98 Soft Top Questions

[RInzana]

Hello,

I just purchased a 98 TJ which has a hard top on it. The seller also gave me a soft top and a Bestop "Bikini" top along with two "L" shaped brackets and a header bracket. I "believe" the soft top is ripped and may need to be replaced, however he did not have any of the "hardware" for either top. At this point I'm not sure what I have goes with what.
I "believe" the brackets go above the doors, but have no hardware, how does the header bracket attach to the Jeep, my herd top has latches. Are the latches separate? I think these are all for the Jeep Roof 1-3 pictures where 1 is over the front seats, 2 is the rear window and 3 covers the rear seat and trunk, do just the Velcro and straps hold these in place? Is this what is know as the "Bikini" top?
Soft Top Left and Right show where the top is ripped and then a shot of the whole top. Do I need bows for use with this top? Is there a replacement where I do not need bows? If I need bows should I just get a Bestop replacement kit or buy OEM bows and get a replacement top? Does the OEM tops also have removable side and rear windows?

Thank You In Advance!
RInzana

 

[glowell222]

I have a '98 with both hard and soft tops and a Bestop bikini with header.

1. For the bikini, you will need the header bracket. However, it is supposed to have two additional pieces and bolts that hold it onto the windshield. I will post some pics of mine and show you what you are looking for. Not sure if you can get these separate or not, but I will be surprised if you can't get them new or get something off ebay.

2. The part with the window is used as a mini-cab in conjunction with the bikini to give you rudimentary protection in the front two seats. The other part is a tonneau to go over the rear of the Jeep and around the "c" pillar roll bars with the back seat either folded down or removed. You will also need the soft top rear window brackets that screw onto the back of the Jeep and help to hold the softop rear window in place when the top is up. There is also a bar for the rear window that you will need.

3. I think that soft top is trashed and I wouldn't recommend using it. You will need new or used door surrounds, the rubber grommets and roll bar bolts that come with it, and the soft top frame hardware with mounting hardware as well. Plus the soft top.

I will try and post pics of these items.


Header Bracket Mount. One on each side, and these clamp your header bracket to the top of the windshield.

Rubber grommets for the door surrounds. You might already have these in use with your hardtop (between the body tub and the door surround in the pic below. Helps to weather proof that corner).

Rear window brackets. These are installed when using the soft top or the tonneau and removed for the hardtop. It's the black piece awkwardly mounted to the body tub with two Philips head screws just above the tailgate hinge. One per side, and the edge of the rear window bar clips in with the soft top up.

Correct door surrounds. There are two large mounting bolts on top that mount it to the roll bar, plus the front of the surround slips into a small slot at the windshield, and your rubber grommet and the pin from the surround mount into the body tub. You should be able to use your bikini top with or without the door surrounds in place.

 

[glowell222]

Soft Top Left and Right show where the top is ripped and then a shot of the whole top. Do I need bows for use with this top? Is there a replacement where I do not need bows? If I need bows should I just get a Bestop replacement kit or buy OEM bows and get a replacement top? Does the OEM tops also have removable side and rear windows?

Thank You In Advance!
RInzana

To answer your further questions: Yes, there is a replacement where you don't need bows. You can also get a full Bestop replacement including hardware, or you can buy some used hardware and get a replacement top. The OEM tops do have removable side and rear windows, though generally we roll up the rear window instead of pulling it all the way out.

 

[suicideking]

Agree with the above: That top is in rough shape. I would keep the frame and plastic parts, throw the rest in the trash and buy a new top.

 

[RInzana]

You will need new or used door surrounds, the rubber grommets and roll bar bolts that come with it, and the soft top frame hardware with mounting hardware as well.

Hi Glowell222,

Thank you very much for your help. Are all the door surrounds the same? It seems as though I can get OEM for around $180 or can I use the ones I have pictured below? The OEM door surrounds appear to be beefier and smoother then what they offer in the kit; The ones in the kit look a lot like what I have pictured below.

Any suggestions on if I should look for OEM soft top hardware or just get a complete new kit?

I do not have the rubber grommets between the hard top and body like in your pictures, I'll see if I can find those, the roll bar bolts, header clamps and rear window brackets (the holes are there but the brackets are not).

I'll also check Bestop's website to see about the the "Bikini" top bar for the rear window, maybe I can at least use that until I can afford a new soft top.

Your jeep appears to be in much better shape than mine.

Rich

 

[Jim King]

Welcome fellow Jersey Jeep owner!

 

[glowell222]

@RInzana,

To make it easy on yourself, I recommend getting a soft top that has all of the hardware included, as well as the door surrounds. The surrounds you are showing will not work with an OEM style of soft top-there are no channels to connect to the soft top nor will it be weather proof around your doors. If you do get a top with all of the hardware included, you will not need to find any of the missing items (rubber grommets, window bar brackets, roll bar bolts) except for the missing bolts and bracket hardware to mount your header bracket. However, on quadratec.com it seems that the Bestop and Rampage header brackets are currently on sale: Rampage. Bestop.

Do you happen to know the manufacturer of the tonneau cover and rear window? I will see if I can find more information.

 

[glowell222]

Bestop is the OEM manufacturer of the TJ soft tops. The links below are from quadratec, and there are those people on this forum who despise this company. I am using these links to show you what may be out there for your jeep-I am not affiliated with or advertising for quadratec, and you may be able to find these tops elsewhere at a better price.

If you go with a frameless top the bikini is part of the top:

Trektop

Here is a top with the hardware.

Bestop

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Here is a top with the hardware.

Bestop

He would need nothing but the tools and time to install this kit. I was impressed with the Bestop Trektop NX in that it had everything needed to install it; from the windshield, to new surrounds, and the new tailgate bar.

 

[RInzana]

Thanks Guys!

I sent an email to Bestop earlier today listing out all the parts that I am missing for the header, Windjammer and Duster. I also asked them if the header in their soft top kit is the same as the Bikini top header. I'd like to have the ability to change out tops with minimal trouble and if the headers are the same that would help.
It is starting to get cooler in South Jersey so I may hold off on the purchase of a complete soft top until late winter, unless they go on a really good sale.
If I can get the parts for the header, Windjammer and Duster the Bikini may get me through the remainder of the nice weather in 2020.

 

[glowell222]

Excellent-good luck and keep us updated.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Thanks Guys!

I sent an email to Bestop earlier today listing out all the parts that I am missing for the header, Windjammer and Duster. I also asked them if the header in their soft top kit is the same as the Bikini top header. I'd like to have the ability to change out tops with minimal trouble and if the headers are the same that would help.
It is starting to get cooler in South Jersey so I may hold off on the purchase of a complete soft top until late winter, unless they go on a really good sale.
If I can get the parts for the header, Windjammer and Duster the Bikini may get me through the remainder of the nice weather in 2020.

I think the bikini top needs the different header. The bestop will use latches like your hard top has. Look at the front edge of the bikini... does it have a flat piece of plastic across it sewn on? if yes, it needs that piece.

Another option to the full top, is the Bestop Trektop NX Soft Top, it is frameless, just rests on the roll cage. Gives you a fast-back look. They are a bit less $. I prefer the look and operation of these, others here like the stock boxy look of the original style.