Vtx531
TJ Addict
I've had a Smittybilt for years, parked outside year-round, and its held up pretty good. Doesn't fit perfect around the doors but the customer photos for the Bestop Sailcloth top on Quadratec's website don't look any better
Bestop vs Quadratec Soft Top
- Thread starter Tntitans21399
- Start date
Tray Burge
TJ Addict
Bestop Twill with the Sunrider feature (they all come with it with new hardware).
Of course, the Quadratec is a great choice if you're going for that "saggy old man ball sack" look?
Of course, the Quadratec is a great choice if you're going for that "saggy old man ball sack" look?
Tray Burge
TJ Addict
Vtx531
TJ Addict
Would love to hear if anyone can tell me about the Bestop Replacement top fit for upper half doors
Tray Burge
TJ Addict
I've heard they fit great, but you can't get the Twill in the half doors so you have to combine Twill and Sail Cloth or the Denim?
I have a bestop twill replace a top on factory hardware and my experience with the top and bestop customer service hasn’t been great. The fabric is very nice and is a deep black. The window material also seems top notch with regards to the tint and they are thick. Unfortunately though overall the fit is quite loose especially with the side windows. They are always wavy and thrum violently on the freeway. The original top was significantly tighter. I reached out to bestop and they seemed eager to help at first and asked for pictures and video. After I shared those with them they never responded again.
With that being said I realize most people have pretty good luck with Bestop and the twill fabric is extremely nice.
With that being said I realize most people have pretty good luck with Bestop and the twill fabric is extremely nice.
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The RAT fits as well as the factory soft top did. Meaning you will keep the factory door surrounds.
My most recent Bestop experiences have multiple instances of loose fits too.
WestCoastDan
TJ Addict
Reviving an older thread now that I too have installed a black twill, Bestop, Supertop w/ Sunrider feature.
The top itself wasn't all that complicated to assemble and install, but the images in the instructions were not very clear.
The most important image is actually 'zoomed in' too far and you cannot determine what is going on.
Some of the wording seems to have been written by the same jokers that make the Ikea furniture instructions.
The fit is terrific. I installed it on a cool evening in my garage (by myself) in about 4 hours.
It took a significant amount of stretching, pulling, etc. to get everything connected, windows installed, etc.
Part of that time was spent fixing the damaged threads in the roll bar so that I could install the new brackets.
I believe it could have been accomplished in under 3 hours, by myself if i hadn't had to deal with that nightmare.
My 3 primary complaints are a bit petty, but worth mentioning:
1- That damned logo is terrible. The only reason that I don't use a vinyl letter remover on it is out of fear of leaving a stain or making it appear worse.
At least it's silver and it matches the Jeep.
2- The 'extra bow' is 100% useless (make that 150% useless!). It fits loosely and rattles whether the top is up or down. It's absolutely annoying & I'd welcome the opportunity to pummel the designer of it, with it.
2.5- Placement of the extra bow (poor design followed up by poor placement = a useless adder).
3- The Sunrider option is a load of crap. It doesn't open nearly as much as one might expect/hope. The fabric, when properly (or improperly) folded back, falls short of being supported by the extra bow by about 1/2"; just enough to allow it to flop around & strike me in the head while in motion.
I spent a significant amount of time scouring the interweb for recommendations, instructions, images, videos, etc. of others using and actually enjoying their Sunrider feature, but alas, I could not find a single positive report.
In short, I am not thrilled with how it works for the cost, but it sure does look good and fit well.
The top itself wasn't all that complicated to assemble and install, but the images in the instructions were not very clear.
The most important image is actually 'zoomed in' too far and you cannot determine what is going on.
Some of the wording seems to have been written by the same jokers that make the Ikea furniture instructions.
The fit is terrific. I installed it on a cool evening in my garage (by myself) in about 4 hours.
It took a significant amount of stretching, pulling, etc. to get everything connected, windows installed, etc.
Part of that time was spent fixing the damaged threads in the roll bar so that I could install the new brackets.
I believe it could have been accomplished in under 3 hours, by myself if i hadn't had to deal with that nightmare.
My 3 primary complaints are a bit petty, but worth mentioning:
1- That damned logo is terrible. The only reason that I don't use a vinyl letter remover on it is out of fear of leaving a stain or making it appear worse.
At least it's silver and it matches the Jeep.
2- The 'extra bow' is 100% useless (make that 150% useless!). It fits loosely and rattles whether the top is up or down. It's absolutely annoying & I'd welcome the opportunity to pummel the designer of it, with it.
2.5- Placement of the extra bow (poor design followed up by poor placement = a useless adder).
3- The Sunrider option is a load of crap. It doesn't open nearly as much as one might expect/hope. The fabric, when properly (or improperly) folded back, falls short of being supported by the extra bow by about 1/2"; just enough to allow it to flop around & strike me in the head while in motion.
I spent a significant amount of time scouring the interweb for recommendations, instructions, images, videos, etc. of others using and actually enjoying their Sunrider feature, but alas, I could not find a single positive report.
In short, I am not thrilled with how it works for the cost, but it sure does look good and fit well.
Have you considered contacting Bestop? Maybe you just got a bad one? Or they have a fix? Just an idea.
If you are not able to use the sunrider feature. Why not return it for a stock model? And save the difference.
WestCoastDan
TJ Addict
I tried to reach out to Bestop through their 'contact us' form, but it never sends the comment; it just sits there with a swirling circle looming in the center of the screen like it's judging me instead of sending the comment.
I just happened to have a direct email address for a Customer Service Supervisor at Bestop and I reached out to him for some help, guidance, etc.
We'll see how it goes.
I just picked up one these in black twill. Very tight fit, might never put my hardtop on again... lol
Also a lifetime warranty doesn't hurt.
Like others have said, stay with Bestop. I've purchased three for different Wranglers and have had zero complaints. Currently running a Trektop Nx and absolutely love everything about it.
No way I would buy a Q-Tec top. Only top that has ever caught my eye is Mastertop but when faced with Bestop or Mastertop decision I bought Bestop
No way I would buy a Q-Tec top. Only top that has ever caught my eye is Mastertop but when faced with Bestop or Mastertop decision I bought Bestop
the kid I bought my TJ from (6 years ago) put a Quadratec soft top on it a couple years prior to that, so I'd say it's probably 8+ years old. For what it's worth it works, all zippers are good, pretty easy to put up & down, looks decent. I haven't inspected Bestop tops close enough to know but from all I've heard over the years 'they say' they're better, so I'd say these decisions come down to the same thing as always, $$$, & how much of it you're willing to part with to serve any given purpose. A top is just one of so many components, in a vacuum you can always justify buying the best, but when you put it in the larger bin with the 100 other components you'll be addressing, it adds up really fast.
I spent a lotta money on my rig, all made sense at the time of each upgrade, but in hindsight probably overdid it on several counts. Just one example, I spent more than double, maybe triple, on a Warn synthetic. Served me well but my career was shorter than I though it'd be & now it's sitting in a closet, could've spent far less to serve the same purpose.
My top a couple weeks ago:
I spent a lotta money on my rig, all made sense at the time of each upgrade, but in hindsight probably overdid it on several counts. Just one example, I spent more than double, maybe triple, on a Warn synthetic. Served me well but my career was shorter than I though it'd be & now it's sitting in a closet, could've spent far less to serve the same purpose.
My top a couple weeks ago:
How does yours fold? My NX opens over the entire front seat area.
I'm really pleased with mine, it is much quieter than the Rampage version. Stowing the windows isn't as easy as the Rampage. I have the roll up Mastertop bag that straps to the roll bar at the tailgate top and that works just fine.
The sunrider feature is great, I use it a lot.
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Their contact form sucks, use [email protected] or their phones are working again as of yesterday when I got my sliders windows replaced under warranty after sending a few pics of the seams splitting.
@WestCoastDan
I have the same exact top twill and everything. I have the same issue with it folding in with the wind. Around 50 miles an hour, it will fold in and hit me in the head. I tried reaching out to Bestop, and they told me to make sure it was folded back all the way (of course I knew that). I wonder if it is an issue with the twill by chance. But all in all I can't help either, but I am happy with the top other than the poorly designed sun rider feature. I have even tried tieing it down with bungee cords, which helps, but the issue still happens.
I have the same exact top twill and everything. I have the same issue with it folding in with the wind. Around 50 miles an hour, it will fold in and hit me in the head. I tried reaching out to Bestop, and they told me to make sure it was folded back all the way (of course I knew that). I wonder if it is an issue with the twill by chance. But all in all I can't help either, but I am happy with the top other than the poorly designed sun rider feature. I have even tried tieing it down with bungee cords, which helps, but the issue still happens.