Installed our Bestop Skyrider for Hardtop

[Jo8n]

I was surprised to receive it 2 days ago as FedEx had said it would come on Tuesday but it made an early surprise for my wife.

One thing I should tell you about the install: if you're borrowing a garage to install this in (raining here), use one with the highest ceiling you can find.

The limb risers came in handy.

Sponsored

 

[Sazqtch]

A few more pictures...Just did a short test drive with it open and closed. Didn't notice any extra unexpected noise, but we won't know for sure until the rain stops and we go on a longer, higher speed drive.

 

[‘21OBX]

I’ve seen these in person on broncos and think they are a fantastic compromise between the hard and soft top. As I usually just fold the first section open anyway on my soft top. And would like to have the better access for the rear that a hard top offers.

 

[Stick in the Mud]

Have you got a pic of the side of the entire truck with the top open? Want to see how high it is. Thanks.

 

[redone17]

I’m wondering how feasible it would be to poke some holes in the JTops Sunshade along the roll bars to install the mounting hardware…That would be my ideal setup.

 

[RagnarKon]

Thanks for the pictures!

Also received mine early... pleasantly surprised.

It's going to sit in the box in the garage while I wait for spring. Got the roof rack on right now for ski season.

 

[Moto26]

Thanks for the pictures!

Also received mine early... pleasantly surprised.

It's going to sit in the box in the garage while I wait for spring. Got the roof rack on right now for ski season.

Any reason you couldn't use the standard roof rack with the Sky Rider in place? Obviously, you couldn't open it, but otherwise…

 

[Squatch]

Can you hit us with the both rows open pic taken with the whole Bronco in frame?

 

[RagnarKon]

Any reason you couldn't use the standard roof rack with the Sky Rider in place? Obviously, you couldn't open it, but otherwise…

You could definitely use the roof rack with the Skyrider in place, but you cannot install the Skyrider with the roof rack also installed. You have remove the rear hard-top shell momentarily to install the required mounting brackets.

 

[Moto26]

I'm very intrigued by the idea of buying just a rear hard top section from Ford (or an aftermarket company, if it was compatible), and then installing a SkyRider. It would be the best of both worlds!

We love being able to open and close our soft top in seconds, but we hardly ever open it all the way back, because it's a pain in the ass. You have to slide the (often dirty) windows out, somehow store them safely, and then reinstall them when you go to put the top up. Plus, when the top is all the way back you can't see out the center mirror, and on top of that our rear window is almost always dirty because cleaning it is a delicate task.

With the SkyRider/rear clamshell combo we would have that easy open-air capability, combined with solid rear glass that's easy to clean, and a rear hatch that's easy to open. Not to mention, the ability to throw a roof rack on when you need one.

@Jo8n is it possible to remove the rear section and leave the SkyRider mounted? Kinda like a bimini top?

 

[HBirdman]

Curious if you had any install issues.

With mine I thought they put way too much thread locker on the hardware and some were a real pain to drive in.

Wondering if you had a similar experience or if I was just unlucky.

 

[redone17]

@Moto26 - no - You need the clamshell in place. The SkyRider hardware mounts to it.

 

[604Bronco]

Your antenna seems a bit excessive...

 

[Moto26]

@Moto26 - no - You need the clamshell in place. The SkyRider hardware mounts to it.

Gotcha. So if you you wanted to go completely topless... Yeah, I said it... How much work is it to remove the SkyRider in addition to the rear? I assume a lot of the mounting hardware can just stay attached once it's been installed the first time, right?

 

[Jo8n]

Can you hit us with the both rows open pic taken with the whole Bronco in frame?

Have you got a pic of the side of the entire truck with the top open? Want to see how high it is. Thanks.

Attached. Sorry they aren't great as I was hasty given the rain--just sprinkling at the moment but wasn't sure when it would start back up.

Sponsored