Soft top flapping

[GeorgeSully]

So I recently switched from my hard top to a soft top because I usually drive with it down and just want to keep it with me for the rain but when I get to 45 the flapping starts and especially on highways it’s deafening it’s a smittybilt top on some random frame I bought on Craigslist any idea how to make it and better without looking terrible?


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[Jerry Bransford]

Smittybilt's tops come with a thin fabric that is more prone to flapping than the OE top with a Sailcloth fabric is which is made by Bestop. Sometimes the flapping can be reduced by zipping all of the windows closed tightly and turning the HVAC fan onto at least its second fan speed to inflate the top a tad to make it tighter. That won't work with the A/C in its Recirculate mode but it does in all other modes.

 

[TJ_2000]

Sell it. Buy a good quality top. Like Bestop. And go to a frameless. My new frameless is way quieter than my old framed top. Although going from a 10 year old top to a new top probably helped as well.

 

[Sancho]

Welcome to the world of soft tops brother!

Aside from buying a thicker soft stop... you can POSSIBLY tighten things up by reducing slack in the front.. where it is screwed in and folded. You cam try to unscrew the fold.. and tighten it up.


Will this work? IDK. It may make it tighter.. but that could just sharpen the flapping and frequency.. making it more annoying.

Last idea.. make sure everything is clipped in and secure.

 

[RussTJ]

I had a flapping sound when driving the first summer I had the top down. Mine was caused by the rear seat belts. I used velcro straps to secure them to the roll bars and it's been quiet since.

 

[Echo5]

I will second @Jerry Bransford on this - the lower quality "cloth" is thinner and thus more pliable which means it is easier to flap. I use the same solution he presents: using the fan or A/C with the windows up pressurizes the cabin and, at least for me, reduces flapping by a solid 90% at speed.

AFAIK, there is no soft top that will not flap to some degree, regardless of maker or material.