Bestop Supertop NX vs Trektop

[JM_TJ]

Hi everyone, I'm new on the board and was hoping you guys could help me pick the right top for my TJ. I've had a read over some old threads about the same topic and I'm still torn between which top to get. I'm based in London and bought my '06 TJ last year with a hard top. The weather turns quickly here so I like the sunder feature of the Supertop NX and the Trektop. I've got my questions listed below. Any advice would be great!

- I like the slight slant the Trektop has on the TJ (much nicer than on the JK) but worried about the lost of space in the back. Does it massively effect head room and trunk space (what little there is)?
- How do the two tops compare for sound and weather proofing (would get either in twill)? For those of you in colder areas, how do the tops last for year round use? My mates here think I'm crazy for swapping to a soft top.
- What benefits/negatives are there with the frameless design of the Trektop?
- Is the Trektop a lot harder to put up and down vs the Supertop?
- Are the windows on the two tops the same? I read somewhere that you can't roll the Trektop windows.
- Finally, generally speaking, how hard is it to get these tops installed yourself? Keep in mind, it's about 34f here at the moment.

Thanks!

 

[suicideking]

The frameless design is the hardest to put on and take off completely. If you want it off, it has to completely come off. Then you have to store it somewhere, not practical to take with you in the Jeep. However, if you like the bikini top and never plan to completely remove it, you may prefer the frameless. I thought of getting it because I'm pretty much never completely topless. The sun rider is better on the frameless, folds back further.

With the frame design, you can have the top off in around 5 minutes. Take out the side and rear windows, then fold the main top back. Because it's on a frame, you can have it with you and put it back up if it looks like bad weather. Some framed tops have the sun rider feature, but it doesn't fold back as far. Plus many think the framed top is ugly compared to the frameless.

The rear window: When I was considering the frameless, I was hoping that the rear window would be easier to deal with. I have the OEM (frame) top with Black Diamond Bestop RAT. I hate the rear window so much, that I try to avoid unzipping it at all. I've heard the rear window on the frameless is even worse. So somewhat killed that idea for me.

Sound: Pretty sure I've heard the frameless is significantly more noisy. This probably wouldn't bother me because I have poor hearing.

 

[JM_TJ]

The frameless design is the hardest to put on and take off completely. If you want it off, it has to completely come off. Then you have to store it somewhere, not practical to take with you in the Jeep. However, if you like the bikini top and never plan to completely remove it, you may prefer the frameless. I thought of getting it because I'm pretty much never completely topless. The sun rider is better on the frameless, folds back further.

With the frame design, you can have the top off in around 5 minutes. Take out the side and rear windows, then fold the main top back. Because it's on a frame, you can have it with you and put it back up if it looks like bad weather. Some framed tops have the sun rider feature, but it doesn't fold back as far. Plus many think the framed top is ugly compared to the frameless.

The rear window: When I was considering the frameless, I was hoping that the rear window would be easier to deal with. I have the OEM (frame) top with Black Diamond Bestop RAT. I hate the rear window so much, that I try to avoid unzipping it at all. I've heard the rear window on the frameless is even worse. So somewhat killed that idea for me.

Sound: Pretty sure I've heard the frameless is significantly more noisy. This probably wouldn't bother me because I have poor hearing.

Thanks, that answers quite a bit. I didn’t realise that you had to completely remove the Trektop for it to go topless. Just assumed it could roll back like the other tops.

What makes the rear window such a pain on your top?

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Yes, the Trektop does have to come completely off and be put somewhere to go completely topless, it's 4 straps and a couple of spring pin locks. It takes like... 3 minutes, and maybe 5 to put it back.

I never go completely topless, so it's a non issue for me. I use the sunrider a lot and don't have the windows in very often, but my northwestern European skin can only take about half an hour of Colorado sun, so I like being able to reach up and close the sunrider when I've had enough.

I'm not sure the back window is any more annoying than a framed top, but I had about 5 years between using a factory top and a Trektop.

 

[Fishtaco]

If you have a place to store your hard top why not just buy a trail cover and full bikini top for summer months ?
I come from London originally and it doesn't rain as much as up North in summer but it still gets cold so soft top would be up most of the time.
Soft top isnt going to protect from theft/break ins only a deterrent but unlike keeping the hard top on putting soft top up and putting windows in every time you leave it anywhere in Blighty would be a lengthy pain in the arse in my opinion.
Some of the trail covers are made of same material as soft top and go on /off quick.
Just a suggestion

Just to add you will need door surrounds header bar and tailgate bar for soft top.

 

[JM_TJ]

If you have a place to store your hard top why not just buy a trail cover and full bikini top for summer months ?
I come from London originally and it doesn't rain as much as up North in summer but it still gets cold so soft top would be up most of the time.
Soft top isnt going to protect from theft/break ins only a deterrent but unlike keeping the hard top on putting soft top up and putting windows in every time you leave it anywhere in Blighty would be a lengthy pain in the arse in my opinion.
Some of the trail covers are made of same material as soft top and go on /off quick.
Just a suggestion

Just to add you will need door surrounds header bar and tailgate bar for soft top.

Thanks for the reply! I don’t really have space to store it hence why I need to pick between hardtop or soft top.
Regarding the hardware you mentioned, I assume they come with the complete kit for the top?

 

[Fishtaco]

Thanks for the reply! I don’t really have space to store it hence why I need to pick between hardtop or soft top.
Regarding the hardware you mentioned, I assume they come with the complete kit for the top?

You would have to buy a complete soft top including cage door surrounds header rail and tailgate rail, Trektop I am not sure if they supply the header bar but you will still need the door surrounds, they bolt onto the side roll bars to fill in the gap and make a seal between soft top and doors

Pic 1 Door surrounds not showing needed screws
Pic2 Header rail
pic3 tailgate bar

 

[UKTJ]

Hi JM_TJ

My TJ is a soft top, the original framed one, though it is now very tatty and needs replacing. Being in the UK my experience is that I would not want a top that had to be completely removed and could not go with me. The weather can change too quickly here and it would severley limit the range I would want to go with the roof down, even in summer if you end up out longer than planned it can get cool enough to want to put the top up - maybe I am just a bit soft these days. Going out with the roof down is the whole point of the soft top IMHO so having one I would not really use doesn't make great sense to me, otherwise you could just keep the hard top and take that off when you go out. So while I do like the look of those frameless tops more than the framed one I would say for the UK the better option is the framed top. That said, maybe the sun rider function is enough fresh air for you, I have no experience of that.

I am in Hampshire, not that far from you. If you do decide to switch to a soft top and want to sell the hard top I would be interested, depending on colour and confirming it would fit a 2002 TJ. Being outside London I am fortunate to have a bit more space and could store the hard top in the summer months.

 

[Fishtaco]

Hi JM_TJ

My TJ is a soft top, the original framed one, though it is now very tatty and needs replacing. Being in the UK my experience is that I would not want a top that had to be completely removed and could not go with me. The weather can change too quickly here and it would severley limit the range I would want to go with the roof down, even in summer if you end up out longer than planned it can get cool enough to want to put the top up - maybe I am just a bit soft these days. Going out with the roof down is the whole point of the soft top IMHO so having one I would not really use doesn't make great sense to me, otherwise you could just keep the hard top and take that off when you go out. So while I do like the look of those frameless tops more than the framed one I would say for the UK the better option is the framed top. That said, maybe the sun rider function is enough fresh air for you, I have no experience of that.

I am in Hampshire, not that far from you. If you do decide to switch to a soft top and want to sell the hard top I would be interested, depending on colour and confirming it would fit a 2002 TJ. Being outside London I am fortunate to have a bit more space and could store the hard top in the summer months.

+1 having lived half my life in UK I have to agree, that is why I suggested a trail cover and Bikini for summer and best keep the hard top! In Perth I have the opposite problem if my hard top comes off in summer I cant sit in it or touch the steering wheel after only an hour in the sun plus my roll bar covers would turn purple after a few days!
We are all California Dreaming to a certain extent but its not reality lol Even in California
My brother has a frameless Trektop on his Rubicon and has never taken it off he just takes out the windows so its like a full bikini top.

 

[TheBoogieman]

I had the Trektop NX on my Sahara and loved it. Windows come off easy enough once you know what you're doing. Easy flip back sunroof feature and larger side windows for more visibility. You don't lose headroom in the rear because it slants down on the roll bar, which is behind your head. If I ever find a deal on one, I'll be buying one for my current Jeep.

 

[TheBoogieman]

We are all California Dreaming

The dream is now a NIGHTMARE!

 

[John Cooper]

I have the trek top and am loving it!! Waiting on summer so I can take the windows out!!!!!

I had a hardtop and sold it to fund the trek top.

 

[Chris]

I've had both and I'll never have a Trektop again.

 

[BuildBreakRepeat]

I've had both and I'll never have a Trektop again.

I agree. Trek top sucks compared to the supertop. @zebra12 has a trektop.

 

[JM_TJ]

I've had both and I'll never have a Trektop again.

Why is that?

 

[Chris]

Why is that?

Because I enjoy being able to easily fold my top down

 

[qslim]

@Chris 's hatred for the Trektop comes from his dark & empty heart which is hard to see if you don't understand the cesspool of hatred that he cultivates all around him.

I love my Trektop. It was a pain in the ass to get on the first time, but after a little practice I can get the windows off/on in about 15 minutes.

I like mine for two reasons: #1 I have little kids & they like to enter/exit the TJ in the summer over the rear wheel where the frame would be in the way on a framed top. #2 I don't ever go completely topless because I don't like the Utah sun beating down directly on my face (if I do want that for a short period I just flip back the sunrider.

Another thing to consider is your climate; out here we rarely get rain in the summer, so I take the windows off in the spring when it warms up & typically don't put them back on until the fall. If you live somewhere where pop-up storms & showers are a regular thing the framed top would be much easier to use on regular basis than the Trektop.

 

[williambmac]

Chris's hatred for the Trektop comes from his dark & empty heart which is hard to see if you don't understand the cesspool of hatred that he cultivates all around him.

 

[sierradmax]

Anyone have a Bestop Black Diamond Twill? Are the claims accurate where it's quieter than a hardtop?

 

[williambmac]

I love the fact that the Bestop replace a top is the same price as a Trektop for my lj.