Bestop® Sales and Information Guide

Bestop Sales and Information Guide
®
www.Bestop.com
Identifying the Vehicle
The following are pictures and distinguishing
characteristics of Jeep® vehicles from 1941 to today.
Wrangler® YJ (1992-1995)
Same as 87-91 Wrangler models except sport cage extends to
rear of body tub with vertical downtubes. Rectangular headlights.
Wrangler® Unlimited JK 4 Door ( 2007-current)
Four doors. Windshield width is 56”. Curved windshield, plastic
stock front fenders, push button on outside door handles.
Distance from door hinge to rear of vehicle is 109”.
56”
109”
Wrangler® YJ (1986 1/2-1991)
Windshield width 55”. One piece windshield. Factory roll bars
with horizontal supports. Rectangular headlights and turn
signal lights, with squared off front grille. Comes with either
half or full hard doors. Measure 81” from door hinge to rear
of vehicle.
Wrangler® JK 2 Door (2007-current)
Two doors. Windshield width is 56”. Curved windshield, plastic
stock front fenders, push button on outside door handles.
Distance from door hinge to rear of vehicle is 88”.
56”
88”
CJ7 (1976-1986)
Wrangler® TJ (1997-2006)
Windshield width 55”. Round headlights. Center mount spare
tire carrier with brake light chimsle. Tailgate opens to the side.
Measures 81” from door hinge to rear of vehicle.
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Windshield width 55”, round fender Jeep, one piece windshield,
factory roll bar, bottom mounted windshield wipers, factory
mounted door hinges, has either no windshield retainer or
screw-in design. Door opening looks like a “U” rather than an
inverted “S”, measures 81” from door hinge to rear of vehicle.
CJ8 Scrambler (1981-1986)
Same basic vehicle as a CJ7 except with an extended rear body
tub. Measures 103” from door hinge to rear of vehicle.
CJ5 (1976-1983)
CJ3A and M38 (1948-1953)
Windshield width 55”, round fender Jeep, one piece windshield,
factory roll bar, bottom mounted windshield wipers, factory
mounted door hinges, windshield retainer screws on, sloped
windshield, inverted “S” shaped door. Measures 71-1/2” from
door hinge to rear of vehicle.
Windshield height 27”, flat fenders, one piece windshield, vent
in middle of windshield (factory), bottom mounted windshield
wipers, inverted “S” shaped door, hood height 6” (fender to top
of hood).
CJ2A and M38 (1946-1949)
M38A1 (1951-1971) and CJ5 (1955-1975)
Windshield width 59”, round fender Jeep, one piece windshield,
no factory door hinges, windshield retainer welded on vehicle,
windshield at 90º angle to hood, inverted “S” shaped door.
Windshield height 25”, flat fenders, split windshield, has tailgate,
top mounted windshield wipers, inverted “S” shaped door,
side mounted spare tire (factory), hood height 6” (fender to
top of hood).
CJ6 (1955-1975)
Same basic vehicle as an early model CJ5 except with an
extended rear body tub.
MB (1941-1945)
CJ3B (1953-1964)
Windshield height 23”, flat fenders, split windshield, no tailgate,
recessed headlights, top mounted windshield wipers, inverted
“S” shaped door, rear mounted spare tire (factory), hood height
6” (fender to top of hood).
Windshield height 22-1/2”, hood height 10-1/2” (fender to top
of hood), one piece windshield, has tailgate, bottom mounted
windshield wipers, inverted “S” shaped door, side mounted tire
carrier (factory).
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Identifying Hardware
It is important to identify what type of hardware a customer has. The type of soft top that should be purchased
depends on whether a customer’s hardware is Factory Original or Aftermarket.
For older Jeep® models such as CJ-7 and CJ-5, the original hardware is likely to be damaged or in poor operating condition. Make
sure to carefully check its condition (i.e. rust, out of shape or altered) carefully before ordering a Replace-a-top™.
CJ-5, ('55-'75) and CJ-5, ('76-'83)
CJ-7, ('76-'86)
Factory Original (OEM)
The bows are silver in color, galvanized aluminum, and all of
the parts of the bows are separate tubes. Factory door handles
were a black plastic twist handle. Factory soft doors were one
piece, with a window at the top and bottom of the door.
Check the stamp in the window for the manufacture’s name.
Factory original tops had an AMC logo on the window. Early
model CJ-5’s (’55-’75) have a 59” windshield and late model
CJ-5’s (’76-’83) have a 55” windshield.
Factory Original (OEM)
These are basically the same in appearance as the CJ-5 tops, in
which the door configuration will give it away.
Aftermarket (AM)
The bows are black powder-coated, there is a left and a right
side, and the components of the bows are riveted together.
There are two Aftermarket tops for these years. The Tigertop™
has a one-piece door. It is a snap installation top, and does not
have removable side and rear windows. The Supertop® has
two-piece soft doors, belt rail installation, and does have
removable side and rear windows.
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Aftermarket (AM)
Also the same as CJ-5. There is a Tigertop™ and a Supertop®
available for these years. However, there is a special case with
the Supertops for these years. If the customer has two-piece
soft doors, you will want to ask whether the doors are connected
to one another with TWO PINS or THREE PINS. If the answer is
two pins, the customer has an old style Supertop (part#51598*),
and Bestop can only provide replacements for side belt rails,
corner belt rails and windshield retainers.
Note:
Bestop offers a replacement top for CJ-5, ’76-’83 original hardware. If you have a ‘55-‘75 CJ-5, then you will need to purchase a
whole new soft top with hardware, such as our Tigertop.
*Description of a 51598:
Two-piece soft doors, with only two pins holding the upper to the
lower, and the upper rear corner of the door is SQUARE. The
vertical rod (part of the bow, located behind the door opening) is
straight, and has a channel, which holds a plastic strip, similar to
the belt rails around the body. The rear window has a straight
plastic strip sewn across the bottom of the window, and utilizes a
belt rail channel that is attached directly to the tailgate. This top is
obsolete. There are no replacement parts available.
YJ (‘87-‘95) Supertop® Hardware
YJ (‘87-‘95) Factory Hardware
TJ (‘97-‘06) Supertop® Hardware
TJ (‘97-‘06) Factory Hardware
YJ (‘87-‘95) Sunrider® Hardware
TJ (‘97-‘06) Sunrider® Hardware
JK 2-dr. (‘07-current) Supertop® Hardware
JK 2-dr. (‘07-current) Factory Hardware
JK 4-dr. (‘07-current) Supertop® Hardware
JK 4-dr. (‘07-current) Factory Hardware
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FAQ Section
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Can I get replacement parts for my
Bestop soft top?
Q:
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Yes. A majority of parts are available and can be
purchased directly from Bestop or our distributors.
Contact Bestop Customer Service at 800-845-3567 or
[email protected]. You may also contact any of
our Where to Buy distributors that are listed at
Bestop.com in the Where To Buy section. Please note
that when products are discontinued, their replacement parts are no longer carried.
Q:
A:
Which soft top will fit on my Jeep?
Depending on the model year of your Jeep, you will
have a variety of soft top options to choose from. If
you have the factory original bow system, a Replacea-top is your best option. For those looking for an
improved driving experience, we recommend the
Bestop Sailcloth Replace-a-top. It’s produced with a
much heavier and denser fabric and offers less
flapping at highway speeds and sound-deadening
qualities to reduce road noise.
If your factory bow is old, rusted, bent or difficult to
fold up or down, we suggest you look at a soft top
kit that offers both the hardware system and soft
top. Bestop’s Supertop, Sunrider or Tigertop are all
options you may choose from. If you are not sure if
you have the factory original bow system, check out
our Identifying Hardware section on page 2.
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What is the life expectancy of a new soft top?
This depends on how often you drive your Jeep, how
the vehicle is stored, if the top is removed frequently
and many other factors. As a rule of thumb, the
average life of a soft top is 3-5 years.
What is the warranty on my Bestop product?
Bestop products come with a one, two or three year
Limited Warranty. You may reference the product’s
installation instructions for the warranty term or contact
the place where you purchased your Bestop product from.
For product still within its warranty period, please call
your place of purchase regarding any warrantable
issues. For product beyond the set warranty period,
contact Bestop for further instructions.
What do I do if I am missing something
out of my new soft top kit?
Sometimes a part may be missing out of your new soft
top kit. Do not send the entire kit back. Please call
the place where you purchased your Bestop product
from and your missing part will be sent to you.
Why won’t my new soft doors seal to the
soft top?
This is a common issue on door installations with a
simple solution. Soft upper doors and 2-pc doors
may require the door frame to be bent inward in
order for the door to seal properly. This is a very
common practice. Doors are not shipped pre-bent
for a variety of reasons including; bent doors rub
against each other and cause damage, larger boxes
for bent doors means more expensive shipping, and
pre-bent doors will not necessarily work for each
individual’s vehicle.
With the door in the open position, we suggest
grabbing the upper door with both hands and pulling
down to create a bit of an arc with the door. The
frame is steel and can handle this type of pressure
so do not worry about breaking it. There are also
adjustments that can be made on 2-piece doors and
lower half doors by the hinge pins on the door that
allow the door to close properly.
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Does Bestop make an upper door that fits
with a factory original YJ hardtop?
Bestop has a hard upper door that fits a hard lower
door for the Bestop YJ hardtop. These doors do not
fit with any other YJ hardtop.
Can I purchase replacement parts for my
Upper Door Sliders?
Upper Door Sliders come in a cassette and can only
be sold as individual finished doors. If these
cassettes are disassembled, it is very unlikely they
could be reassembled correctly. Therefore we are
unable to sell replacement parts for them. If you
believe you have a warranty issue, please reference
your installation instructions or contact your place
of purchase.
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Why is my new soft top so tight when I try
to fit it on the frame?
Out of the box, new soft top fabric can be very tight.
This especially applies to soft tops made with the same
fabric as factory-original soft tops. We recommend
spreading out the soft top components in the sun
when the temperature is at least 72 degrees F, and
the warmer it is, the better. This enables the fabric to
stretch and expand, making for an easier installation.
You can still install your top in temperatures below
72 degrees F, but it may take longer for the fabric to
relax. The top fits tightly to allow a tight fit that will
not flap when driving.
One of my windows has a small dent or
impression in the vinyl – how do I get it out?
This is a common issue due to shipping and handling.
We recommend that the window be exposed to
direct sunlight for a period of 3 days. Heat and direct
sunlight make the vinyl more pliable and in many
cases will remove or reduce minor dents and small
scratches from the vinyl window.
Why does my soft top bulge when my
vehicle is traveling at highway speeds?
As you drive faster, the air pressure above the top
fabric is less than inside the Jeep. This causes the
fabric to bulge upward or the doors to bow out
slightly. Bestop’s Supertop and Sunrider have
adjustable frame tension to help minimize this
condition. If bulging or flapping continues, check
the measurement from the windshield to the rear
tub to make sure is meets factory specs, and make
the necessary adjustments. Replacement of hardware may be required in some cases, depending
upon the age and condition of the vehicle.
How long does it take to install a fabric soft
top? (If you have never installed one before)
Replace-a-top – Up to 1.5 hours*
Supertop – Up to 3 hours*
Sunrider – Up to 3 hours*
Tigertop – Up to 3 hours*
Halftop – Up to 2 hours
*At optimum temperatures
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Does the Flexatrunk™ fit with the factory
subwoofer?
Yes. Made for the 2007-current Wrangler and Wrangler
Unlimited, the Flexatrunk™ fits with or without a
factory subwoofer.There is a cutout that can be
removed to fit with the factory subwoofer.
Does the Instatrunk™ fit with the factory
subwoofer?
Yes. For the 2007-current Wrangler and Wrangler
Unlimited Instatrunk, Bestop offers a version to fit
with the factory subwoofer and another that fits
without the factory subwoofer.
Are Bestop TrailMax™ and TrailMax™ II
seats the same as factory seats?
They are physically the same size, but TrailMax seats
come in a variety of different types of fabric, and may
have upgraded features like higher bolsters, removable headrests and recliner levers. Bestop TrailMax
and TrailMax II seats meet all DOT standards and
requirements.
How long has Bestop been in business?
Bestop has been in business for over 50 years, since
1954. Starting out as a small trim shop making
canvas tops for WWII Jeeps in Boulder, Colorado, we
have gradually expanded our product lines and
operation over the years to be your full service Jeep®
top and Jeep® accessories provider.
Does Bestop manufacture the factory
original (OEM) soft tops for Jeep®
Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited?
Yes. Bestop has been the factory original supplier
to Chrysler for Jeep soft tops since 1986. Bestop has
also been the factory supplier of soft tops and
accessories for Suzuki, Isuzu, GM, Toyota and many
other small SUVs. Additionally, we’ve also been serving the Toyota truck market and Toyota accessories
market for Land Cruiser for over 30 years.
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Soft Top Maintenance
Soft tops require normal care and maintenance in
order to keep them looking good and performing well.
To extend the life of your soft top, the fabric portion of
the top can be cleaned with warm soapy water and a
soft brush. Do not leave mud and dirt on the top over a
prolonged period as they will stain the fabric.
Bestop® Fabric Cleaner, Protectant and Vinyl Window
Cleaner are specially formulated to safely provide a
total cleaning and protection system for Bestop fabric
soft tops, soft fabric accessories, plastic windows and
molded accessories.
Bestop® Cleaner is very effective in
removing stains that may damage
your soft top fabric. Features of
Bestop Cleaner include:
Soft top vinyl windows require regular
care and maintenance to improve their
durability over time. Bestop® Vinyl
Window Cleaner:
• Safely cleans, protects and polishes for
unrivaled appearance
• Removes light scratches and provides a
layer of protectant to reduce scratches and
fogging in the future
• Helps prevent UV damage
• Easy application - wipe on, buff dry
A silicon lubricant can also be applied to the zippers on
your windows to aid in ease of zipping them on and off.
• Specifically formulated for Bestop soft tops,
molded/soft accessories, exterior/interior
vinyl and fabric.
• Safely removes the toughest soils and stains
and will not harm Jeep® and truck finishes
• Anti-oxidant, low pH, no bleach formula,
and leaves no residue
• Biodegradable and environmentally
friendly.
• Easy application - spray on, wipe dry
Bestop® Vinyl Window Cleaner safely cleans and protects soft top windows.
After cleaning your soft top, we
highly suggest that a fabric protectant,
such as Bestop® Protectant be applied
to help reduce the possibility of stains
in the future. Bestop Protectant:
• Works on soft tops, molded/soft accessories,
exterior/interior vinyl and fabric
• Safely repels dust, grease, dirt and mildew
• Offers complete protection against UV
fading, cracking and hardening
• Easy to apply -- spray on, wipe dry
• Contains no destructive silicone or
petroleum solvents
Bestop® Cleaner and Protectant applies with ease. Avoid contact with vinyl
glass windows.
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Helpful Hints
®
Identifying Bikinis
Hard-Door Striker Pins
Most of Bestop’s Replacement Door Kits are designed to be
mounted on Jeep vehicles that originally had factory full
steel hard-doors, or factory lower steel half doors. The
hard-doors closed on a specific type of door striker pin. There
are three main types of door striker pins. Factory-original
striker pins with their corresponding door handle are
shown below.
YJ Rotary Paddle Handle
Traditional Bikini®
Offer classic styling. Attaches to the vehicle via tie-down
straps with footman loops located on the rear of the vehicle.
This particular Bikini is a favorite among early CJ-5 and CJ-7
vehicle owners.
Door Striker
Front
Outside of Vehicle
Strapless Bikini®
Attaches to Factory Door Striker
Rotary Latch Paddle Handle,
Right, Qty - 1, Left, Qty - 1,
Part Number 275.92
TJ Rotary Paddle Handle
Attaches directly to sport bars for a super-clean look.
Nadar Pin
Factory Door Striker
Door Striker
Header Bikini®
Attaches to Factory Door Striker
Latches - Rotary Paddle Handle Rt., Qty - 1, Lt., Qty - 1,
Part Number 319.30
Factory Door Striker
Special Note:
The Rotary Latch Paddle Handle will only latch on the automobile
manufacturer's original equipment steel latch pin located on the
vehicle. Do Not adjust or remove this part.
CJ/YJ Paddle Handle
Paddle Handle Assembly,
Qty - 2, Part Number 245.46
Designed specifically for ’97-Current Wranglers. Fits into a
channel located on the front of the header windshield channel
and attaches to the center hoop roll bar just like a regular
Strapless Bikini. The header Windshield Channel rests over the
top of the windshield frame and is secured to the vehicle by
two J-hooks, which fit into the factory openings - no drilling
is required.
Door Striker
Safari Bikini®
Door Striker - Right, Qty - 1,
Part Number 212.87
Door Striker - Left, Qty - 1,
Part Number 212.88
A full length Bikini that extends to the rear of the vehicle to
cover all occupants. Attaches similarly to the Strapless Bikini
with the rear section secured via straps and buckles around the
seat belt hardware located on the rear of the sport bar.
Measuring for
BestRail™ Channels
The length of your truck bed will
determine which BestRail Channels
you need. To properly measure the
length, make sure to measure from
the inside of the front of the bed
to the inside of the tailgate.
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Windshield Channels
Identifying Doors
In order to properly attach a Bikini® to your vehicle, you
may need to purchase a Windshield Channel. The
information below will assist you in purchasing the
correct Windshield Channel.
HighRock™ 4x4 Element™ Doors
M-38A1, 51-62, CJ-5, 55-75 & CJ6 55-81
• Optional metal Enclosure Kit converts
Element Doors for use in cold weather
You do not need to purchase a windshield channel to install a
Traditional Bikini (part 52505) if you have a stock windshield.
• Versatile heavy-duty safari-style doors
that come with large storage pockets
that can be positioned inside or outside
of the Jeep
2-Piece Soft Doors
CJ-5, CJ-7, Wrangler, 76-95
Models with soft tops have a windshield channel installed as
part of the top kit. Carefully check the condition of existing
channel to make sure it’s tightly attached and free of rust or
corrosion. A defective channel could compromise the fit of a
Bikini. If you have a hardtop on your vehicle, a windshield
channel must be attached for the Bikini to fit. If in need of a
windshield channel, order part number 51209.
97-06 Wrangler
Whether your TJ came with a factory hardtop or a factory soft
top, it will need a new windshield channel to install a Bikini top.
There are two available windshield channels:
97-02 Wrangler
No-drill style. For Header Bikinis (Part 51238). This channel
fits part numbers 52525, 52531, 52528, 52532, 52544, 52595,
and 52598.
• Full enclosure fabric doors that can
quickly be converted into lower half
doors by removing the upper half section
• Kits include pair of upper and lower soft
doors complete with Rotary or Paddle
Handle kits
Soft Upper Doors
• Provide a snug fit with factory steel
lower half doors
• Kits include passenger and driver’s
upper doors
Upper Door Sliders
• Kits include a pair of soft upper doors
with sliding glass windows that latch
• Fits factory original lower steel doors
97-06 Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited
Drill-in style. For Strapless Bikinis (Part 51210). This channel fits
part numbers 52521 and 52530.
Door Skins
• Replacement fabric for factory door
frames
• Use Velcro attachment for fast, trouble
free installation
07-Current Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited
No drill application. For Header Bikinis (Part 51243). This channel
fits part numbers 52580, 52585 and 52581.
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Half Doors
• Fabric half doors for open-air driving
• Kits include a pair of lower half doors
complete with Rotary or Paddle Handle
Tire Covers
It is easy to figure out what size Tire Cover you should
purchase. First, measure across the tire to get the
diameter in inches. Next, measure the width of the
tire. Then match your tire dimensions to one of
Bestop’s seven different Tire Cover sizes. For example,
if your tire is 31” across and 11” wide, you would need
a size X-Large Tire Cover (part no. 61031)
Factory Original Softop Colors
Bestop Fabrics
Soft Top Fabric
Bestop uses only the highest quality engineered fabrics for
our tops. Our fabrics start with OEM fabric specifications and
maintain their shape in any temperature, are mildew-resistant,
and contain UV inhibitors. Exterior colors provide a perfect
color match to factory original colors.
The color swatches below represent the Factory Original fabric
colors. Each color swatch is listed with the original vehicle and
model years to help you determine your vehicle's original
factory exterior color scheme.
Color
Sailcloth Fabric
Tough, multi-ply, premium-grade 30 oz. fabric. Sailcloth fabric
has all of the features of Bestop’s regular fabric, and also
dramatically reduces outside noise and enhances insulation
for a more comfortable ride.
Sunlighter
Manufactured from a semi-transparent, water-resistant fabric
that allows UV-filtered sunlight in without the burn.
Mesh
This unique fabric is tear-resistant and allows for open air
driving, while still providing some shade coverage.
Supporting your
eCommerce success! Visit
www.Bestop.com/Toolbox
for a complete list of distributor and reseller tools.
www.Bestop.com/CloserLook
Check out Bestop Closer
Look Guides for rich,
detailed information on
Bestop products.
Factory Color years
Black (01)
79-86 CJ, 1987 Wrangler
Tan (04)
Wrangler 94-94
Nutmeg (07)
Wrangler 87-94
Charcoal (09)
Wrangler 88-91
Almond (14)
87-91 Wrangler
Black Denim (15)
Wrangler 88-00
Khaki (16)
Wrangler 93-94
Dark Sand (30)
Wrangler 91-91
Frost White (32)
Wrangler 91-95
Dark Tan (33)
Wrangler 97-02
Black Diamond (35)
Wrangler 01-Current
Khaki Diamond (36)
Wrangler 03-Current
Spice (37)
Wrangler 92-02
Stone White (62)
Wrangler 97-01
Bestop Fabric Colors
Bestop offers many Factory Original fabric colors.
Black
Tan
Charcoal
Mesh
Blk Denim
Dark Tan
01
04
09
11
15
33
Black Dia
Khaki Dia
Spice
Sunlighter
Wt Denim
35
36
37
38
52
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Bestop Customer Service is now available M-F 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. MST • (800) 845-3567
2100 West Midway Boulevard • Broomfield, Colorado 80020 USA
Phone: (800) 845-3567 • Fax: (303) 464-2702 • www.Bestop.com
© 2008 Bestop, Inc./Decoma, a Magna International Company. ™ Replace-a-top, Tigertop, Halftop, TrailMax, Windjammer, Duster, Belt-Rail, RoadRider,
Extendatrunk and Instatrunk are trademarks of Bestop, Inc. ® Supertop, Sunrider, Sunport, Bikini, Bestop and the circle B logo are registered trademarks of Bestop, Inc.
® Jeep is a registered trademark of DaimlerChrysler. ® Haartz is a registered trademark of the Haartz Corporation. ® YKK is a registered trademark of YKK-USA, Inc.
Part No. 442.50