LATEST JEEP SOFT TOPS PROVIDE ULTIMATE OPEN-AIR EXPERIENCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE
Innovations in soft tops give Jeep Wrangler owners nearly endless options to enjoy open-air adventures this spring and summer
For decades, Jeeps have been the go-to vehicles for journeying through territories, known and unknown. In the earliest days, soft tops were no more than canvas slung over the top of a vehicle. That simplicity worked – it opened up a whole new world of freedom to fully embrace the elements. Drivers and passengers alike loved the fresh air, sunshine and being closer to the outdoors.
But there were some shortcomings with earlier soft tops – and some still today. New tops have addressed those issues and made it possible to enjoy all the benefits of running a full soft top on your Jeep while remaining confident that there’s no need to worry about excessive noise or leaking.
Industry leader Bestop has become an expert in the ever-evolving soft top. Their multi-function top is a product fit for all seasons and every adventure, and Bestop is expanding their already impressive line-up with new products rolling out this Spring.
In addition to an impressive line-up of aftermarket products, Bestop has worked in conjunction with Jeep to design a soft top specifically for the all-new Jeep Wrangler JL and most recently the Jeep Gladiator JT. The OE Top (“original equipment”) truly sits at the pinnacle of top innovation. “Jeep requires us to meet ultimate quality standards and Bestop delivers,” says Bestop CEO John Larson. “We believe our top provides the best of both worlds.”
The soft tops are constructed with top-of-the-line material that Bestop stands behind with a limited lifetime warranty. Gearz host and auto aficionado Stacey David backs up the material as well. “It’s made out of the heavy-duty black twill material, the same stuff you see on Mercedes and BMW convertibles,” he says. “You know it’s going to last. You know it’s not going to leak.”
For 65 years Bestop has been the industry leader in innovation, and the spotlight soft tops in 2019 are no exception. The Sunrider for Hardtop lives up to its name by allowing sunshine into the driver and passenger seats of the Jeep Wrangler. It replaces the cumbersome Freedom Panels that come with the factory hardtop – turning the space into a versatile sunroof. For this model, it’s simply a matter of unlatching the top, flipping the cover from inside the cab, and folding it back to create a large sunroof, all in mere seconds.
The Trektop meanwhile flaunts more style with its sleek fastback design. It can run as a fully-enclosed, all-season soft top or the sides may be quickly removed to be enjoyed as a bikini. This best-selling design has allowed Bestop to create an entire line of Trektops, including the Trektop Pro.
Also sporting a flip-back Sunrider feature, the Trektop Pro boasts a stout frame along the same lines of hardtop covers. Once the sides and windows of this cover are removed, this particular soft top cover replicates a bikini model for open-air driving. The rear glass hatch with a defroster option makes this model a crowd favorite, especially among Bestop employees!
Bestop’s latest and most premium year-round model (available this summer) is the Supertop Ultra. “The Ultra” draws inspiration from the factory soft top for the all-new Jeep Wrangler. Thanks to an innovative guide track system, the top easily folds completely back to give a fully open-air ride. It can also be run in bikini mode or with the top open in “Sunrider” mode.
The soft top game has truly changed, so much so that “we don’t even call them soft tops anymore,” says CEO John Larson. “A beautiful day closed up in a hard top is an opportunity lost, and I truly feel sorry for anyone driving around on a summer day in anything other than one of our multi-functional tops.”
Today’s soft top covers are a far cry from their predecessors. The commitment of soft top manufacturers like Bestop – to innovation and also listening to Jeep owners – has made that possible. And, as a result, driving with a soft top no longer means having to make a compromise.
