Bestop Supertop NX vs Trektop
- Thread starter JM_TJ
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OK... I'm going to throw a wrench in the engine... I have had both the Trektop and now the Smittybilt Bowless Soft top.
First off I liked the Trektop and the flexibility it offered with the flip back "Sunrider" option and almost bought another one for my current Jeep, however after looking at all of the features of the Smittybilt I decided on it and not only is it more functional for me, but it was also quite a bit less expensive and in my opinion the quality was just as good as the Bestop. I like all the compartments over head in the Smittybilt, but more than anything I love layered storage inside the bikini top with separate pouches for the side windows and the rear window.
Living in Alabama we rarely ride around with no top and typically run a bikini top because of the sun and heat, so with the Smittybilt I just take off the windows in a few minutes and store them in the top. However I rarely put them back on for any reason except winter. Instead I use a trail cover while it's parked in the elements up here at the cabin.
The trail cover is a different story, I have had both the Smittybilt and the Bestop and there is no comparison. The Bestop is far superior.
First off I liked the Trektop and the flexibility it offered with the flip back "Sunrider" option and almost bought another one for my current Jeep, however after looking at all of the features of the Smittybilt I decided on it and not only is it more functional for me, but it was also quite a bit less expensive and in my opinion the quality was just as good as the Bestop. I like all the compartments over head in the Smittybilt, but more than anything I love layered storage inside the bikini top with separate pouches for the side windows and the rear window.
Living in Alabama we rarely ride around with no top and typically run a bikini top because of the sun and heat, so with the Smittybilt I just take off the windows in a few minutes and store them in the top. However I rarely put them back on for any reason except winter. Instead I use a trail cover while it's parked in the elements up here at the cabin.
The trail cover is a different story, I have had both the Smittybilt and the Bestop and there is no comparison. The Bestop is far superior.
*cut to @Chris sitting on his porch reading the newspaper waving his fist at the neighborhood kids hollering to stay off his lawn
I haven't seen the Smitty, but sounds like they're either re-selling the Rampage, or just copied the window storage idea. How much does the Smitty cost?
From what I've read, someone could be happy with the Trektop if they never take it completely off and use it as a bikini. If you like to take it off, but need to be able to put it back on (weather, etc), better off with the OEM.
Dino76033
Member
mine only flapped if I didn't have the support bow over the front seats installed.
I'm rehashing this decision for my LJ. Both have legitimate pros and cons for me.
Looks:
Windows on - Point traditional top. I prefer the fastback on a TJ, but on an LJ, that side window looks awkwardly big. For whatever reason, the boxier look pleases my eye with the long wheelbase. This wouldn't have been a concern if I was staying in Colorado where I hardly ever run with windows, but with hot sticky Oklahoma summers I'm likely to run windows-on much more often.
Windows off - Point fastback. I really don't dig the sail panels, and the bows along the sides interrupt the side access and open-air feeling you get with the fastback.
Convenience:
Window storage - a big point for the traditional top. Since the sail panel is part of the side window in the fastback, it was already borderline too long to roll up and store in my clover patch bag at TJ length, so at LJ length I suspect I'll be forced to store them flat and either leave them on or leave them home. Leaving them on would have been less of a big deal in Colorado because it's so dusty, but Oklahoma isn't, so there wouldn't really be much upside to having them on when wheeling. My first LJ had an OEM top and I distinctly remember being able to roll them up and put them in the back, so if the rain came, I had them available to put back on.
Top removal, if I keep the hardtop - point fastback. It takes about 3 minutes to remove or reinstall the trektop so if I end up keeping my hard top and continuing the back and forth thing, the switch will be easier with the trektop.
Top removal, if I sell the hardtop - the traditional top would win here since you can fold it back like a convertible, and full removal is virtually never necessary. However, I don't react well to direct sunlight so I'm much more likely to use the sunrider for short bursts and then flip it back closed before I get to medium-well. Literally the only times I went completely topless in the last 4 years were the days I switched between hard and soft top and took it for a spin around the block.
So taking this down to numbers, the points don't create a clear winner, which as someone who uses math to make decisions drives me nuts. However, the window storage thing really bothers me, because once I get moved, I'll be going 2 hours plus on the highway to go wheeling, and I'll want my windows, and then once I get there, I'll want them off.
Open to any other points I haven't considered here from those who have run both. Especially for the window storage issue, because if not for that, I'd pretty much be all in for the frameless trektop.
Looks:
Windows on - Point traditional top. I prefer the fastback on a TJ, but on an LJ, that side window looks awkwardly big. For whatever reason, the boxier look pleases my eye with the long wheelbase. This wouldn't have been a concern if I was staying in Colorado where I hardly ever run with windows, but with hot sticky Oklahoma summers I'm likely to run windows-on much more often.
Windows off - Point fastback. I really don't dig the sail panels, and the bows along the sides interrupt the side access and open-air feeling you get with the fastback.
Convenience:
Window storage - a big point for the traditional top. Since the sail panel is part of the side window in the fastback, it was already borderline too long to roll up and store in my clover patch bag at TJ length, so at LJ length I suspect I'll be forced to store them flat and either leave them on or leave them home. Leaving them on would have been less of a big deal in Colorado because it's so dusty, but Oklahoma isn't, so there wouldn't really be much upside to having them on when wheeling. My first LJ had an OEM top and I distinctly remember being able to roll them up and put them in the back, so if the rain came, I had them available to put back on.
Top removal, if I keep the hardtop - point fastback. It takes about 3 minutes to remove or reinstall the trektop so if I end up keeping my hard top and continuing the back and forth thing, the switch will be easier with the trektop.
Top removal, if I sell the hardtop - the traditional top would win here since you can fold it back like a convertible, and full removal is virtually never necessary. However, I don't react well to direct sunlight so I'm much more likely to use the sunrider for short bursts and then flip it back closed before I get to medium-well. Literally the only times I went completely topless in the last 4 years were the days I switched between hard and soft top and took it for a spin around the block.
So taking this down to numbers, the points don't create a clear winner, which as someone who uses math to make decisions drives me nuts. However, the window storage thing really bothers me, because once I get moved, I'll be going 2 hours plus on the highway to go wheeling, and I'll want my windows, and then once I get there, I'll want them off.
Open to any other points I haven't considered here from those who have run both. Especially for the window storage issue, because if not for that, I'd pretty much be all in for the frameless trektop.
If you're biased towards bestop then go for it. However, take a look at Mstertop Skymaster. They also sell a window protection roll up kit to stash inside the vehicle.
https://www.quadratec.com/p/mastertop/soft-top-window-protection-roll-76-06-jeep-cj-wrangler
https://www.quadratec.com/p/mastertop/soft-top-window-protection-roll-76-06-jeep-cj-wrangler
I have a trektop on my 97 TJ. I can roll the windows up pretty easily- I use the mastertop roll with felt liners between each window. It doesn't roll as easily as the traditional kind of soft top my jeep came with (think it was the smittybilt one) but it still rolls up and fits in the jeep fine. I roll the back window up separately and put it in the middle of the window roll. If i just want the back window out I'll take it out and roll it up and set it across the back of the jeep, in front of the hatch and behind the roll cage. fits good.
I don't ever take it all the way off (my toddler HATES having the sun in her eyes). Its easy enough to take all the way off though. I love being able to put her in her car seat through the space where the frame would be. I like the sunrider top- especially in marginal weather. The kit from bestop came with all of the hardware needed to install.
I think on the LJ especially the trektop looks mean. Hard to go wrong though either way.
I don't ever take it all the way off (my toddler HATES having the sun in her eyes). Its easy enough to take all the way off though. I love being able to put her in her car seat through the space where the frame would be. I like the sunrider top- especially in marginal weather. The kit from bestop came with all of the hardware needed to install.
I think on the LJ especially the trektop looks mean. Hard to go wrong though either way.
I was only looking at Bestop because that's the only aftermarket top I've ever had and they seem to be thought of as "the best" around here, so I haven't had a lot of motivation to look elsewhere.
However, if mastertop has a product that solves some or all of my issues and is of comparable quality and longevity, I'm not opposed to it.
I think I'm set on my window storage bag, but does their Skymaster top accomplish something that the Trektop NX doesn't? Are the quarter windows built in such a way as to make them more easily rollable/storable? It does look like the plastic window itself is smaller, which might leave more fabric that can be folded before rolling into a storage roll.
I also see they use a center bow above the roll bar instead of the removable arch that Bestop uses halfway between the bar and the windshield header. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other with the looks, and though I'd rather not have Bestop's arch right over my head, I'm curious whether having the wider expanse of unsupported fabric causes the Mastertop to flap more at speed.
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Yeah, I had the trektop on my 99 TJ. The windows rolled up ok once I took the hard plastic supports out of the rear panels, but my concern is with the 15" extra length that it won't fit properly in a storage roll like the Mastertop or my clover patch.
If you dont like the sun and dont take the soft top off I would just stick with the Hard top! When you look at it the soft top is just there for inclement weather reasons, you would be better off with just a safari top and trail cover for the months its not too hot/cold/wet.
I keep the hard supports in- that's the last piece that rolls up in my roll. I aim them in(outside of windows facing down), and it gets relatively compact. Not as tight as the framed top but not bad. I bet the whole thing would be different with an LJ- that angle of the rear window would be more extreme than in the TJ. it kind of gets by as it is, but would probably not that way. I don't think this would be a good solution for the LJ.
ok, so you roll them 90° from the direction I did mine. I took the supports out and rolled it bottom-up, because I never liked the way the plastic strip for the tub rail rolled. Maybe I've just been doing it wrong.
I think you'll get a center bow with the Trektop, too. As for the arch support halfway.. No, Mastertop does not have this. Does it flap on the highway, yes but my Jeep is not a highway princess and I live with the 35 M/T's humming to drown out any other noises. I've seen some aftermarket supports and some DIY jobs to address.
The product has only been out for about a year and to my knowledge, myself and one other person @red02tj have the skymaster on our TJ's. Still waiting on an LJ owner Guinea pig. Looks like LJ ship date is the end of July.
The product has only been out for about a year and to my knowledge, myself and one other person @red02tj have the skymaster on our TJ's. Still waiting on an LJ owner Guinea pig. Looks like LJ ship date is the end of July.
I haven't had an LJ trektop yet, but the trektop on my TJ just had the arch support halfway. Behind that, the top strapped and pulled tight against the roll hoop and sound bar with no center bow.
I’m liking my Mastertop…I can’t tell if it’s any louder than my 10+ year old traditional top but I’m not often on the highway. Before I put on the new top I installed the DIY sunrider and I’ve been pretty happy folding it back and rolling forward the rear section. Doesn’t take much longer than folding down the traditional top and I like getting back more storage space and getting ride of the side bows.
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