Soft top off when it rains

[chino1969]

Getting ready for summer with top down/off and would appreciate some opinions. I have a Bestop NX soft top without the normal brackets. My concern is being able to quickly get protection from a sudden rain storm as well as the ability to drive without getting wet. Should I just store the soft top in the storage area, where the rear seat used to be, or some other option?

 

[Steel City 06]

That’s what I would do. The framed soft tops just fold back behind the seat. Bestop makes a bag that holds and separates the windows so they can be rolled up without getting scratched. You might also consider the Bestop trail cover as a quick way to cover your Jeep when you don’t have time to put the windows and doors on

 

[Chris]

This is what I would do too, unless you want an emergency top.

 

[chino1969]

The nice part about this top is the side and rear windows come off and part of the top folds back to allow sun and air into the cock pit area. I think I'll get the window storage bag and leave the top on which will give me the option of having the best of both worlds. Anyone know if this configuration will survive highway speeds?

 

[Neal]

I often run with the soft top up and the windows out. Doors on or off, doesn't matter. The only time I have had even a minor issue is in strong, gusty winds where the top flexes enough to pop one of the vertical pieces in the back off the rail. Doesn't happen often enough to be a problem, I just pull off to the side of the road and hook it back up. Highway speeds on a normal day, no worries. I have thought of running a couple of nylon straps from the rear frame bar down to the tub similar to what some of the frameless tops do, but I haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

 

[MountaineerTom]

The only time I have had even a minor issue is in strong, gusty winds where the top flexes enough to pop one of the vertical pieces in the back off the rail. Doesn't happen often enough to be a problem, I just pull off to the side of the road and hook it back up.

I got a couple long pieces of double sided Velcro and wrap it snug around the rear sail panels an the roll bar. Haven’t had one pop loose yet doing this. When not in use, I just wrap the Velcro around the roll bar.

 

[AndyG]

You will be amazed at how comfortable a soft top with full doors ,with the back/side windows out can be with the windows rolled up. If you have full doors , it is impressive.

 

[wildbill]

You will be amazed at how comfortable a soft top with full doors ,with the back/side windows out can be with the windows rolled up. If you have full doors , it is impressive.

+1 I've done this many times.

 

[Quigley]

Getting rained on is a right of passage! don't miss all the fun I drove a 89 YJ from Hershey, PA to the Poconos once in a complete downpour because the weather man said it would be sunny... it wasn't.

Get a Safari top for unexpected rain storms. They go up quick and protect your neck unlike the bikini tops that let the water hit you from behind.

My top for summer/wheeling top became the safari top, windjammer, and tonneau(sp?) cover. I switch out my hard doors for my full soft ones as well. You only get wet when stopped and it has to be a hard rain and I live in Washington State

 

[MaloStapalo]

If I'm going full monty I store my frameless soft top folded up (as best a reasonable effort will accomplish) and throw it in the rear.

 

[billiebob]

the ability to drive without getting wet

not sure why but this reminds me of Alice in Wonderland...

 

[dudehitt]

I got a couple long pieces of double sided Velcro and wrap it snug around the rear sail panels an the roll bar. Haven’t had one pop loose yet doing this. When not in use, I just wrap the Velcro around the roll bar.

View attachment 93640

Are you wrapping around the rear seat belts too? I feel like mine are flopping around adding to the noise

 

[MountaineerTom]

Are you wrapping around the rear seat belts too? I feel like mine are flopping around adding to the noise

I don't have the seatbelts (or rear seat) in most of the time, so no. If I did, I'd probably wrap it around them.

Here's where I got the Velcro. I think I got the 2 inch version in about 8-10 feet for various projects. I've gotten several things from them. They have lots of handy stuff.

Strapworks

 

[chino1969]

I got a couple long pieces of double sided Velcro and wrap it snug around the rear sail panels an the roll bar. Haven’t had one pop loose yet doing this. When not in use, I just wrap the Velcro around the roll bar.

View attachment 93640

Great idea; thanks.

 

[dbbd1]

I'll agree with Mt. Tom too, except I unclip and roll up those little corner panels, to about 1/4 of their length, then bungee them. With a cinch strap, I will run two over the last frame bow and down to the footman loops, to keep the top tight. It opens things up a tad more.

Just as an FYI...
To those that want to, there is a DIY way to allow the front half of your soft top open up, like the sunrider.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I don't have the seatbelts (or rear seat) in most of the time, so no. If I did, I'd probably wrap it around them.

Here's where I got the Velcro. I think I got the 2 inch version in about 8-10 feet for various projects. I've gotten several things from them. They have lots of handy stuff.

Strapworks

I was wrong, those are 1-1/2 inch wide in the picture.

 

[chino1969]

It has been monsoon season here in PA. I recently bought a used TJ with a Bestop NX Trek soft top. I have zero leakage from the top. There is a little leakage around the bottom driver's side door but this is due to the gasket, not the top. Does anyone have a preferred method of cleaning these tops? It is the diamond sail cloth. I do believe I'll use the Bestop protectant but don't see where the cleaner is any different from the various other ones out there.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I use the Bestop cleaning/protectant kit and this Brush to clean the fabric with.