Factory soft top tearing; Is this normal?

[Deleted User 38384]

I use my factory soft top quite a bit. Up, down, up, down, up, down, all summer long, for two years now.

I just noticed this today.

It's not flapping or anything, and it's fairly tight, and it's being held on by what seems to be a reinforced section on each of the ends of these bars, but the center, the fabric they sewed it up with is cheap. Like really inexpensive crappy quality fabric. Honestly it's pretty similar feeling to the stuff you line your gardens with before you mulch them.

It's not just one or two of them, it's all of them.

Just curious, if they are to become completely detached from the top itself, will it cause any rattling?

The fabric when it's closed is still very tight on there. I have to imagine with the wind pressing down on it, it wouldn't move around at all even if it did become detached completely. Correct? Incorrect?

Is there a warranty on these things?

Who makes the factory soft tops? Or are they one of those things that comes from China?

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[gl420]

Agreed on the poor choice of fabric for that purpose, it's the same on the premium top as well.

Based on what I read here on the forum, Bestop makes the factory soft tops and sunrider for Jeep.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Agreed on the poor choice of fabric for that purpose, it's the same on the premium top as well.

Based on what I read here on the forum, Bestop makes the factory soft tops and sunrider for Jeep.

Damn and here I was planning on eventually purchasing a BestTop Fastback Soft Top. ?

 

[Jeep Wick]

I use my factory soft top quite a bit. Up, down, up, down, up, down, all summer long, for two years now.

I just noticed this today.

It's not flapping or anything, and it's fairly tight, and it's being held on by what seems to be a reinforced section on each of the ends of these bars, but the center, the fabric they sewed it up with is cheap. Like really inexpensive crappy quality fabric. Honestly it's pretty similar feeling to the stuff you line your gardens with before you mulch them.

It's not just one or two of them, it's all of them.

Just curious, if they are to become completely detached from the top itself, will it cause any rattling?

The fabric when it's closed is still very tight on there. I have to imagine with the wind pressing down on it, it wouldn't move around at all even if it did become detached completely. Correct? Incorrect?

Is there a warranty on these things?

Who makes the factory soft tops? Or are they one of those things that comes from China?

Sucks to see this on a 21. It would be under your 3 year 36k bumper to bumper, but outside of that you're on your own. Bestop does make them.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Sucks to see this on a 21. It would be under your 3 year 36k bumper to bumper, but outside of that you're on your own. Bestop does make them.

I'm about 2,700 mi away from 36,000 mi.

It has some clearly reinforced stitching on the ends of each of those little bars, so that's worth something I guess.

Honestly I'll probably just suck it up for now. I've been kicking around ideas for the last year or so about how to seal off the front two seats from the rest of the vehicle in a way that doesn't hinder me from using a four-point harness. I'm still kicking around ideas, but I've got something that at least for now will work as long as we're not below freezing in Texas. It's just going to cost me about 400 bucks to do it. So maybe I'll get to half of it over the summer or something.

That sucks though, and here I thought BestTop was quality brand. I guess everybody's got their shortcomings.

 

[Dlit]

Damn and here I was planning on eventually purchasing a BestTop Fastback Soft Top. ?
[/QUOT
Bestops aftermarket offerings are nicer than what they make under contract for jeep

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Bestops aftermarket offerings are nicer than what they make under contract for jeep

That's good to know, though honestly I feel like I'd have to inspect one at this point before I were to make a purchase in the thousands of dollars.

But I could see where that makes sense. Jeep is only going to pay them so much, so they're going to give them only so much quality of a product. Whereas when they're making the price, they can use better quality products and just charge a little more.

 

[double0762]

I use my factory soft top quite a bit. Up, down, up, down, up, down, all summer long, for two years now.

I just noticed this today.

It's not flapping or anything, and it's fairly tight, and it's being held on by what seems to be a reinforced section on each of the ends of these bars, but the center, the fabric they sewed it up with is cheap. Like really inexpensive crappy quality fabric. Honestly it's pretty similar feeling to the stuff you line your gardens with before you mulch them.

It's not just one or two of them, it's all of them.

Just curious, if they are to become completely detached from the top itself, will it cause any rattling?

The fabric when it's closed is still very tight on there. I have to imagine with the wind pressing down on it, it wouldn't move around at all even if it did become detached completely. Correct? Incorrect?

Is there a warranty on these things?

Who makes the factory soft tops? Or are they one of those things that comes from China?

Same thing happened on my 2020. I've tried Velcro, doesn't stick to fabric now I'm looking at booger tape or fabric glue. Sucks when putting top down and the whole top slides to the back.

 

[Jeep Wick]

I'm about 2,700 mi away from 36,000 mi.

It has some clearly reinforced stitching on the ends of each of those little bars, so that's worth something I guess.

Honestly I'll probably just suck it up for now. I've been kicking around ideas for the last year or so about how to seal off the front two seats from the rest of the vehicle in a way that doesn't hinder me from using a four-point harness. I'm still kicking around ideas, but I've got something that at least for now will work as long as we're not below freezing in Texas. It's just going to cost me about 400 bucks to do it. So maybe I'll get to half of it over the summer or something.

That sucks though, and here I thought BestTop was quality brand. I guess everybody's got their shortcomings.

FWIW, I have the premium top on my 2020 and it has not done this.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Same thing happened on my 2020. I've tried Velcro, doesn't stick to fabric now I'm looking at booger tape or fabric glue. Sucks when putting top down and the whole top slides to the back.

Interesting. Please post back here or tag me in a post if you figure out something that works well?

FWIW, I have the premium top on my 2020 and it has not done this.

Interesting ?

Not saying that you don't as well, but I would definitely say that I move my soft top up and down a whole lot more than the average person.

I probably won't do anything about it until it starts to become an issue.

I drive around in the summertime with my windows down, my door's off, and my back windows off as well pretty much the entire summer. So on super windy days, you got a lot of wind coming into the vehicle that might be going up. I wonder if it's intended to be able to handle normal down pressure, but not really intended to handle heavy 20 to 30 mph winds from the bottom pressing up?

I mean Texas is pretty flat, sometimes when I'm driving and I got the windows down, or the doors off and I'm already going 70 mph on the highway, you can have a crosswind at 20 miles an hour blowing in your ear, trying to knock your hat in your glasses off. I wonder if it's just like a use issue?

 

[BXFXJeep]

Probably look at how the JK soft top attaches to the bar as a solution.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Probably look at how the JK soft top attaches to the bar as a solution.

???

 

[BXFXJeep]

???

The JK had a broad velcro that wrapped around the bar, that's how it kept the canvas attached.

So with the JL canvas coming loose, velcro can be secured to the canvas, then just wrap it around the bar.

It's been over a decade, I can't exactly remember how the velcro was secured to the canvas, maybe sewn on.

 

[thecritter]

My 2018 Twill top has the exact same issue. I have thought about making an iron on loop out of material used to patch jeans. Mine flaps more than new, but not bad. I have had to reinstall the curved pieces at the end of the bow that makes the fabric line up with the door surrounds. Also when putting it completely down it does not stack up as neatly when the bows were attached.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

The JK had a broad velcro that wrapped around the bar, that's how it kept the canvas attached.

So with the JL canvas coming loose, velcro can be secured to the canvas, then just wrap it around the bar.

It's been over a decade, I can't exactly remember how the velcro was secured to the canvas, maybe sewn on.

That is actually really good idea. Appreciate the info!!

Whenever mine does become fully detached, I will definitely be looking into that!!

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