Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

Hi gang,

I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with 3 tops. I bought it with the factory
soft top. Then I bought the Fleet Air Targa Top (front roof panel is
removable) which is a good top, and nice and quiet for the Winter, but
turned out to be too much of a hassle for open air riding in nice
weather.

Then last Summer I bought the Bestop Sunrider because I figured it
would be a good compromise between the other two tops. I love the top.
It is so much more convenient than the factory soft top which has to
go all the way up every time it rains (I park outside and like my
interior ;) ).

OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
want to do so this Summer.

I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
nicely as the factory top.

So any opinions? Can anyone with a Sunrider give me an idea of how
easy it is to drop? Vs. the factory soft top? Which top should I put
back on?

Any info will be greatly appreciated! I want to try to do the swap
this weekend. Weather on Long Island is perfect for top down now. :)

-- Chris G.

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

Wish I could answer, but I've never seen a need for any other top
other than the OEM one. Just a couple mins up or down, what's the
point for any other top?

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:

>Hi gang,
>
>I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with 3 tops. I bought it with the factory
>soft top. Then I bought the Fleet Air Targa Top (front roof panel is
>removable) which is a good top, and nice and quiet for the Winter, but
>turned out to be too much of a hassle for open air riding in nice
>weather.
>
>Then last Summer I bought the Bestop Sunrider because I figured it
>would be a good compromise between the other two tops. I love the top.
>It is so much more convenient than the factory soft top which has to
>go all the way up every time it rains (I park outside and like my
>interior ;) ).
>
>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.
>
>So any opinions? Can anyone with a Sunrider give me an idea of how
>easy it is to drop? Vs. the factory soft top? Which top should I put
>back on?
>
>Any info will be greatly appreciated! I want to try to do the swap
>this weekend. Weather on Long Island is perfect for top down now. :)
>
>-- Chris G.

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

Wish I could answer, but I've never seen a need for any other top
other than the OEM one. Just a couple mins up or down, what's the
point for any other top?

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:

>Hi gang,
>
>I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with 3 tops. I bought it with the factory
>soft top. Then I bought the Fleet Air Targa Top (front roof panel is
>removable) which is a good top, and nice and quiet for the Winter, but
>turned out to be too much of a hassle for open air riding in nice
>weather.
>
>Then last Summer I bought the Bestop Sunrider because I figured it
>would be a good compromise between the other two tops. I love the top.
>It is so much more convenient than the factory soft top which has to
>go all the way up every time it rains (I park outside and like my
>interior ;) ).
>
>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.
>
>So any opinions? Can anyone with a Sunrider give me an idea of how
>easy it is to drop? Vs. the factory soft top? Which top should I put
>back on?
>
>Any info will be greatly appreciated! I want to try to do the swap
>this weekend. Weather on Long Island is perfect for top down now. :)
>
>-- Chris G.

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

Wish I could answer, but I've never seen a need for any other top
other than the OEM one. Just a couple mins up or down, what's the
point for any other top?

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:

>Hi gang,
>
>I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with 3 tops. I bought it with the factory
>soft top. Then I bought the Fleet Air Targa Top (front roof panel is
>removable) which is a good top, and nice and quiet for the Winter, but
>turned out to be too much of a hassle for open air riding in nice
>weather.
>
>Then last Summer I bought the Bestop Sunrider because I figured it
>would be a good compromise between the other two tops. I love the top.
>It is so much more convenient than the factory soft top which has to
>go all the way up every time it rains (I park outside and like my
>interior ;) ).
>
>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.
>
>So any opinions? Can anyone with a Sunrider give me an idea of how
>easy it is to drop? Vs. the factory soft top? Which top should I put
>back on?
>
>Any info will be greatly appreciated! I want to try to do the swap
>this weekend. Weather on Long Island is perfect for top down now. :)
>
>-- Chris G.

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

Wish I could answer, but I've never seen a need for any other top
other than the OEM one. Just a couple mins up or down, what's the
point for any other top?

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:

>Hi gang,
>
>I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with 3 tops. I bought it with the factory
>soft top. Then I bought the Fleet Air Targa Top (front roof panel is
>removable) which is a good top, and nice and quiet for the Winter, but
>turned out to be too much of a hassle for open air riding in nice
>weather.
>
>Then last Summer I bought the Bestop Sunrider because I figured it
>would be a good compromise between the other two tops. I love the top.
>It is so much more convenient than the factory soft top which has to
>go all the way up every time it rains (I park outside and like my
>interior ;) ).
>
>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.
>
>So any opinions? Can anyone with a Sunrider give me an idea of how
>easy it is to drop? Vs. the factory soft top? Which top should I put
>back on?
>
>Any info will be greatly appreciated! I want to try to do the swap
>this weekend. Weather on Long Island is perfect for top down now. :)
>
>-- Chris G.

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:


>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.

I don't know about the Sunrider, but I don know that you have to take
the windows out of the factory top if you want to put it down. I
guess you could just roll up the back window, but it's just as easy to
take it out.
My son takes the canvas all the way off of his and just folds down the
frame. Doesn't take a whole lot longer to put back up, and sure looks
neater when it's down. If it ever quits raining here, I may try that.

--
Old Crow
'82 Shovelhead FLT 92" 'Pearl'
'95 Jeep YJ Rio Grande
ASE Certified Master Auto Tech + L1
TOMKAT, BS#133, SENS, MAMBM, DOF#51

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:


>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.

I don't know about the Sunrider, but I don know that you have to take
the windows out of the factory top if you want to put it down. I
guess you could just roll up the back window, but it's just as easy to
take it out.
My son takes the canvas all the way off of his and just folds down the
frame. Doesn't take a whole lot longer to put back up, and sure looks
neater when it's down. If it ever quits raining here, I may try that.

--
Old Crow
'82 Shovelhead FLT 92" 'Pearl'
'95 Jeep YJ Rio Grande
ASE Certified Master Auto Tech + L1
TOMKAT, BS#133, SENS, MAMBM, DOF#51

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:


>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.

I don't know about the Sunrider, but I don know that you have to take
the windows out of the factory top if you want to put it down. I
guess you could just roll up the back window, but it's just as easy to
take it out.
My son takes the canvas all the way off of his and just folds down the
frame. Doesn't take a whole lot longer to put back up, and sure looks
neater when it's down. If it ever quits raining here, I may try that.

--
Old Crow
'82 Shovelhead FLT 92" 'Pearl'
'95 Jeep YJ Rio Grande
ASE Certified Master Auto Tech + L1
TOMKAT, BS#133, SENS, MAMBM, DOF#51

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

On 27 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, nospam99992000@yahoo.com (CG) wrote:


>OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
>the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
>all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
>never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
>the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
>want to do so this Summer.
>
>I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
>the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
>mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
>you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
>find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
>nicely as the factory top.

I don't know about the Sunrider, but I don know that you have to take
the windows out of the factory top if you want to put it down. I
guess you could just roll up the back window, but it's just as easy to
take it out.
My son takes the canvas all the way off of his and just folds down the
frame. Doesn't take a whole lot longer to put back up, and sure looks
neater when it's down. If it ever quits raining here, I may try that.

--
Old Crow
'82 Shovelhead FLT 92" 'Pearl'
'95 Jeep YJ Rio Grande
ASE Certified Master Auto Tech + L1
TOMKAT, BS#133, SENS, MAMBM, DOF#51

Re: Dropping Bestop Sunrider top vs. factory soft top?
 

if the sunrider windows are anything like the factory soft tops....I'd pull
them before dropping the top.
I once tried as nice as possible to roll up my rear window and it got kinked
and creased and was a pain to clear that....so keep'em flat if possible.
I've never seen anyone roll their top with their windows....try it and then
you can give us the horror story of your ruined windows! ;)

Take the time and pull the windows....the top it self goes up pretty
quick....so know the weather before you walk away from your jeep for
extended periods of time....you don't have to carry your windows to zip'em
back in....most rain comes straight down so you just need your top up!


"CG" <nospam99992000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a6ea3e1b.0405271825.10b4561a@posting.google.c om...
> Hi gang,
>
> I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with 3 tops. I bought it with the factory
> soft top. Then I bought the Fleet Air Targa Top (front roof panel is
> removable) which is a good top, and nice and quiet for the Winter, but
> turned out to be too much of a hassle for open air riding in nice
> weather.
>
> Then last Summer I bought the Bestop Sunrider because I figured it
> would be a good compromise between the other two tops. I love the top.
> It is so much more convenient than the factory soft top which has to
> go all the way up every time it rains (I park outside and like my
> interior ;) ).
>
> OK, so here is the issue...it is time to swap the hard top for one of
> the soft tops. The whole of last Summer I never dropped the Sunrider
> all the way down. I just flipped the sun roof back and forth. So I
> never got a sense of how easy or hard it is to drop the Sunrider all
> the way. But I miss putting the top all the way down, and expect to
> want to do so this Summer.
>
> I have read in this newsgroup that the Sunrider is as easy to drop all
> the way down as the factory soft top. But based on my memory of the
> mechanism for the Sunrider I find that hard to believe. It sounds like
> you have to remove the rear window as well as the side windows, and I
> find it hard to believe that the bows and top material fold back as
> nicely as the factory top.
>
> So any opinions? Can anyone with a Sunrider give me an idea of how
> easy it is to drop? Vs. the factory soft top? Which top should I put
> back on?
>
> Any info will be greatly appreciated! I want to try to do the swap
> this weekend. Weather on Long Island is perfect for top down now. :)
>
> -- Chris G.