Soft Top: Quadratec / Bestop NX Glide / OEM
06-13-2018, 01:46 PM
#11
Some more top stuff.
First, I tried to get by with just the Sunrider Hard Top. For me, this was not an option.
Second, I tried the Quadratop Adventure S. I liked the versatility of having the Sunrider along with the safari top/fastback look. As stated previously, that was utter crap. The window surrounds were out of square, the top had gaps around the windows, and ultimately I couldn't get the rear window to zip. I was in a 75-degree garage with the internal temp of the Jeep at 86-degrees (space heaters). I returned it and reinstalled the hardtop until I could afford the step-up soft top from Bestop.
Third, I ordered the Bestop NX Plus Twill. Window surrounds were much better quality and, while it still fought me, I WAS able to zip it up (75-degree day, no sun). Right away, I was not pleased with the fit and finish. The hook-and-loop strips at the back of the top skin did not line up with the side windows. As a result, the second you rolled down the windows, the glide channels would pop out (meaning the rear windows did not seal). Unacceptable. I called Bestop directly and they were great. They sent a new top skin (back-ordered, so that was a coulpe of weeks), no charge. It was a worse fit than the orginal. I called them back, they said I'd have to go through Quadratec to return. I did, they were, as usual, terrific to deal with. I ordered a replacement (the Bestop NX) that has zippers, but it was back ordered. After a week-and-half, I called to see if they had a sense of when the top would be back in stock. They said, best case, the week of the 25th. I canceled the order.
Fourth, I ordered the Rampage Trailview top. I had a Rampage roof on my TJ and I loved it. It arrived today. I unpacked the box and damn if it's not the same roof as the Quadratop. I was not optimistic. I assembled the surrounds and immediately could see they were a better fit. The roof is currently at my sister's beach house, closed up on a windowed porch, hoping to bake the hell out of it all morning. Tomorrow I will install it. Bestop (falsely named) is uninstalled, packed, and waiting for a return label from Quadratop. Never again. So, desite my poor experience with the Quadratop, it is most definitely made by Rampage (and I mean it is EXACTLY the same hardware), which bodes well for it. Fingers crossed that this one will be the charm. I will post an update to thre thread after it is installed. Man... I just want some sun.
First, I tried to get by with just the Sunrider Hard Top. For me, this was not an option.
Second, I tried the Quadratop Adventure S. I liked the versatility of having the Sunrider along with the safari top/fastback look. As stated previously, that was utter crap. The window surrounds were out of square, the top had gaps around the windows, and ultimately I couldn't get the rear window to zip. I was in a 75-degree garage with the internal temp of the Jeep at 86-degrees (space heaters). I returned it and reinstalled the hardtop until I could afford the step-up soft top from Bestop.
Third, I ordered the Bestop NX Plus Twill. Window surrounds were much better quality and, while it still fought me, I WAS able to zip it up (75-degree day, no sun). Right away, I was not pleased with the fit and finish. The hook-and-loop strips at the back of the top skin did not line up with the side windows. As a result, the second you rolled down the windows, the glide channels would pop out (meaning the rear windows did not seal). Unacceptable. I called Bestop directly and they were great. They sent a new top skin (back-ordered, so that was a coulpe of weeks), no charge. It was a worse fit than the orginal. I called them back, they said I'd have to go through Quadratec to return. I did, they were, as usual, terrific to deal with. I ordered a replacement (the Bestop NX) that has zippers, but it was back ordered. After a week-and-half, I called to see if they had a sense of when the top would be back in stock. They said, best case, the week of the 25th. I canceled the order.
Fourth, I ordered the Rampage Trailview top. I had a Rampage roof on my TJ and I loved it. It arrived today. I unpacked the box and damn if it's not the same roof as the Quadratop. I was not optimistic. I assembled the surrounds and immediately could see they were a better fit. The roof is currently at my sister's beach house, closed up on a windowed porch, hoping to bake the hell out of it all morning. Tomorrow I will install it. Bestop (falsely named) is uninstalled, packed, and waiting for a return label from Quadratop. Never again. So, desite my poor experience with the Quadratop, it is most definitely made by Rampage (and I mean it is EXACTLY the same hardware), which bodes well for it. Fingers crossed that this one will be the charm. I will post an update to thre thread after it is installed. Man... I just want some sun.
