Question about Bestop sunrider feature

KillerIsMe

KillerIsMe

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I have a question for those of you who have purchased a complete Bestop top.

Right now the TJ has a hardtop and I want to put a soft top on for summer. Bestop is having a $100 off sale until June 1st so I think I'm going to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak, and buy a square back top. My question is specifically about the sunrider top: it appears to just unlatch and flip back, resting on the roof. So does it secure there somehow, and if not does it flap around? I looked at the installation PDF and there's no mention of it that I can find. Also looked at a couple videos and again, no mention that I saw. I'd hate like hell to have it blowing around up there every time a tractor trailer tries to suck me up under its wheels.

Any suggestions/input would be heavily appreciated.

Thanks.
Tom
 
I just purchased one and installed a couple months ago.

When we went to TJ Fest, we were very please with it, both on the trail and at highway speeds.

Don’t expect air tight, but the new tops have come along way from the old days. The Sun Rider “Flip” does not flop around and lays back pretty secure from the few road miles I’ve seen with mine.
 
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I purchased one and installed it in Spring of 2020. I flip it back whenever the weather is nice.
It doesn't flop around that I have ever noticed. There isn't anything to secure it once it is folded back other than gravity.
 
Thank you for the replies. I think I'll pull the trigger on the sunrider. Seems like it's a great alternative to full top-down given the unpredictable weather in the northeast.
 
No floppy floppy...I sell them and install them.
They're excellent and by far still the absolute best top mfg out there.

The weight of the integrated header keeps that laying flat and road wind pushing down on it..

That thing isn't moving one iota!!

Allow me to shed some light on something for you.

Soft tops of today are actually more efficient than a hard top.

It began in 87 with the addition of a rail system along the body tub. It was screwed in place but the tongue and groove design was off and running.
My dear lord what a difference over the previous year (86 CJ) and prior using snaps.

In 97 that rail system became integrated into the body.
Also in 97 they changed the upper rear door entry feature to have a radius on it allowing the use of a full door with a soft top.
(Never before seen or heard of)
(At least of good quality)
Lastly they handed to lock downs at the top of the windshield. Yep....exactly where your hard top clamps to the windshield frame so does the soft top.

Soft tops of today are tight fitting and very simple to put up and down. They don't flap...don't allow air to gush in...

The other thing that most don't think off...
When it's 20 degrees outside that hardtop fiberglass shell is 20 degrees too. It takes a lot longer to warm that shell up than a vinyl top. I promise you!!

If your thing is sucurity...well that's different. If it's because a perception about "days ago" soft tops...that's a false perception.

Good luck!!
 
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J&M’s ICON said:
I just purchased one and installed a couple months ago.

When we went to TJ Fest, we were very please with it, both on the trail and at highway speeds.

Don’t expect air tight, but the new tops have come along way from the old days. The Sun Rider “Flip” does not flop around and lays back pretty secure from the few road miles I’ve seen with mine.
Click to expand...
Great to hear
 
Mine has a little clip attached to the center roll bar that holds the folded back frame in place. How much flapping you get depends on how well you tuck in the top. I swing the front of the frame so it's standing straight up and then do an accordion fold of the top as I push the frame back and down. Get it all tucked in and the entire roof forward of the center roll bar is exposed.

The attach the clip and it's very secure.

This was one of my first attempts, the fold isn't that good, but you can see the clip in the center holding the frame down.

IMG_20200920_145334025_HDR.jpg
 
Rubicon88 said:
No floppy floppy...I sell them and install them.
They're excellent and by far still the absolute best top mfg out there.

The weight of the integrated header keeps that laying flat and road wind pushing down on it..

That thing isn't moving one iota!!

Allow me to shed some light on something for you.

Soft tops of today are actually more efficient than a hard top.

It began in 87 with the addition of a rail system along the body tub. It was screwed in place but the tongue and groove design was off and running.
My dear lord what a difference over the previous year (86 CJ) and prior using snaps.

In 97 that rail system became integrated into the body.
Also in 97 they changed the upper rear door entry feature to have a radius on it allowing the use of a full door with a soft top.
(Never before seen or heard of)
(At least of good quality)
Lastly they handed to lock downs at the top of the windshield. Yep....exactly where your hard top clamps to the windshield frame so does the soft top.

Soft tops of today are tight fitting and very simple to put up and down. They don't flap...don't allow air to gush in...

The other thing that most don't think off...
When it's 20 degrees outside that hardtop fiberglass shell is 20 degrees too. It takes a lot longer to warm that shell up than a vinyl top. I promise you!!

If your thing is sucurity...well that's different. If it's because a perception about "days ago" soft tops...that's a false perception.

Good luck!!
Click to expand...



I had a 2000 Sport soft top (RIP) so I'm familiar with the top. You're right - it's easy up and down but a little time consuming. If I had a dollar for every time I found myself looking for an underpass or a tree to get under when the rain suddenly came up...well, I'd have about 20 dollars or so. Anyway that's why I'm asking about the fold-back roof - use it on those tweener days. I will put the hardtop back on in November though. Thanks for your advice my friend :)
 
WallyWest said:
Mine has a little clip attached to the center roll bar that holds the folded back frame in place. How much flapping you get depends on how well you tuck in the top. I swing the front of the frame so it's standing straight up and then do an accordion fold of the top as I push the frame back and down. Get it all tucked in and the entire roof forward of the center roll bar is exposed.

The attach the clip and it's very secure.

This was one of my first attempts, the fold isn't that good, but you can see the clip in the center holding the frame down.

View attachment 254093
Click to expand...


Our Jeeps are related! At least cousins :)

IMG_20191002_161003.jpg
 
I have the Sunrider feature on my Bestop top and I'd gladly trade its flip-back frame for one that does not have the Sunrider feature. If anyone is in SoCal and wants to come to my home in Escondido we can keep our same tops but trade frames.

What I don't like about it is 1) I don't consider the Sunrider all that easy to fold back for that little bit of sky that it opens up. I'd rather remove the entire top. 2) What I really don't like is how the frame is hinged there and it makes it all floppy and hard to guide on & off when I am removing or replacing it. If no one wants to trade I'm going to cut some little pieces of tubular steel into halves and weld it across the hinge point so it won't flop around when I am trying to maneuver the top on or off of the Jeep.

This is what it looked like days after installing it, Bestop was using my TJ for their promotional video and photo shoot when the new series of NX replacement tops was introduced.

The first guy is not me, that is Bestop's marketing guy. Yes she was quite a hottie and was on their marketing team too, she made my day! :D

CIMG4010.JPG
Jerry-cropped.jpg
 
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Jerry Bransford said:
I have the Sunrider feature on my Bestop top and I'd gladly trade its flip-back frame for one that does not have the Sunrider feature. If anyone is in SoCal and wants to come to my home in Escondido we can keep our same tops but trade frames.

What I don't like about it is 1) I don't consider the Sunrider all that easy to fold back for that little bit of sky that it opens up. I'd rather remove the entire top. 2) What I really don't like is how the frame is hinged there and it makes it all floppy and hard to guide on & off when I am removing or replacing it. If no one wants to trade I'm going to cut some little pieces of tubular steel into halves and weld it across the hinge point so it won't flop around when I am trying to maneuver the top on or off of the Jeep.

This is what it looked like days after installing it, Bestop was using my TJ for their promotional video and photo shoot when the new series of NX replacement tops was introduced.

The first guy is not me, that is Bestop's marketing guy. Yes she was quite a hottie and was on their marketing team too, she made my day! :D

View attachment 254126View attachment 254127
Click to expand...

I agree with pretty much all of this, to me the feature is kind of gimmicky since it isn’t hinged wide enough to really matter. Maybe it’s just enough for some people.

I added a shade for when I fold the top the whole way down since I like some shade (either nice weather or when I get to technical spots in trails where it would mess up the top).
 
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If you fold it back the way I was told is the correct way it does open up the area a lot better.

1621709211311.png



But I agree with Jerry that it's a PITA to get installed especially if you're trying to do it yourself. And there are times the pins & bars don't want to lock like they should. Mine was a gift so I used it.


IMG_3600.JPG


What it looks like installed with full doors.
 
Wildman said:
If you fold it back the way I was told is the correct way it does open up the area a lot better.

View attachment 254133


But I agree with Jerry that it's a PITA to get installed especially if you're trying to do it yourself. And there are times the pins & bars don't want to lock like they should. Mine was a gift so I used it.


View attachment 254136

What it looks like installed with full doors.
Click to expand...
Ah, yeah if you pull the fabric back you do get a lot more. Maybe I should complain less about that being an issue. I’m just an idiot.
 
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rasband said:
Ah, yeah if you pull the fabric back you do get a lot more. Maybe I should complain less about that being an issue. I’m just an idiot.
Click to expand...

It took me 2 years to FINALLY figure it out after watching TONS of videos and talking to others who owned one. So I would call you an idiot. But I still agree they are more of a PITA than they are worth IMO.
 
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Ha I did not know it opened back that far. You'd have thought the Bestop people would have known that when they opened mine up for their photos. :eek: :ROFLMAO:

P.S. I'm still ready to swap soft top frames with someone local who doesn't have the Sunrider top and wants one.
 
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Jerry Bransford said:
I have the Sunrider feature on my Bestop top and I'd gladly trade its flip-back frame for one that does not have the Sunrider feature. If anyone is in SoCal and wants to come to my home in Escondido we can keep our same tops but trade frames.

What I don't like about it is 1) I don't consider the Sunrider all that easy to fold back for that little bit of sky that it opens up. I'd rather remove the entire top. 2) What I really don't like is how the frame is hinged there and it makes it all floppy and hard to guide on & off when I am removing or replacing it. If no one wants to trade I'm going to cut some little pieces of tubular steel into halves and weld it across the hinge point so it won't flop around when I am trying to maneuver the top on or off of the Jeep.

This is what it looked like days after installing it, Bestop was using my TJ for their promotional video and photo shoot when the new series of NX replacement tops was introduced.

The first guy is not me, that is Bestop's marketing guy. Yes she was quite a hottie and was on their marketing team too, she made my day! :D

View attachment 254126View attachment 254127
Click to expand...


Look at you! all handsome with the hot girl :) That does look like a tiny little opening up there. Never thought about it being floopy with the roof going up and down either. Thanks Jerry.

My wife's company is in Oakland and they send her out to California for rest and relaxation trips every now and then. Some years back they sent her to Laguna Beach and we drove down to Escondito one afternoon for lunch, a few beers, etc. Beautiful place, but what we didn't know was they set up a farmer's market on the street right outside the restaurant so when we came out our car was surrounded by strawberry vendors - blocked in. Had to spend the next couple hours sitting out on the veranda watching people, having a few Sierras. All in all a wonderful day. Honestly, I love California.
 
KillerIsMe said:
Look at you! all handsome with the hot girl :) That does look like a tiny little opening up there. Never thought about it being floopy with the roof going up and down either. Thanks Jerry.

My wife's company is in Oakland and they send her out to California for rest and relaxation trips every now and then. Some years back they sent her to Laguna Beach and we drove down to Escondito one afternoon for lunch, a few beers, etc. Beautiful place, but what we didn't know was they set up a farmer's market on the street right outside the restaurant so when we came out our car was surrounded by strawberry vendors - blocked in. Had to spend the next couple hours sitting out on the veranda watching people, having a few Sierras. All in all a wonderful day. Honestly, I love California.
Click to expand...
Ha trapped on Grand Ave. in Escondido, that's funny! :ROFLMAO: Starting next month they block that and several adjacent streets off every Friday/Saturday for "Cruising Grand" for the rest of the summer. Hundreds of the finest 1970 and older cars you've ever seen cruising and parked on display. It's quite an event, we are looking forward to it since it didn't happen last year. It normally starts in May but Covid effed that up. And yeah that Bestop girl was frigging hot. :eek::love:
 
When I bought my first TJ about ten years ago I installed the full frame Bestop with the sunrider feature and I liked it a lot even though it didn't seem to open up very much. With my new TJ I decided to get the Trektop NX. It has the sunrider feature also, but it opens up a lot farther than the full frame one did. It opens all the way back to the roll bar. It doesn't rain much here in Arizona, but the midday sun is too intense to be topless. The sunrider feature lets me easily open the top in the mornings and evenings and flip it closed in the heat of the midday.
 
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Guess I got lucky, aside from being a bit time consuming I had no trouble installing it by myself.

And opening the top is easy. Unlatch the windshield header. Pop open the door to undo the Velcro section, x2. Slide the frame lock forward, x2. Push the header up, stand up on seat and turn around, lean your back against the top of the windshield. Fold the fabric back the correct way to open up the entire front section. Fold header back and clip down.

I can do that by myself in a few minutes. With a helper in the passenger seat I've done it at a stoplight and had time to spare.
 
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