Ok, well I was one of the folks who managed to end up with a dimpled tub due to the install of the duster. It was extremely tight putting it on and now there are about 8 dimples only 2 of which are pretty bad (which make you notice the others). Bestop told me to get 3 estimates to fix the problem. I haven't managed to get around to that, due to family stuff, but now that it's warming up, and I've got a bit more free time I will. Anyway enough rambling on to the BEST way to get your duster soft enough to easily go on.

1) Forget about laying it in the sun. Unless you live in AZ or somewhere where it's really hot for a really good long time, this isn't real practical in the spring.

2) Check your dusters plastic pieces and make sure that they do give a bit and haven't somehow become rock hard (this really only applies to the long plastic piece).

3) Gently ball up your duster making sure you again don't break the plastic (it wasn't even a concern with mine as it seemed very flexible).

4) Put that ill fitting pain in the neck, tub denting, SOB into the dryer on high heat and walk away.

5) I left mine in for about half the cycle, which was just before the heat started to get lower.

6) Install soon after heating as the fabric will go back to its original less pliable state.

7) Kick yourself for not trying this the first time and causing damage to your brand new Jeep.


*Step 7 might only apply to me.


As a side note, while this would definitely work to get your duster on when the temperatures are colder, I wouldn't recommend it as it's certainly a possibility that when the fabric tightens up in the cold that it could cause the dimpling.

I'm convinced the dimpling was a result of bestop designing these dusters about a half inch to an inch too short, and as a result, pulling on the fabric and trying to force it into the channels, I most likely pushed in the tub with my own fingers or hand. Pretty sad that Jeep built something with sheet metal thin enough to dent with just the press of a thumb.

I hope this will help someone out and keep anyone else from putting a few dimples in their jeep.

Glad it worked.

Tub denting? Pics? Thanks for the tips and warnings.

Jeff

WOW....the dryer....why didn't I think of that?

Well, since you asked, I'll tell you:
1) I mentioned I haven't had any time due to family stuff, etc. That family stuff would be my mom dying and going through the probate process in DC, MD, and Virginia since we had property in each. On top of that, my father suffered a stroke and has dementia, and I'm the one who takes care of him 24/7. Running around to 3 different places got put on the back burner since I really don't leave my house lately for much more than groceries, meetings with lawyers, appraisers, and my most favorite the IRS, etc.
Edit: I figured saying "family stuff" would have sufficed as to why I'd do something so ignorant as to not get it immediately to 3 dealers, but there's a bit more detail. lol

2) I figured that before I got it fixed and tried it again and risk damaging a newly repaired vehicle, I'd give this a shot and see how it worked. If it dented it a bit more, no biggie, they've already agreed to take care of it, but if I had it repaired and managed to dent the tub again, I'm guessing they'd be a whole lot less friendly about offering to fix it twice.


Basically, I just thought I'd offer up a way for others to try and avoid doing any sort of damage to their Jeep. And when I put it on orignallly it was the fall, but we were having very warm weather, in the mid 70s and a couple 80 degree days. The heat on those days didn't even begin to soften the fabric like putting it in the dryer did.

Sorry to hear about your mother's passing and your fathers health troubles, and thanks for taking the time to pass along this "Dryer Tip".

Thanks, I appreciate it. Definitely hasn't been my best year.

The main point wasn't supposed to be what a crappy year I had or what a dumb a$$ I've been not getting the Jeep in sooner (definitely wasn't disagreeing on being a dummy, timing things has just been tougher than expected), but instead just another little trick to help people get their dusters on easier. So if my response sounded like a bit of a rant, it probably was, even though it wasn't intended to be. lol

In other words, forget that I'm a big dummy and next time you go to put on that new duster (I'm guessing those that have had them a while, the fabric has stretched sufficiently to not be tough to get on), pop it in the dryer and warm it up if it doesn't seem to want to go on right away.

I did a write up about this a few weeks back.. I thought about using the dryer but i was afraid of melting pieces in there so I just laid it out in front of my heater.

I'd highly recommend the Bestop Duster, in case anyone reading this thinks otherwise.

The Dryer tip is certainly useful & helpful for new owners to get it fitted. Yes, the Duster is definitely tight fitting but it NEEDS to be so rain water runs off the sides and doesn't pool in the centre. Duster also covers and hides the trunk contents.

Once I fitted one side it then took my son and I alot of pulling & pressing to get the opposite side secured in the side channel. Again, its manufactured small so it remains tight when finally fitted.

Here's a photo on my 4-door

Also.. Those like fabric hooks on the end of the duster are there for a reason. if you use those to pull the Duster to stretch it out to get it on it works out alot better than just grabbing the material of the Duster itself and pulling. I watched another guy try to put his on like that and I just sat and laughed. Then I told him to move and put it on myself without much difficulty.