Bestop vs OEM aftermarket

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bscriver

Joined
Sep 9, 2007
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I have been looking at getting a soft top to get more spring fall and sometimes summer use out of my fj40. The two styles ive found are the bestop and various oem aftermaket styles. I gotta say I like the oem styl as the keep it not looking like a jeep, but i dont buy things for curb appeal. I have a 72fj40 and run my full doors all the time but may pull out the half doors one year. My priorites for a soft top are as follows
1. Elements I got rain, dust, highway speed winds and thats just the drive to work. So my first priority is a top that cuts down on wind rain and noise.

2. Convertable options I would like something that can go from full protection to 3 windows zipped or rolled out, to top down in a few minutes.

3. Looks Im not opposed to spending more to get a clean look ( no straps and snaps) and I would go for after market bows and top but a 5 or 6 times the cost of a bestop I wanna make sure that this type of top will meet the above needs.

Thanks for your input. Brad
 
Do a search for Trollhole soft tops. He sells OEM Style canvas soft tops using magnets instead of straps. He uses marine grade material. I have one of his bikini tops and it's awesome. I love the look of his soft tops and he's a great guy to deal with.
 
FJ40
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or


jeep
supertopongreen2.jpg
 
The only option for convertible bows is Bestop. OEM bows do not fold. To remove them, you will need to loosen bolts in 8 locations, remove the pieces over the doors and then lift the B and C pillar hoops as one off the truck. It's a real pain in the ass. I currently run a Trollhole trail cover and just throw it over the bows at night.
 
PMd troll hole dont know if i can use the sexy magnet design, mines got aluminum tub :-(. Also gotta find out where to get a bow frame to go with his. There is also a guy on ebay in vancouver selling bow fram with rear ambulance doors and top to match, definately option as its gonna be the cloest to me shipping wise. Hopping to find someone whos got one of his for feedback. do the oem ones keep the wind and rain out ?
 
Look for Abe on here, he's got good bows at a good price.
 
What about Kayline vs Bestop?

I have a connection to one for a great price...
 
bscriver said:
I have been looking at getting a soft top to get more spring fall and sometimes summer use out of my fj40. The two styles ive found are the bestop and various oem aftermarket styles. I gotta say I like the oem style as the keep it not looking like a jeep, but i dont buy things for curb appeal. I have a 72fj40 and run my full doors all the time but may pull out the half doors one year. My priories for a soft top are as follows
1. Elements I got rain, dust, highway speed winds and thats just the drive to work. So my first priority is a top that cuts down on wind rain and noise.

2. Convertible options I would like something that can go from full protection to 3 windows zipped or rolled out, to top down in a few minutes.

3. Looks Im not opposed to spending more to get a clean look ( no straps and snaps) and I would go for after market bows and top but a 5 or 6 times the cost of a bestop I wanna make sure that this type of top will meet the above needs.

Thanks for your input. Brad
Click to expand...

1. Rain and dust won't be a problem with either but noise that's another issue. Having owned Kline, Bestop and my tops they all make noise. Probably the least is the 3 ply I sell which has a lot of stretch and absorbs sound. But it's not cheap. Bows and ll will run more than 3k. All convertible 40 tops make noise. Your driving a brick down the road not a BMW.

2. "Top down in a few minutes" Stick with the Bestop. OEM tops were never designed to take on and off in a few minutes. Maybe off but on is a different story. I sell a zipout window model but it's not cheap.

3. If your looking for cost and convenience then there is only one option, Bestop. If your looking for something that makes your cruiser continue to look like a cruiser then go OEM.

I make 10% on my tops. To be honest I only do it because nobody else is making the quality I'm making and it helps getting my name out there. I'd gladly pass the reigns to someone else if they can produce the quality and options I do.

Plus I hate the look of a Bestop on a cruiser.
 
I can't draw any personal comparisons, but I debated this for awhile. Finally went with Bestop for price and convenience. I can tell you currently etrailer.com has the best price on the bestop.
 
Is there any option for Kayline any more? Thought Speciality Tops took over for a while and are now gone.
 
I think the only way to get a Kayline or STC is buying used. I used to have a bunch of STC bows but tossed them all because you cant get the top anymore. Wish I had that problem with OEM bows.
 
I have four used Kayline tops. Three to fit OEM bows and fourth that fits Kayline bows for the very early FST. I wish I had canvas for the early tops as I have bows for those just no canvas.
 
my personal preference is for the Bestop, and that's what I got again sitting in a box to be installed on my 40 - after the windows suddenly cracked two years ago :mad: on the older Tigertop that came on my 40 when I bought it more than 10 years ago (and had apparently been on it at least 10 years before that)

I just don't like the military look of the OEM design :meh:
 
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