Well, yesterday I put the hook & loop (or velcro as simpletons like myself call it) on the Bronco (and bar skin) and a short 24 hours later I put the JTop on. I'm very OCD about the final product. Unfortunately, in my excitement I usually am comfortable skimming past instructions. After the install I reread through several pages on this thread, and hope other people have the same or better luck that I did as it turned out great.
Few notes and rambles from my first take.... I'll post updates in the next few weeks if anything dramatically changes.
1) It's 99 degrees today in the Chicago suburbs, so I expect I'll need to adjust the tension (either back straps or side hook & loop) the next time or two I take the top completely back. There are a few subtle waves in the mesh fabric that I expect are normal and can be straightened out through time and maneuvering the fasteners.
2) Miraculously, the front edge snugs right up to the front seal/gasket. I didn't pay attention to this portion as I put the bimini/shade on. I don't know how I'd be able to have the front corners under the rubber without the front edge overlapping (mentioned a bit earlier in the thread). I'll consider this a happy accident, and that the product is so good, that it ended up at the right spot.
3) The Tread Wear Bronco Skinz - I'll be curious how this plays out over the next several weeks/months. I attached the velcro directly to the rubber. It seems to stick well - and there are several magnets at each corner. One of the magnets is over the rubber - so that extra 1/8th of thickness weakens the strength a bit. My install also left a bit of a gap/bubble near the back roll bars. I'm not sure if that's user error, the bar skinz, or a combo of items. Given its not at the front - I'm only be worried about this should I face a massive crosswind. Worst case scenario, some extra velcro was included and I can partially remove the rubber skin.
4) Note to those re-installing the soft top brackets - you may need to readjust the forward/rear placement to make sure the top latches correctly on *both* sides. I know this may be common sense to some, but I can see some missing the fact that the passenger side may not clasp all the way.
5) The front loops - I'll likely cut those off. I don't see a purpose for those. I know that's been addressed earlier in the thread as well.
6) Putting the top back on takes maybe 30-60 more seconds. Given the fact there is lateral play I slowed down a bit to make sure it didn't catch the velcro portion near the rear roll bar. Also need to make sure the front flap is folded back all the way. One of the magnets had a habit of flapping back into top off position. This is last one is only a mild annoyance, but I suspect it'll become more pliable with time.
7) With the fully top back on, the bimini does look a bit like a headliner. However, the front of it does look a bit wavy/sloppy (because you need to fold it up to latch the top back on). I'm no engineer, but I don't anticipate there is an easy (or cost effective) way to solve for this. This isn't meant as a jab, I'm perfectly fine with the trade off. I don't look up often with the top on, and my wife and kids certainly wouldn't notice anything. But with the top down, we certainly would notice any light coming through a potential gap. I've been in Jeeps with crappy shades, and the light coming through the front gap can be aggravating.
Final thoughts.... I prefer the look of the Bronco without a bimini/sun shade/JTop. However, my kids in the back seat complain about the sun, wind, etc. I have not seen another Bronco bimini in person, but based on everything I read JTops was the way to go. Given the feedback I've seen on this forum and others, and my experience today, I'd say I made the right decision. Took my son for a test drive (and to get outrageously expensive gas) and we got up to roughly 45 MPH. No added noise or wind buffeting that I noticed, and he wasn't complaining about the sunlight, heat, or wind. I'll be able to take it out Friday again, and should be able to hit the interstate. I don't anticipate any problems.
For anyone that's looking for pictures, I can send ones from different angles or distances. Went with titanium mesh for my A51 with black leather interior.
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