Does anybody have any experience with these yet?

Is the bikini top meant to be put on and left on? Is it a quicker and easier (though less secure) alternative to the soft top (once the hardtop is removed, obviously)? ie: quicker/easier to remove when you want to go completely topless and quicker/easier to throw back on if you find yourself stuck out in the rain? OR, is it meant to be put on and left on until you put the hardtop back on?

Sorry for the newbie questions... this is my first Jeep...

I want to spend May (assuming I take delivery in early May) through August as uncovered as possible but don't really want the daily inconvenience and hassle of dealing with the soft-top... of course, the bikini might be just as inconvenient, or more inconvenient... just looking for some direction here.

 

I have the same questions, basically can I rely on this to keep my Jeep relatively dry during a monsoon.

 

I've been running my CJ-7 w/a bikini for years and will give you $.02 worth. The Bikini will keep the main part of your Jeep dry. Assuming you have the doors on your jeep, you'd be good to go except for the very far back of your jeep. It's gonna get wet if you do nothing to your trunk area. Also, if the wind is blowing and your jeep is pointed away from the wind (not into it), you'll probably get some blowing rain in the rear seat area. That being said, they do make trail covers that aren't too expensive and serve the purpose of keeping your jeep dry when your parked. If you're running down the road w/the bikini and doors and it starts to rain, you'll be fine... just the back area may get a little wet.

Once my new JK comes in, I plan to get a bikini. Still haven't figured out the back part of the jeep yet, not sure if I'll go with a trunk or just throw a trail cover on when I'm parked. :confused:

 

I was thinking of using the set up involving the duster to go over the cargo area...

But can you tell me if I'm off-base in thinking I could use this like a soft top? ie: throw it on real quick when I'm parked or when it starts to rain? Or is set up/take down just as involved with the bikini as it is with the soft top? In which case, I might just as well stick with the soft top???

 

If your question is about the installation of the bikini... It basically fits into a rail that gets installed on the windshield and then you strap it down in a few places. In a hurry I could probably do it in 2 minutes, upwards of 4. So if you had a feeling the rain was coming, you'd be fine with enough time. The trail covers go on quick for those times when you're parked. I can get one of those on in about a minute or so.

 

I've been told that the bikini can be installed two different ways. I don't have a soft top, so I do not have the side "rails" installed. So I install my bikini as described in the earlier post. It’s really easy. This does leave a gap (maybe an inch or two, depending on how you look at it) between the top and the doors. The second way to install it, is utilizing the rails from the soft top. This way there is no gap between the doors and the top. The top fits really tight. I'm not sure how difficult it is to install this way, but I can't imagine that it's as easy as the roll bar straps.

Hope this helps

 

right


I have pictures in my photo album.. the bikini is not good enough to protect your JK's interior from rain. Your floors going to get wet.

and yes it will flap in the wind.. its a Jeep, its part of the deal...


with surround


without

 

I've heard that the 2 door flaps, but my 4 door is solid.

 

No flaps..

 

A question on the windjammer!

I had one on my old YJ and it worked pretty damn good at keeping the elements out.

But the JK upright supports for the roll bar (where the top of the seat belt fastens) is much more forward than the YJ I think. It looks like the seats would have to moved close to their forward most position for the windjammer to fit.

I would appreciate it if someone could clarify the fit of the windjammer in relation to the front seat position.

Thanks!