Soft Top Tailgate Bars

[flyer92]

Given the plasticky attachment points on the tailgate bar, I realize it's just a matter of time before it will fail and was casually looking at replacements. I was surprised to find that there are several manufacturers out there at very different price points, but this is an important part I don't want to skimp on. As always, the OEM part is far more expensive than any of the others at over $300, but Bestop's tailgate bar is $125 and comes with both retainer clips and all the necessary hardware.

https://www.bestop.com/products/tailgate-bar-jeep-2018-2022-wrangler-jl/?sku=5270001

I understand the JL's factory soft top is made by Bestop anyway, so is it safe to assume that the tailgate bar is as well? Are any of the others just as good/better? Just wondering if anyone else has explored this and might have some useful recommendations. Thanks in advance and happy Jeepin'!

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[AcesandEights]

I've never heard of this failing. I wouldn't buy anything other than Bestop in this situation; however, there's no way I'd buy this before the stock one failed. Seems like buying an extra carpet kit just in case you tear the stock carpet by packing the Jeep with styrofoam peanuts.

Are you also buying a second soft top, just in case the original failure-prone one fails?

 

[AcesandEights]

Not that it answers the question, but when I ordered my rear cover I called and asked if it worked with the stock bar. The woman kept telling me I needed to order "their" bar. I didn't understand why so I tried to clarify about three or four times, saying I have the stock soft top so I have the stock bar. She kept saying I needed to also order their bar. Finally I said and asked very clearly and deliberately I have a stock SOFT TOP, so what is the actual difference between the stock bar and your bar. She said, oooohhhh, you have a soft top, then it'll work just fine, they're the same bar. She couldn't get it through her head that people order Jeeps with a soft top, so after saying it about the fifth time and asking what the difference between them was did she understand the stock bar came with a soft top. I don't know if she meant they are actually the same bar, or work the same. At that point I was frustrated enough with them I was about to cancel the order.

 

[dsgrey]

Well the description says " Not compatible with OEM tops."

 

[flyer92]

Well the description says " Not compatible with OEM tops."

Yep...that's part of the reason I asked the question. Bestop reps will tell you that it is compatible, but the description says otherwise.

 

[flyer92]

I've never heard of this failing. I wouldn't buy anything other than Bestop in this situation; however, there's no way I'd buy this before the stock one failed. Seems like buying an extra carpet kit just in case you tear the stock carpet by packing the Jeep with styrofoam peanuts.

Are you also buying a second soft top, just in case the original failure-prone one fails?

Agree 100%, and although it's not common, I have seen a couple of these fail over the years. As I stated, just casually looking at replacement options so I know where to go if/when the time comes.

 

[AcesandEights]

This is going to sound really stupid, but I wonder if they mean not compatible with hard tops. That was the issue I was having when I was buying my tonneau, that I needed 'their" bar. Once she accepted my soft top was a SOFT top and not a hard top, she was quick to say the bars are the same.

 

[GATORB8]

This is going to sound really stupid, but I wonder if they mean not compatible with hard tops. That was the issue I was having when I was buying my tonneau, that I needed 'their" bar. Once she accepted my soft top was a SOFT top and not a hard top, she was quick to say the bars are the same.

Same, the duster works just fine on my OEM tailgate bar.

 

[flyer92]

Not that it answers the question, but when I ordered my rear cover I called and asked if it worked with the stock bar. The woman kept telling me I needed to order "their" bar. I didn't understand why so I tried to clarify about three or four times, saying I have the stock soft top so I have the stock bar. She kept saying I needed to also order their bar. Finally I said and asked very clearly and deliberately I have a stock SOFT TOP, so what is the actual difference between the stock bar and your bar. She said, oooohhhh, you have a soft top, then it'll work just fine, they're the same bar. She couldn't get it through her head that people order Jeeps with a soft top, so after saying it about the fifth time and asking what the difference between them was did she understand the stock bar came with a soft top. I don't know if she meant they are actually the same bar, or work the same. At that point I was frustrated enough with them I was about to cancel the order.

Ugh...sorry you had to go through that, but it seems to be par for the course, regardless of the manufacturer/company. Bottom line, is that most sales people don't know much about the products they're selling. Just curious...was the sales rep you spoke with from Bestop or some other company?

 

[AcesandEights]

Bestop

 

[GATORB8]

Not really fair, being Friday night, but @Bestop ?

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