Bestop Trektop

[WhiskeyDelta]

My JL2dr came with only the hardtop. I bought the Bestop Trektop thinking it looked like a great option.

unfortunately, after installing it, i’ve realized that Bestop in all their wisdom thought it was a good idea to build a top for a Jeep that can’t be easily taken off… frustrating as that is,I guess I have no choice but to live with it now.

However, i would like to know if anyone else has this top and takes it off to replace with a hard top over winter. Seems to me the installation was more permanent in nature… any feedback from anyone?

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[tawsenior]

I change from the hardtop to the TrekTop in April and then switch back in November. It takes me about an hour to 2 hours to do it by myself, depending on how I feel that day. If I have help, it can all be done in under an hour. I made a lift/hanger in the garage for the hardtop to keep it out of the way all summer. In the fall, I take off all of the parts for the soft top keep them together on a platform that goes up on the hardtop hanger after I put the hard top back on the jeep.

 

[PandaJL]

That initial install takes a lot of time because you’re assembling everything, but it’s much easier after. I have taken mine off and it took maybe 30 mins with 2 people, including the time to put the hard top back on.

You really just have to disconnect the bolts holding it onto the Jeep and pull off a few parts - I grouped it so I pulled off the top and folding metal as one piece, the back frame of the top, the side door units, and the back corner pieces. That initial install is brutal but as long as you’re thoughtful about how you disassemble so you’re not fully disassembling it’s much easier.

I wouldn’t do it to go topless for a day, but definitely a doable change seasonally for a hardtop swap

 

[tawsenior]

That initial install takes a lot of time because you’re assembling everything, but it’s much easier after. I have taken mine off and it took maybe 30 mins with 2 people, including the time to put the hard top back on.

You really just have to disconnect the bolts holding it onto the Jeep and pull off a few parts - I grouped it so I pulled off the top and folding metal as one piece, the back frame of the top, the side door units, and the back corner pieces. That initial install is brutal but as long as you’re thoughtful about how you disassemble so you’re not fully disassembling it’s much easier.

I wouldn’t do it to go topless for a day, but definitely a doable change seasonally for a hardtop swap

Exactly! In fact, this year the weather cooperated enough that I took off the hard top and didn't put the soft top on for about 3 weeks. Now the soft top is on and it only takes a few minutes to remove or add the doors and windows as needed.

 

[WhiskeyDelta]

Awesome, thanks gents! I started getting really worried once i saw the treadlok on the bolts…

 

[bumpit]

You I take everything off bolted together mostly. Just swapped the hard top back on last weekend.

 

[bradcrc]

I made a lift/hanger in the garage for the hardtop to keep it out of the way all summer. In the fall, I take off all of the parts for the soft top keep them together on a platform that goes up on the hardtop hanger after I put the hard top back on the jeep.

That's a good idea.

 

[cafecito820]

unfortunately, after installing it, i’ve realized that Bestop in all their wisdom thought it was a good idea to build a top for a Jeep that can’t be easily taken off… frustrating as that is,I guess I have no choice but to live with it now.

However, i would like to know if anyone else has this top and takes it off to replace with a hard top over winter. Seems to me the installation was more permanent in nature… any feedback from anyone?

All due respect man, I think your expectations are a little out of line here. The initial assembly definitely takes a while because you need to put all the hardware together, but it's really not that bad to take off. You don't need to completely disassemble to bows or anything - you just loosen any bolts holding the entire top to the Jeep, and wrap the whole thing up like a burrito to store it.

Bestop's products are among the best in the industry, and I would be seriously impressed if any company managed to design a product that works as well as theirs do while somehow being easier to remove/handle/store.

 

[WhiskeyDelta]

Lol i don’t know if i’m “out of line” by suggesting a soft top be convertible. That’s the whole point of a soft top imho, and the OEM top is able to do it. Indeed, i noticed afterwards that Bestop has a model that folds back and comes off, so clearly it’s possible… it just wasn’t available at the store I shopped at so never saw it prior to buying.

the fabric is certainly great, i’ll give em that

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