In Search for a Summer Jeep Top to Suit Your Needs

I have a Jeep with a hard top.  It was superb and durable and gave me the protection I needed.  However, it was not advisable for summer.  I asked a friend on what Jeep top is appropriate and he suggested I purchase a summertop:  the  Bestop Bikini or Safari Top.  I went to a Jeep accessories and parts dealer and look for these two summer tops.  Here is what I found out.

The Bikini Jeep top protects the front area, the reason why it was named such.  This top gives you the opportunity to feel the air.  It also protects you from intermittent rainfall, dust and getting sunburn.  It is also easy to install; however, your passengers are not protected from dirt, dust, falling debris and the scorching heat of the sun.

The Safari Jeep top covers both the front and rear seats.  Thus, you do not need to worry of flying debris, dirt or dust to hurt your passengers.  They also get protected from the sun’s heat and erratic rainwater. 

Advantages of a Summer Jeep Top

·         It gives you the opportunity to enjoy the open air without getting sunburned and wet from irregular rain showers. 

·         You get to see a lot of what is ahead like the panoramic view.

·         It costs less than hard tops.

Disadvantages of a Summer Jeep Top

·         It does not give you much shield during sudden change of climate as well as from insects and flying objects.

·         The windshield channel will have to be removed if you want to reinstall your hard top or soft top.

Who Should Get a Summer Jeep Top

·         those who live in dry climates with infrequent rainfalls; 

·         those who has a garage to safeguard their Jeep during bad weather conditions;

·         those who use their vehicle only for fun driving on a fine sunny day; and

·         those who do not mind bad weather, insects, dust, etc. 

Choosing the Best Soft Jeep Top

It is always nice to drive when the weather is pleasant – not cold or hot but just right.  However, you must realize that weather conditions have changed these past years because of global warming.  It gets too hot and rains come suddenly so you need to be prepared at all times.  Giving you protection while driving are Jeep tops.  A Jeep soft top can safeguard you from sudden rain showers even on a sunny day.  Soft tops come in different styles and kinds; but which of these suits you best?

Bestop Half Top.  This puts together the Windjammer, Bikini and Duster Deck Cover tops in one.  It protects the front seat and has a fold-back sunroof so you can feel the fresh air while driving on a sunny day.  Providing maximized ventilation is the zip-out back window with a fitted mesh screen.  The kit consists of hardware with a warranty of one year.  It is made of excellent quality fabric.

Replace-a-Top.  The Bestop Replace-a-Top is the best option for a used up original soft top.

Replace-a-Top Sailcloth.  Made from a better quality fabric than the replace-a-top, this is another Bestop item.  Both insulation and temperature control are better.

The Supertop.  It features zip-out disposable windows and hardware so it is best recommended with top-less Jeeps.   It is made of excellent fabric that easily gets back to its original form regardless of any climate conditions.

Sunrider Jeep Top.  An easy-to-install top with a flip-back sunroof, it gives you the chance to savor the fresh breeze on the road.

The Tigertop.  This Jeep soft top is ideal for vintage Jeep owners.  It is modern yet has a traditional era style.

Pavement Ends Jeep Top.  Buy this top if your budget is tight.  It has all the essentials and is available in various designs.  You can order the flip top with sunroof as add-on.

The Brief Top.  It is more fade-resistant and defies stretching; however, it is less sturdy.  It is not too vulnerable to various weather conditions.  Marine grade fabric is used for this Jeep top.

Bestop Overview

Bestop is the number one manufacturer of Jeep and truck accessories, soft tops, powerBoard, and more. For almost 60 years Bestop is the organization that provides products needed in the marketplace that enhances the look and performance of various Jeeps, trucks, vans, and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). More than half a century has gone by. Bestop has provided quality assurance, customer support and logistics.

Those qualities are hard to come by in this day and age. The organization has been able to attain—and SUSTAIN—this level of excellence in product quality and customer service through hard work, commitment, loyalty, and the ambitious yet accommodating spirit to gain favor with its loyal customers and potential consumers.

The inventor of the modern Jeep top and the Bikini top, the organization continues to garner favor with its loyal customers by listening to their feedback. Bestop then has the corporate and technical personnel in place to sift through the positive and negative, and update its products to make for better performances. The improvements and fine tuning yield more efficient, safer and more comfortable treks along the roads for those people who purchase the Bestop brand.

The improvements for 2013 are a reflection of Bestop’s commitment to its consumer base and broadening its appeal to the casual customer. The upgrades include the Super Top NX (STNX) Black Twill and Replace-a-Top (RAT) Black Twill. The STNX is a new Black Twill fabric that has a lifetime limited warranty (the only soft top that can be bought with a warranty this strong). The RAT is a Bestop-exclusive Black Twill fabric for the finest only replacement top. Both are made to fit 1997-2013 TJ, JK, and JK Unlimited.

Those are just a couple of the many fine products that Bestop has to offer. The organization is always geared towards gaining the loyalty and favor of its customers. The leader in Jeep and truck accessories looks forward to many more years of producing fine services for its loyal and future consumers. As Bestop’s 2013 catalogue says in its introduction: “If you’ve got questions and feedback, let us know. We’ve been here for almost 60 years. We’ll be here tomorrow.”

Bestop: A Brief History

Founded in 1950, Bestop, Inc. has been perfecting and delivering our aftermarket line of soft tops, bumpers, flares, and accessories for over 60 years. Back then during down times at his car-upholstery business, Bestop founder Tom Bradley chose to keep idle hands busy by stitching up WWII Jeep fabric tops and side curtains. His attention to detail combined with care and class to produce memorable tops at his small trim shop in Boulder, Colorado.

That modest Jeep-top outfit moved into a location with seven employees and today Bestop, Inc. employs over 250 workers at its Broomfield, Colorado central complex. Back in 1954, there were only two soft-top colors available to dress your vehicle – today’s available colors number in double digits. The company has evolved to meet the demands of loyal customers who recognize quality and durability in every product from best-selling bumpers to Bestop® Supertops®.

In 1986, Bestop became the factory supplier of soft tops, tonneaus, and accessories for companies including Suzuki, Ford, Toyota and countless other truck and SUV manufacturers. Constant expansion has taken Bestop from the heart of 4x4 country in Colorado to U.S. locations in California, Texas, Nevada, Michigan and Missouri, and Mexico and the Orient house manufacturing facilities.

Today, Bestop is the pre-eminent aftermarket company for Jeep tops and a host of accessories. In addition to bumpers, Bestop boasts a line of fender flares, bed storage systems and light truck accessories for 4x4s. Whether you want to equip your rig with the rugged, stylish look of a Bestop® Supertop® or the whistle-clean look of a Strapless Bikini Top, Bestop is the first and last word in Jeep tops and accessories.

Bestop Overview

Bestop is the number one manufacturer of Jeep and truck accessories, soft tops, powerBoard, and more. For almost 60 years Bestop is the organization that provides products needed in the marketplace that enhances the look and performance of various Jeeps, trucks, vans, and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). More than half a century has gone by. Bestop has provided quality assurance, customer support and logistics.

Those qualities are hard to come by in this day and age. The organization has been able to attain—and sustain—this level of excellence in product quality and customer service through hard work, commitment, loyalty, and the ambitious yet accommodating spirit to gain favor with its loyal customers and potential consumers.

The inventor of the modern Bestop Supertop and the Bikini top, the organization continues to garner favor with its loyal customers by listening to their feedback. Bestop then has the corporate and technical personnel in place to sift through the positive and negative, and update its products to make for better performances. The improvements and fine tuning yield more efficient, safer and more comfortable treks along the roads for those people who purchase the Bestop brand.

The improvements for 2013 are a reflection of Bestop’s commitment to its consumer base and broadening its appeal to the casual customer. The upgrades include the Super Top NX (STNX) Black Twill and Replace-a-Top (RAT) Black Twill. The STNX is a new Black Twill fabric that has a lifetime limited warranty (the only soft top that can be bought with a warranty this strong). The RAT is a Bestop-exclusive Black Twill fabric for the finest only replacement top. Both are made to fit 1997-2013 TJ, JK, and JK Unlimited.

Those are just a couple of the many fine products that Bestop has to offer. Bestop and 4WD are always geared towards gaining the loyalty and favor of its customers. The leader in Jeep and truck accessories looks forward to many more years of producing fine services for its loyal and future consumers. As Bestop’s 2013 catalogue says in its introduction: “If you’ve got questions and feedback, let us know. We’ve been here for almost 60 years. We’ll be here tomorrow.”