for the factory hard tops, and their modern tops fit just as good, if not better, than factory.

In addition, consider their Twill fabric. The OEM fabric is sailcloth which is reasonably durable and quiet. The Twill is a thicker, quieter, and stronger fabric typically used on luxury cars. When I first got mine, it was quieter than my uninsulated hardtop.

Plug in your info into the Bestop site for options. You can often find the tops a bit cheaper elsewhere.
https://www.bestop.com/
This is the model I bought, and probably the best framed top you can get for your Jeep:
https://www.quadratec.com/p/bestop/...will-tinted-windows-no-doors-jeep-wrangler-tjI bought it from Amazon, but it looks like they removed the listing

 

[06TJ35's]

Bestop x2

 

[CharlesHS]

Recently installed a new Bestop sail cloth soft top to replace the POS Smittybilt soft top the previous owner had installed.
The new soft top is SO MUCH quieter on the highway, the fitment and materials are SO MUCH better than what was previously installed and the appearance is MUCH better than what was previously installed.

 

[EZ_Wrangler]

Everyone will say Bestop 99% of the time, and they're right in doing so, it IS the best. But for me, the first question is budget. You can find lots of budget tops that will work and have decent quality. Albeit budget tops won't last as long.

I had a budget, so I found a frameless Rampage top off Amazon and I love it. It's designed to be a bikini top when you go "topless". So it's not ALL the way off (although you can take it all the way off if you want - I've done both, but keeping the bikini top on makes it easier to put back on) But all 3 windows come off for a 360 open view. Nothing obstructing the view. and BONUS - it has a removeable window storage back that stays in the top, so you can take your windows with you just in case.

 

[suicideking]

Bestop

 

[Ikepeej]

Do you have a preference on framed versus frameless? I much prefer the framed soft top myself.

By far the best brand top for your Jeep is Bestop. Bestop is the supplier for the factory hard tops, and their modern tops fit just as good, if not better, than factory.

In addition, consider their Twill fabric. The OEM fabric is sailcloth which is reasonably durable and quiet. The Twill is a thicker, quieter, and stronger fabric typically used on luxury cars. When I first got mine, it was quieter than my uninsulated hardtop.

Plug in your info into the Bestop site for options. You can often find the tops a bit cheaper elsewhere.
https://www.bestop.com/
This is the model I bought, and probably the best framed top you can get for your Jeep:
https://www.quadratec.com/p/bestop/...will-tinted-windows-no-doors-jeep-wrangler-tjI bought it from Amazon, but it looks like they removed the listing

Steel City 06 - Thanks so much!

 

[Ikepeej]

Recently installed a new Bestop sail cloth soft top to replace the POS Smittybilt soft top the previous owner had installed.
The new soft top is SO MUCH quieter on the highway, the fitment and materials are SO MUCH better than what was previously installed and the appearance is MUCH better than what was previously installed.

Charles HS - Thanks !!

 

[Ikepeej]

Everyone will say Bestop 99% of the time, and they're right in doing so, it IS the best. But for me, the first question is budget. You can find lots of budget tops that will work and have decent quality. Albeit budget tops won't last as long.

I had a budget, so I found a frameless Rampage top off Amazon and I love it. It's designed to be a bikini top when you go "topless". So it's not ALL the way off (although you can take it all the way off if you want - I've done both, but keeping the bikini top on makes it easier to put back on) But all 3 windows come off for a 360 open view. Nothing obstructing the view. and BONUS - it has a removeable window storage back that stays in the top, so you can take your windows with you just in case.

EZ_Wrangler - Thanks a bunch! I went with the Rampage you recommended, we'll see how it goes!

 

[Chris]

Bestop and only Bestop, hands down.

 

[EZ_Wrangler]

EZ_Wrangler - Thanks a bunch! I went with the Rampage you recommended, we'll see how it goes!

I hope you like it as much as I do. I don’t think you can beat as far as a budget top goes. Plus the bonus is, you can only upgrade from here. Lol

 

[EZ_Wrangler]

Bestop and only Bestop, hands down.

But @Chris you have to agree that Bestop isn’t in everybody’s budget. Especially if you’re hoping for more mods much like myself. Bestop is the best, but others work fine in the short term so us budget builders can do more with what we have.

 

[Chris]

But @Chris you have to agree that Bestop isn’t in everybody’s budget. Especially if you’re hoping for more mods much like myself. Bestop is the best, but others work fine in the short term so us budget builders can do more with what we have.

Having seen enough failures from the cheaper soft tops, I'd rather spend the money and do it right the first time.

Also, having been in this game for a long time, the one thing I have learned that always remains true is buy once, cry once. Don't have enough money for the higher end parts? Save your money. Have people forgotten how to save?

Look, more power to you if your Rampage top works for you. I mean no disrespect whatsoever. However, me personally, I won't put anything but the best on my TJ, and being as though Bestop is the OEM supplier to Jeep, I think that speaks to the quality.

Like I said, I've just read too many things about failures from the cheaper soft tops which is what would keep me from ever running one.

I agree though, do what works for you

No argument there!

 

[Ikepeej]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful!

 

[EZ_Wrangler]

EZ_Wrangler - Thanks a bunch! I went with the Rampage you recommended, we'll see how it goes!

Get this on your Jeep yet? How do you like it?

 

[topchop2]

I just bought a 99 Sahara that only has the factory hardtop. I need to install a soft top (frame style)....how difficult is this and are there holes already for mounting the rigid frame soft top?

 

[tr21triton]

all the holes should already be on your roll bar and the frame should just clip in