Seasonal switch out of hard and soft tops

[David Reid]

New to forum. I have a question I need help with please.

I have recently purchased my first Wrangler, a 99 TJ with a hard top. I'm thinking about getting a Bestop Trektop NX, 56920-17 for warm weather use. I know from youtube that installation will be challenging.

What I'm trying to find out is will I have to completely uninstall the soft top in the fall to put my hard top back on?

I have the OEM framing for a soft top, but no top. Would using the OEM frame and an OEM soft top be a simpler seasonal switch out?

The NX sounds interesting, but I noticed that 10% of the reviewers gave it a 1/5 star rating due to what sounds lke manufacturing quality issues.

What's my best option for seasonal switch outs?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[jchadscud]

What challenges are you expecting on installation? I have the Trektop and didn’t have any installation issues. I haven’t installed the Supertop but I would expect with the Trektop being frameless it would be an easier install. It does take time for the material to stretch a bit before it’s easy to remove, but that would be for any new top.

You’d need to remove the Trektop to get the hardtop back on. Shouldn’t take longer than 10-15 mins to remove if it’s stretched and you keep the zippers cleaned and lubricated.

 

[bobthetj03]

I run a hard top in the winter and switch out to a factory soft top late spring. The factory soft top is really easy to take off when switching.

 

[David Reid]

Thank you. Don't have any personal experience with either soft top. Just going by videos made for youtube that talked about the inadequate instructions, seems there are door frames and other parts being added to support the soft top that would have to be removed to reseat the hard top. Didn't know how time consuming it would be to remove the hardware.

I'm glad to hear from folks with experience that it's not as difficult a process as the videos make it out to be.

 

[cliffish]

yes there are plastic door surrounds for the soft top that have to be removed....really not that hard to do. The bulkiness of the hard top is the worst part about putting it back on by "hand" as opposed to someone that has a hoist to store the top in the garage. Hopefully you got the door surrounds with the TJ purchase?

 

[glwood]

If you have the frame, you can get replacement fabric. You will also need the door surrounds (for either the full or Trektop), and the tailgate bar and two side clips, easily purchased if you don't have 'em. Also the roll bar brackets for the full soft top, if you don't have those.

Removing the full soft top entails removing the windows (same with the Trektop), folding back the top and frame, removing 4 torx head bolts where the bows attach to the roll bar bracket. Remove door surrounds.

 

[David Reid]

I'm so new at this I don't really know what I've got!! I bought it with the hard top n it and the fellow had a soft top in bad shape on the metal sopports folded up. Are the door surrounds separate from the hard top? I thought the door surrounds were part of the hard top?
Obviously I've got a lot to learn !!

 

[glwood]

I'm so new at this I don't really know what I've got!! I bought it with the hard top n it and the fellow had a soft top in bad shape on the metal sopports folded up. Are the door surrounds separate from the hard top? I thought the door surrounds were part of the hard top?
Obviously I've got a lot to learn !!

The door surrounds are separate, they not only give the soft top some support, they are shaped like the part of the hard top that your doors seal against when they are closed, to keep out the weather.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessorie...16663189907&utm_content=Accessories and Parts

 

[David Reid]

That makes sense. So when I buy a soft top I have the framing, but I'll need to get the door surrounds.

Your thoughts on buying a less expensive soft top and replacing it more often, or go with the more expensive fabric?