We just installed our Bestop soft top and there is at least an inch gap between the window and the tailgate. Everyone tells us to let the sun warm it and it will stretch. We've tried that and nothing. We've watched YouTube videos and notice that most everyone has difficulty snapping the back window into place. Is it possible that we received the wrong size window?

 

There aren't various size windows for that top. New tops can just be difficult as they stretch. What's the temperature like up there? It's really more about heat than it is sunshine. IE.....sunny here in Texas right now means ~100*, but "sunny" in colorado mountains can mean 60*....which doesn't make the fabric stretch much at all. Not sure what weather in Illinois is currently. Which top did you purchase?

 

Run the heat on full blast for 30 minutes, it'll stretch.

 

Yeah probably just a new top problem. My top is 8 years old and if it is cold outside it's still almost impossible to zip closed! On a recent trip to Utah it took two of us struggling with pliers to get it zipped. I knew I shouldn't have unzipped it but needed access to the cooler for resupply.

You can probably gently push down the rear soft top support to get you a little closer. Don't break the support but just gently push it down to give you a little more slack.

Good luck!!

 

Thank you for the suggestions. It's about 87 right now and the Jeep should be in the sun for most of the afternoon. We'll try to stretch the heck out of it later this afternoon and see how that goes.

 

Also, might try detaching from the windshield up front, thereby releasing a little tension. Get rear window in place/situated, then pull the front back down and latch at the footman loops. That way you're using the leverage in the front structure to stretch things rather than the rear window. Not how it typically has to be done, but might help stretch the new top easier.