There’s gotta be someone in your area that at least does awning or canvas repair right? Just need someone with powerful machine like a juki or equivalent.
That makes me feel less bad. Maybe its our location/climate?
Thats a good idea. Maybe. Or near me - I'm super remote and surrounded by vacation homes and retirees but maybe I could find a place in Palm Desert. I'll look it up. Thank you!
Bestop is an OEM supplier. They manufacture the soft tops that are installed in the Toledo factory. It'd be interesting for them to explain why the tops that are sold under their own brand name might use a better quality design and/or materials than what they're selling directly to Stellantis.
I work for a manufacturing company of sorts and we supply the same product to countless companies BUT they all provide us with their own parameters based on what they would like to sell them for so it's not a surprise if Jeep asked Bestop to stay within a certain budget.
Jeez good point! The way it is here on the other Bestop style of top is how I would do it, just enclose the whole thing in a strip. The fusing fabric they use now is too flimsy. Its not just my habits because our other jeep is primarily driven by my partner who drives less often & hardly ever takes his top down. I drive about 50% of the year with mine down (all the way back, not removed) but both of ours broke in the same place at the same time.
You link to a soft top on on a JK Jeep, which uses a different top design than does the JL-generation vehicles. Possibly that's something to do with the use of fusing fabric in our Wranglers, paired with any built-to-a-price requirements as suggested above. Yes, what you mention would undoubtably be more robust over the long term.
Hmmm interesting, I didn't catch it was for a JK. Nice reinforcement on yours, I'm going to have to look at where mine rubs next time I take it down. So far 1 upholstery shop replied they can't do anything for a repair.You link to a soft top on on a JK Jeep, which uses a different top design than does the JL-generation vehicles. Possibly that's something to do with the use of fusing fabric in our Wranglers, paired with any built-to-a-price requirements as suggested above. Yes, what you mention would undoubtably be more robust over the long term.
As for me, my only quibble to date is that accelerated wear occurs in certain points on the underside of the soft top, due to the folding framework rubbing on the fabric when driving with the top down for even brief periods. I purchased a sheet of self-adhesive fabric and scientifically cut and applied two small squares (on each side) to mitigate the effects of said wear.
I have the base soft top (not the black twill) I just took off a few weeks ago I'll be looking to sell soon but I'm also a bit far from you (Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley area). Let me know if you ever decide you want to go this route as I'm not in a hurry to sell it. It's been garage kept all it's life.
Thank you but honestly if I kill the premium every 3 years I can't imagine how quickly I'd destroy the standard one. ;-)
Good point, I think you should opt for one directly from Bestop and be done with it. Gonna be a bit more costly but I’m confident it’ll outlast the OEM. Plus has a better warranty.
