Problem fitting Bestop "Pavement Ends" soft top

penk

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Jun 29, 2016
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Hey everyone. I have a Besttop 'pavement ends' frameless sprint top for Ol Yeller. I initially just put the top on, but added the sides later. It's... okay, but it seems to be fitting badly. I wonder if I'm doing it wrong.

In particular, I tried to put the read window / flap on (again), and there's NO WAY I can stretch it across the back of the opening. The zipper is like 2" short.

The sides are formed well and slotted into the side of the door surrounds just fine - I'm wondering if I should loosen them from the surrounds to slide them back a bit, zip the back window in, then 'stretch' them into place?

Pics here - can anyone tell me if this is fitting properly or I did something wrong?

2018-07-21 19.57.22.jpg 2018-07-21 19.57.30.jpg 2018-07-21 19.58.26.jpg

The reason this is important is Yeller here is going to need to be my primary ride for a few months, and I'll need to put the back window and doors back on so I can drive it rain / dry / cold / warm. I'd prefer not to have to put the hardtop back on in the summer :(

Thanks!
 
You have tightened the bottom of the side windows too soon, you should have most of the edges partially zipped up before pulling the rest into the place and parhaps do it out in the sun so that the heat softens things up a little, that rear window is the hardest part to fully zip the first time.
 
You have tightened the bottom of the side windows too soon, you should have most of the edges partially zipped up before pulling the rest into the place and parhaps do it out in the sun so that the heat softens things up a little, that rear window is the hardest part to fully zip the first time.

That meshes with what I was wondering. Of course, tomorrow is supposed to rain all day. OKay, thank you!
 
You need to lay it out in the sun for a couple hours before install. I have the same top; I install the top but do not latch down the front; then the sides which I partially zip before the lower plastic channels; then slide in the top of the rear window and start those zippers; then I finish the side zippers, rear zippers, and install the tailgate bar. After all that I latch down the front and finish off the velcro. The first time will be tight but the heating in the sun is mandatory every time I install mine.

Oh yea, I use a piece of small rope to help pull the zippers. Just don't crank on them or they can break.
 
Thanks again folks. I"ll let ya'll know how the stretchy stretchy grunty grunty installation goes!
 
OOooopos! I forgot to update here. The operation was a success! I was able to wrangle (hah) the edges on the back far enough to get the zippers in place, and then got everything re-threaded. It's all in place now!

I am getting a fairly significant amount of 'flapping' on the roof - it never really drew tight, but the edges areound the door surrounds and along the lip of the tub are all where they should be.

Thanks muchly!

upload_2018-7-25_14-47-5.png
 
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The flapping won't really go away. It is much less with doors on and windows up, but that's only because the low pressure above causes the top to ballon and pull tight.
 
Your rear window and roof look really loose did you watch the full video there are some central straps on the roof which wrap between the sports bar and sound bar and there should be an arch that spans from door which eliminates flapping well that’s how it is on the trektop NX
 
Okay I just re-watched the video from beginning to end, I need to go back and fix up a bunch of things I did wrong. OOPS. Stay tuned :)
 
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Oh hey, if you install the supporting alumnium bar over the window, things look a lot better. :-/

upload_2018-7-26_11-10-56.png


I'm using the OEM door surrounds, so i don't have the mount point for a bow. I guess i'll just be flappy.

One other thing I learned from the video is the front flap of the roof needs to be screwed down (it's tucked into the channel now). I'll do that soon as i get a few. One oddity - the 'fold back' arms - they're mounted right for me, but do folks have a hard time loosening the slots over the doors to allow the flip back? That's very tight for me - and you have to un-slot the top to get it to fold back.

Learning learning...
 
Oh hey, if you install the supporting alumnium bar over the window, things look a lot better. :-/

View attachment 48811

I'm using the OEM door surrounds, so i don't have the mount point for a bow. I guess i'll just be flappy.

One other thing I learned from the video is the front flap of the roof needs to be screwed down (it's tucked into the channel now). I'll do that soon as i get a few. One oddity - the 'fold back' arms - they're mounted right for me, but do folks have a hard time loosening the slots over the doors to allow the flip back? That's very tight for me - and you have to un-slot the top to get it to fold back.

Learning learning...
:D yep Much better now. It will get a bit easier after running it in the sun and R&Ring it a few times.