Removing the Jeep's OE soft top leaves nothing for a bikini or safari (longer than a bikini) to connect to up front, so you need some kind of a header for the bikini to attach to.
There are two types of headers, a no-drill header and a drill-type header. I much prefer the drill type header having had both.
The no-drill header uses a pair of bolts to clamp itself to the top of the windshield frame and the bikini (or safari) top's front hard edge is then tucked front-wise into a long slot in the front of the header. To me, both of those are a ritak PITA to install. The header is clumsy to get positioned so the clamp bolts will hold it in the right place. The bikini is a PITA to get to stay put where it "locks" (haha) into the front of the header. The problem is it's hard to get it to stay in the slot. The rear of that style top is held with straps. The header is also a clumsy PITA to carry if you don't want the bikini top on but want to carry it in case you need it later... like if it may rain. It would always take me nearly a half-hour to finally get my drill-style header & bikini top ready so I could drive off.
The drill-style header leaves a small permanently mounted header along the top of the windshield frame, just above where the OE soft or hard top clamps fit into their slots. It attaches with a couple screws that you drill holes for. The drill-type bikini top is then slid sideways into that style header, it takes 5 seconds to slide it into place and then the rear is held in place with straps as well. I can install this style bikini top in 5-10 minutes start to finish, most of the time is just cinching the straps into place.
Bestop sells both types.
Last edited:
