So this time around I'll discuss tops. Factory soft tops and hard tops as well as aftermarket tops. Which should you buy with the Jeep and what to get as a replacement.
Factory Soft topsIt should be said that the current factory tops are all made by one company. No, not Mopar but Bestop. They make factory as well as aftermarket tops.
"Bestop, Inc. manufactures and supplies the most diverse mix of soft tops, hardtops and accessories for the Jeep Wrangler, as well as other popular sport utility vehicles and a growing line of full and compact pick-up truck accessories. Our Engineers utilize the finest materials available, including premium Haartz® stretch-and-set fabrics for a perfect fit and YKK® zippers for durability and a long life. Each application follows O.E.M. specifications for form, fit, function, and craftsmanship. We are an O.E.M. supplier to DaimlerChrysler for Jeep soft tops, and we adhere to stringent manufacturing processes, while offering a forum for product improvements and new product development."
The early tops on the GPW's, MA's, MB's, etc. were canvas. In more recent years they have moved onto denim. Yes, the same material your jeans are made, except waterproof. The denim is coated on the outer surface with a flexable waterproof coating. The denim was then stretched over a frame then snapped into place. Later, a rail system was attached to the body. In recent years, the rails have been integrated into the body.
CJ's, YJ's and TJ's up to 2000 all used denim tops. In 2001, the top material was changed from a single layer denim to a multi-layer sail cloth. The sailcloth uses 4 layers and is able to keep noise down significantly compared to the denim tops. This is a big advance in top technology.
Soft tops were never known to be quiet. You'd be driving doen the road with the radio turned up, just to drown out the flapping and russling of the top. You didn't even bother to have a conversation with your passenger unless you wanted to get into a yelling contest. The new sailcloth tops are said to be 50% quieter then the old tops. This puts them between the denim tops and the hard tops.
Aftermarket Soft tops
Bestop Supertop and Bestop SunriderThe biggest manufacturer of aftermarket tops is Bestop. Kayline used to be number 2 but has vanished. Bestop has their preminim line as well as their bidget line, 'Pavement Ends'. Bestop and Pavement ends have several different styles between them. Replace-A-Top is the direct replacement. Under Bestop, you get some advances that you wouldn't get with the Pavement Ends, like velcro flaps and sailcloth. Also, be aware that some of their tops use new hardware. The Tiger, Super Top, and Sunrider all use non-factory hardware. So, if you bought your Jeep used, besure to check what kind of top it has.
There are other tops out there though. One goes under a few different names but is reconizable by it's side windows. Instead of stopping 8" from the edge, these panels are all window with a 1" strip of coth around the edge. I recomment not buying these tops. The tops are cheap for a reason. I recieved one though a trade of parts and never could get the top to fit right. The biggest problem was that the side windows would blow out at high speeds. This is not only annoying but dangerous.
There is one company who dares to be different. California Tops, which is located in Canada for some reason, started off making aftermarket tops that used the existing factory hardware. They then started to veer off by making Fastback tops. Then they designed a soft top (Sport Top) that does not use any hardware. This is great if you've lifted your jeep. The factory soft top stand 6 over the highest point on the Jeep so this lowers the overall height without changing the stance. California Tops then comes out with another top. The Multi-top is a great design. It requires no hardware like their Sport Top but has a few tricks added. The top comes in several parts that can be used indivisually or together. It can be made into a Bikini-top and tonneau cover, sealed half cab or the full top. This is the top I'm considering.
Factory HardtopsFactory hardtops are pretty straight forward since there were very few changes made over the years. The CJ-7 was the first Jeep to come with a factory hardtop. These tops easily identified by the rear hatch. The hatch has a fiberglass and metal frame with the glass set into it. The handle will be a T-style handle. The rear hatch could then be opened or closed independantly from the tailgate. These tops are heavy and the rear hatch is prone to rusting out. All tops came in white then the exterior was either left or painted black.
YJ's had a similar top with some changes. The rear hatch was changed so there was no longer a frame. Some tops have T-style handles while others did not. It is thought that tops without the handles came with the optional wiper, washer and defroster. All the tops had small vents in the upper rear edge. This allows air to excape through the side vents located on the rear corners on the outside of the top. (CJ's do not have vents.) Like the CJ tops, all of the tops came in white. The exterior was then painted black, tan or spice. The tops use 8 bolts through the tub and 5 sheet metal screws through the windshield frame.
TJ tops had some more changes. The rear hatch was now all glass with no other hardware or latches. The sheet metal screws though the windshield frame was now replaced with a simple but effective latching system. Bolts are still used to bolt the top to the tub. The tops were smoother then the YJ tops but did not have a gel coat. In 2003, the hard top was changed once. The Jeep engineers were able to make the top significantly lighter. Earlier tops had long vents on the rear corners. Late model Jeeps, has the vent integrated into the rear tailgate rather then in the top so they lack vents.
Another thing should be mentioned about Factory Tops or more specifically the doors. CJ's used a L handle on the early full doors. They later went with chrome paddle handles. The doors featured the main window along with a smaller vent window. This design remained unchanged for the YJ. The doors were redesigned for the TJ's so the vent windows are no longer there. CJ and YJ doors are interchangable but the TJ's are not because of the difference in windshields slope. The latch system was also changed from a bolt to a U-shaped bracket.
Aftermarket Hardtops
Hardtops have always been sort of an after thought. The early Jeeps didn't even have that option. Third parties such as Sears Robuck, Koenig Iron Works made metal tops for the early Jeeps. Acme, AJ's Sales and Manufacturing were making some of the early aftermarket fiberglass tops. Then companies like Guidon started making tops. The later tops aren't made like the factory tops. Rather they use molds and spray a clear gel coat onto the first layer. These make the tops shiny and smooth to the touch. I believe Guidon's tops were sold under the Steel Horse brand. Bestop copied the design and sold their own top. Currently, they are the only remaining company. To keep cost down, these companies used fiberglass upper door inserts instead of the full size steel door the factory uses.
There are some down sides to the aftermarket tops. The ones that use the clear gel coating will smell like a boat every time it gets warm. The gel coat will also turn cloudy and differences in the layers of fiberglass may show thought. (ie. the top will look patchy.) The fiberglass upper doors can also run into some problems. Water tends to collect in the rails. Dirt and small rocks can get stuck in the rails preventing them from sliding freely. The glues uses to adhear seals can also run. The upper door windows are rather small. Don't even both sticking your head through them. Also, the lock's for the windows are rather cheap and easily to defeat.
Honestly, if you want a hardtop buy it with the Jeep or else, buy a used factory top and doors. You won't regret it.
Other StuffI should be mentioned that Bestop also makes a half-cab soft top. This is to fill the gap between their Bikini-top, Wind Jammer, Duster Cover combo and the standard soft top. The Bikini-top combo was only designed for light rain and would not keep water out. To solve this they designed the Half-cab top to seal the vehicle better. It should be noted that California Tops had a half-cab design years before Bestop.
