Soft Top Comparison Advice Needed: Bowless vs Bowed, ease of use, quality, etc.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria
Soft Top Comparison Advice Needed: Bowless vs Bowed, ease of use, quality, etc.
so i'm planning to by a soft top for my '14 JKU. I'm leaning towards Bestop NX because I like the fast-back look, and I'm assuming it's easier to install and uninstall too. But is it easier and faster to put down/up? Are framed/bowed tops faster and easier to up/down? Is the Bestop NX twill version really worth $500 more?
Lot's of questions, I've done lots of research, like looking at Smittybilt, Rampage, and Softopper too, but ultimately cannot tell major differences and advantages (or disadvantages) amongst all the forums, video reviews, and product pages out there.
Lot's of questions, I've done lots of research, like looking at Smittybilt, Rampage, and Softopper too, but ultimately cannot tell major differences and advantages (or disadvantages) amongst all the forums, video reviews, and product pages out there.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 30
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City
I have had the Trextop NX (frameless) and traded it for the Supertop NX (bow framed). I find the framed top much easier to install and take on and off. If you intend to do any fully topless driving, I recommend the framed top. Also, I have never seen a side by side comparison of the sailcloth and the twill, but I have heard that the major difference is the color. The sailcloth is the greyish black and the twill is more of a jet black....
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 198
Likes: 4
From: Dayville, CT
I have the Bestop Supertop NX (framed). I never owned a Trek top (frameless) but everything I've read points to the fact that it's not designed to fully remove. More suitable for safari top driving. The Supertop can fold down and put back up in minutes. Great top. I'm very happy with it. Mine is sailcloth. The twill looks very nice but I also run Bestop soft doors in the warm weather and they aren't available in twill so it wouldn't match.
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
I have the trek top and I never take the top portion off until I put the hard top on for winter. It would be a pain to take it off and on. I always just zip the Windows off and run like that. On occasion I have folded the sun rider portion back with the windows out. I bought that top because I wanted the top cover for summer because the sun in Oklahoma is so hot. Get plenty of that hot sun while on the Harley!
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 17
From: Shelby County, TN
There is a big difference between the Trek Top and TrekTop NX is that the rear windows on the NX are removable and the TrekTop they are not.
Please keep that in mind so you get the right one you want.
R/
Will
Please keep that in mind so you get the right one you want.
R/
Will
JK Freak
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 653
Likes: 16
From: Chapel Hill, NC
so i'm planning to by a soft top for my '14 JKU. I'm leaning towards Bestop NX because I like the fast-back look, and I'm assuming it's easier to install and uninstall too. But is it easier and faster to put down/up? Are framed/bowed tops faster and easier to up/down? Is the Bestop NX twill version really worth $500 more? Lot's of questions, I've done lots of research, like looking at Smittybilt, Rampage, and Softopper too, but ultimately cannot tell major differences and advantages (or disadvantages) amongst all the forums, video reviews, and product pages out there.
Normally I run the Hard Top in the winter, then install the Premium Sunrider in Spring through end of Fall. The full sun is pretty harsh where I live, so the SpiderWebShade mesh top makes it the perfect mix of light and sun protection when I put the Premium top down. Folding the top down takes about 2 minutes total when you get used to it.