Bestop for 97 wrangler

[Neskie Crawler]

I realize this is going to sound really basic to most but I need to know more about my bestop softop for my 97. It came with the Jeep when I bought it last May. I took the hardtop off many times but tried to install the softtop only once. no problems without instructions till I got to the very front of the Jeep-at the windshield area. With those factory clamps undone and the vinyl top hanging there, I can't make the connection. Is there some hard-type header to close with my factory clamps for the hardtop or how does this work? The kid I bought the Jeep from gave me the softtop and its like brand-new and I'd feel funny hunting him down to show me how to clamp it to the winshield area.- Help? thanks.Seems like I may be missing a hard bar-type header.

 

[Chris]

Pictures would help. There's a header piece that the front of the vinyl attaches to. There's a chance yours could be so old that it's stretched out quite a bit and become flappy (again, pictures will help), which is normal and happens after time. Just like any soft top they need to be replaced X number of years depending on how severe of weather they see, whether they sit parked outside or in a garage, etc.

 

[Neskie Crawler]

Thanks, I'll try to post a pic or two of what I have later today. The only thing that resembles a header is a flimsy piece of rubber that would never clamp down tight-

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The following assumes you have the OE style of soft top, pictures of the very front/inside of the top would help confirm that, as would a photo of the top's supporting mechanism. The key to getting the OE top installed is doing things in the proper order. If you secure the rear of the top first, you'll never get the front latches into the slots on the windshield. Insert the latch hooks into the windshield slots first but don't latch them. Then install the rear corners of the top and then you can close the front latches.

So does the front of your soft top at least have the latch hooks that are inserted into the two slots at the top of the windshield?

 

[Neskie Crawler]

The following assumes you have the OE style of soft top, pictures of the very front/inside of the top would help confirm that, as would a photo of the top's supporting mechanism. The key to getting the OE top installed is doing things in the proper order. If you secure the rear of the top first, you'll never get the front latches into the slots on the windshield. Insert the latch hooks into the windshield slots first but don't latch them. Then install the rear corners of the top and then you can close the front latches.

So does the front of your soft top at least have the latch hooks that are inserted into the two slots at the top of the windshield?

No latch hooks,Jerry.

 

[Neskie Crawler]

O.K., took picture of everything I have and one of the rubber strip and one of the front of the soft top, it is like a semi-rigid lip.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Ok your TJ came with an aftermarket soft top with one of those klugey "Erector-Set" top support mechanisms. I've only seen those in my worst nightmares, so I'm sorry I can't help you on how to get it installed/erected.

I'd seriously consider buying a used factory OE soft top that includes the OE support structure/mechanism. The difference in what you have vs. the OE top and support is in the degree of difficulty of putting the top up and down with the factory mechanism being easy, yours being difficult. As in a pleasant dream vs. a nightmare.

 

[Neskie Crawler]

Just an update for anyone interested. I paid a visit to the previous owner, makes sense right? and first off, that long rubber piece has nothing to do with it, which added to the confusion but it's very simple and embarrassing but remember, I have 0 experience with tops and rather than look more dumb than I really am, I'll blame it on long-term alcohol abuse resulting in brain damage. With me being over 20 yrs his senior, he had a puzzled look when he asked me if I took the weatherstrip off the top of the windshield (after removing the hard top) because there is a groove that the front edge of the soft top goes right into. That is done before the support bars get raised. Simple!! and now I know and am excited because it is in brand-new condition, he had it on only twice.

 

[Chris]

Ok your TJ came with an aftermarket soft top with one of those klugey "Erector-Set" top support mechanisms. I've only seen those in my worst nightmares, so I'm sorry I can't help you on how to get it installed/erected.

I'd seriously consider buying a used factory OE soft top that includes the OE support structure/mechanism. The difference in what you have vs. the OE top and support is in the degree of difficulty of putting the top up and down with the factory mechanism being easy, yours being difficult. As in a pleasant dream vs. a nightmare.

X2 to this. That top is not OE and looks pretty crappy. It's free, so at least you didn't pay for it. However, if it was me I would consider buying a new (or used) factory top (Bestop) that comes with the correct hardware.

 

[Neskie Crawler]

Well, thanks guys, but as we say here, "if it's free, it's for me!" I will deal with the crappiness till I get tired of the hassles or it wears out and then rest assured I will heed your advice.

 

[Chris]

Make due with what you've got. I'm sure you can get it to work with some rigging.

 

[Neskie Crawler]

There seems to be a miscommune here, most likely on my part, but there is no rigging needed here. This is a brand-new (used twice) Bestop I had it 90% installed perfectly the one time I tried it without knowing about removing the rubber weatherstrip from the windshield to attach tie soft top into the groove there. I have all hardware and vinyl and its all new. Practically never seen weather. And free. When it wears out way down the road, I'll take all advise and consider buying an oem. probably used considering my cheapness. Now let's kill this topic!

 

[Chris]

Killed! Get it installed and post pics