Bestop Bikini Top Installation Problems

[jedicolt]

Hey everyone. I have been doing some searching and haven't found a solution yet to my problem so I thought I'd ask.

I recently bought a slightly used Bestop Bikini top for my 76 fj40 off ebay. The seller sent me the top and the footman loops, and I had to go to the 4wd store and buy a windshield channel. My rig already had the holes drilled in the windshield for the channel as well as the holes in the rear corners for the footman loops.

My problem is that I cannot get the top to pull back far enough to get the straps through the loops and back to the buckles to tighten the top. It feels like it's too small or something, so I set it out in the sun and tried pulling is back again and still feel like I'm 4 or 5 inches short of desired length. I was able to saftey pin the straps just to hold it on, but I am wondering if I am just doing something wrong.

The directions that come from Bestop are pretty straightforward, so I am wondering if I'm missing something obvious or if there is any way to stretch this thing out better. I've linked a few pics and totally would appreciate any advice you may have. Also linked a full pic of my rig for good measure Thanks all!!

 

[Curtice]

I just put a bestop bikini top on and had too much strap. My top comes back over the roll bar much further than that. Might help to see pictures of how it is installed on your windshield frame.

I also went along the inside of the rollbar, but that doesn't seem like it would make that much of a difference.

Here is how mine looks:

 

[jedicolt]

Hey man, thanks for the reply. Yeah, yours looks like how all the pictures show as far as how much past the roll bar the tops should stretch. So did you not use the plastic loops on the straps to tighten? Almost looks like you tied to the spare tie mount. Not sure. I know that top is supposed to work for older jeeps as well so maybe that's what the strap loops are for.

I will take a pic of the front of mine when I get home today. Worried if I pull much harder that my windshield would snap (paranoid), but yours looks like you got the top pulled back a foot farther than mine.

 

[dx379]

Mine has way too much spare strap, almost to the point I want to cut it...

I wonder if yours is actually for a heep and not a 40?

 

[jedicolt]

Mine has way too much spare strap, almost to the point I want to cut it...

I wonder if yours is actually for a heep and not a 40?

Yeah I thought that was possible, but the item number says it works for fj40s and the CJs that were around the same era. The seller had said it was in in garage for about a year, not being used. Is it possible at all that the material would shrink up? No clue, but it does feel like it is too small. I don't think I am trying to put it on incorrectly.

Should have just bought a new one.

 

[dx379]

Yeah I thought that was possible, but the item number says it works for fj40s and the CJs that were around the same era. The seller had said it was in in garage for about a year, not being used. Is it possible at all that the material would shrink up? No clue, but it does feel like it is too small. I don't think I am trying to put it on incorrectly.

Should have just bought a new one.

I really don't think you can install it incorrectly...

Everything looks right, although as mentioned above, most people run the lines on the inside and not around the outside of the rollbar.

 

[Shark56]

Mine fits like caboulto's also. I agree with dx379. Maybe for a heep model. I used the plastic pressure buckles on mine. When pulled tight I had at least a foot left over. The buckle is half way down between the rollbar and footman loop as compared to yours jedicolt. My footman loop is is the same spot as yours.

On a side note. I just bought another Bestop Bikini and the plastic mounting strip on the front is noticebly narrower than the one I bought several years ago. I would say 1/4 inch or so narrower. It does not fit into the channel as well as the old one. I have yet to drive it at speeds over 30. dx379, didn't you have an issue with yours popping out after your install? How is it now?

Nice color caboulto!!!

 

[Jacket]

Mine looks like the picture of the orange 40. It's actually a pain for any jump seat passengers because the top kinda hits them at eye level. I use the buckles on the straps to tighten mine and there is plenty of left over strap - same as all the other posters.

I don't think it's a matter of stretching - yours is significantly shorter.

 

[Curtice]

I did use the plastic ties. I put the footman loops on the rear corners if the tub and there was plenty if strap. If you want to measure the length of yours I can take the same measurements for comparison.

 

[Curtice]

Mine fits like caboulto's also. I agree with dx379. Maybe for a heep model. I used the plastic pressure buckles on mine. When pulled tight I had at least a foot left over. The buckle is half way down between the rollbar and footman loop as compared to yours jedicolt. My footman loop is is the same spot as yours.

On a side note. I just bought another Bestop Bikini and the plastic mounting strip on the front is noticebly narrower than the one I bought several years ago. I would say 1/4 inch or so narrower. It does not fit into the channel as well as the old one. I have yet to drive it at speeds over 30. dx379, didn't you have an issue with yours popping out after your install? How is it now?

Nice color caboulto!!!

Thanks. Just painted it a couple months ago.

As for me, I have probably driven about 50 mph at the fastest. Have done that a few times, but not for long periods. I haven't had any issues with it popping out. I have the straps pulled mega tight too. I pulled those things as hard and tight as I could cause I was worried about it coming off. Been very pleased with it so far.

 

[jedicolt]

Alright. Just got home and took some pics and measured. Fromt he front of my windshield channel down the middle of the top to the back, I got 45 inches. I'm pretty sure I have the channel installed correctly. Also, I found the paperwork for the ebay purchase and it has the paper instructions from bestow that say it is part number 52540 for Toyota FJ40 years 1964 - 1984. It also came with the bestow warranty registration on a different type of yellow paper, so this got to be the right thing (it also has a bestow tag on the top). That's what made me think of it somehow shrinking because it seems it'd be hard to fake all this paperwork (or at least a lot of extra effort. Anyways, here are the pics. Thanks everyone for chiming in and trying to help, I really appreciate it:

 

[191GA]

In your previous post you mentioned it was a "Bestow"? I have a Bestop which is the same as what Caboulto has and it does fit correctly. I wonder if Bestow is a "fake"? I haven't been in the 40 world for long but I've never heard of that brand in regards to tops. Can you take a picture of the tag?

Hope that helps.

 

[191GA]

Here's the Bestop tag.

 

[jedicolt]

In your previous post you mentioned it was a "Bestow"? I have a Bestop which is the same as what Caboulto has and it does fit correctly. I wonder if Bestow is a "fake"? I haven't been in the 40 world for long but I've never heard of that brand in regards to tops. Can you take a picture of the tag?

Hope that helps.

Hey man, yeah that was just a typo on my other post. Mine is a Bestop with the same tag and whatnot. I'm just wondering if it for a different rig and not the fj40. I've emailed the seller hoping to return it. At this point I'd just buy a brand new one and know that I am getting the right thing instead of chancing it to save a few bucks.

 

[191GA]

Does the top have the part number on it anywhere itself? That sucks if they just mislabeled the part in the auction.

Good luck with the seller buddy.

On a side note, nice cruiser man.

 

[jedicolt]

I looked all over for a part number, didn't see any on the tag or on the actual material. I wonder if it got thrown in a dryer or something and that shrank it up. Odd that it came with instructions for the right number, but that the top was way too small. Who knows. Hopefully can get a refund and ship it back. Also, thanks! I've had it almost a year now, and recently installed an one lift and put new tires on. Love going out on the trails

 

[Curtice]

Alright. Just got home and took some pics and measured. Fromt he front of my windshield channel down the middle of the top to the back, I got 45 inches. I'm pretty sure I have the channel installed correctly. Also, I found the paperwork for the ebay purchase and it has the paper instructions from bestow that say it is part number 52540 for Toyota FJ40 years 1964 - 1984. It also came with the bestow warranty registration on a different type of yellow paper, so this got to be the right thing (it also has a bestow tag on the top). That's what made me think of it somehow shrinking because it seems it'd be hard to fake all this paperwork (or at least a lot of extra effort. Anyways, here are the pics. Thanks everyone for chiming in and trying to help, I really appreciate it:

I just measured mine from the middle front of the channel down the middle of the top to the back (just as you did) and mine is just over 54 inches. I could see that 45 inches was about just over the roll bar, right about where yours looks. So it seems we have the same distance from channel to roll bar, but yours appears 9-10 inches too short.

Your also looks a tad different than mine (mine doesn't have that button or whatever it is on the front corner). Maybe just an older version of the bestop or something though. Hope you get it figured out.

 

[77TPIFJ]

did you ever get this figured out? just curious .

 

[DSRTRDR]

let it sit in the sun for a half day - pull taught - rinse, lather, repeat

yes, they do shrink - but windshield angle also plays a role

 

[ruger280]

sure looks like the wrong one... mine clears the rollbar ..no problem. Windshield angle will be pretty much uniform.. it's either up or down, or banging off the hood