Going on Premium Soft Top #3

[PegFundy]

Whats the typical lifespan for a premium soft top? We have an '18 JL and an '18 JLU, both premium tops failed in year 3. I'm coming up on year 3 of my replacement and today that fragile little strip of fusing fabric ripped away from the first support bar (over front seats). I'm not surprised, I've sewn ladies clothing that uses stronger fusing than what is used on these soft tops.

I'm a soft top for life kind of gal, so I guess 3 years is what I should expect? Is there another brand that's more reinforced where the canvas attaches to the bars?

We never replaced the top on the other and it puffs up like a chefs hat. Its a cool look but I already have one like that.

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[jludave]

Whats the typical lifespan for a premium soft top?

I know people that have soft tops on various model Wranglers over the years that lasted much longer than 3 years. While not a true soft top, I currently have a Sunrider for Hardtop on my 2020 JLU and had one on my 2015 JKU. The one on my 2020 looks and operates like new. The one on my 2015 was the same when I traded that vehicle in. Point being, if you treat them right, a soft top should last more than 3 years.

 

[dsgrey]

My premium top is 5yr and 2 months without any failure though I probably just jinxed it.

 

[Heimkehr]

What's the typical lifespan for a premium soft top?

We'd need a bit more context here:
Are the vehicles parked outside as a matter of course (thus exposing them to the long-term deleterious effects of ultraviolet light)?
Is the fabric recurringly cleaned with a treatment like 303?
How frequently are the tops lowered and raised?
Etc.

I do agree that the fabric fusing strip is pretty thin sauce.

 

[Eddiechi]

My oem soft top from Jan 2020 is still mint but only on during April -October months..

I had my 1999 Wrangler sahara for 20 years with the oem soft top on 24/7 and it was replaced 3 times or about every 7 years which was pretty good considering the weather variances in chicago winters/summers (garage kept for 1st five years)

 

[mrtm1970]

We'd need a bit more context here:
Are the vehicles parked outside as a matter of course (thus exposing them to the long-term deleterious effects of ultraviolet light)?
Is the fabric recurringly cleaned with a treatment like 303?
How frequently are the tops lowered and raised?
Etc.

I do agree that the fabric fusing strip is pretty thin sauce.

Agree…need more info.

I have a 2019 and beside ME bending a part due to having the front open and forgot about it when backing into the garage and being reminded by the “crunch” of the wood at the top of the garage opening.

I pull the front part back at least daily and top completely down like half a month off and on and NO issues other than my own doing.

 

[dsgrey]

Mine is kept in a garage but lives in the Texas heat. I only have a premium soft top (no hard top) and it's frequently up/down except during Dec-Feb. 303? Mine just gets washed with soap and water. I'm hoping it lasts at least 10 years and I'm at year 5.

 

[PegFundy]

We were in LA for the first 3 years, in the mojave desert since. We haven't had a garage in either location so both are outside 24/7 (though parked in partial shade) & we have both soft tops on year-round. We wash them and treat everything nice, though I had to google what "303" is. The outside still looks great, they just keep detaching where the inside facing strip meets the cross bar so I don't know if a product like 303 would make a difference. I can understand anything in the high desert deteriorating so I'm not surprised it has broken again out here but I can't explain why they broke in LA too. Maybe it's the general low humidity in both places?

So there are no other companies that make tops with more reinforced connections? It seems like sewing an interior pocket of the same exterior canvas around the bars from the connection points on would be a much sturdier way to attach them than the method with the thin facing.

 

[JEEP4U]

Why not buy a Bestop Ultra top? Made of with black twill..... comes with a 5 year warranty.

 

[PegFundy]

Why not buy a Bestop Ultra top? Made of with black twill..... comes with a 5 year warranty.

Oh my gosh yes! It has the strip of canvas sewn into a pocket over the bar. $$ but worth it, exactly what I was hoping to find. Thank you!

 

[Steemax]

As someone who’s owned a factory soft top and now the trektop directly from Bestop. It’s clear the top directly from Bestop has a better design and construction than what is being made for Jeep. At least that’s what it seems like by feel and finish.

 

[OrneryBear]

We've only had our JL for going on 2 years, but just looking at the design of the top, I can see various weak points that I expect to be among the first failure points as it ages, first of which is the fusing the OP mentions.

I've thought that a possible solution is to take it to a sail repair/canvas boat cover maker to fix/reinforce. I'm sure they would be able to do it.

 

[PegFundy]

We've only had our JL for going on 2 years, but just looking at the design of the top, I can see various weak points that I expect to be among the first failure points as it ages, first of which is the fusing the OP mentions.

I've thought that a possible solution is to take it to a sail repair/canvas boat cover maker to fix/reinforce. I'm sure they would be able to do it.

I thought about that too because I could still salvage it if I had canvas sewn around the bar to reinforce it. I don't think there's anyone offering that stuff out here in the middle of nowhere though. My cute little kenmore sewing machine would probably catch fire.

 

[Xcoaste]

Why not buy a Bestop Ultra top? Made of with black twill..... comes with a 5 year warranty.

This is what I have. I wish it didn't have Bestop stamped on the back of the fabric, but the top itself is holding up very well. Bought mine new in 2021, but I use a hardtop in the winter so it isn't exposed in the NE winters.

 

[MOOG5050]

Go bestop ultra Trektop slant back. Love it. Seems good quality but only had mine a year.

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