Reflective headliner for hard top?

[mattymik]

I'm picking up my Wildtrak tonight -- I'm pumped!

Unlike my OBX, this will have a hard top.

One thing I was struggling with on the softie was the heat that would radiate off of it in the hot-ass Texas sun. If you put your hand up near it, you can feel all that heat. Now, it's true that the softie is DARK black (as opposed to the dark gray MIC top), and it also lacked any sort of liner (which the hard top has).

But I'm still worried that the hard top will have the same issue to an extent. I was thinking how it may help to put a reflective headliner underneath the top --- something along these lines. Has anyone done something like this? Would these even work / mitigate heat radiation at all? (Note that I'd do a black version since it would look better in the interior)

Another thought I had was to wrap / paint part or all of the top white. I'm not so sure I want that aesthetically, but I do think it would help with the heat at least.

LMK if you guys, especially in the Sun Belt states, have come up with any solutions.

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[Farmerjim47933]

I'm picking up my Wildtrak tonight -- I'm pumped!

Unlike my OBX, this will have a hard top.

One thing I was struggling with on the softie was the heat that would radiate off of it in the hot-ass Texas sun. If you put your hand up near it, you can feel all that heat. Now, it's true that the softie is DARK black (as opposed to the dark gray MIC top), and it also lacked any sort of liner (which the hard top has).

But I'm still worried that the hard top will have the same issue to an extent. I was thinking how it may help to put a reflective headliner underneath the top --- something along these lines. Has anyone done something like this? Would these even work / mitigate heat radiation at all? (Note that I'd do a black version since it would look better in the interior)

Another thought I had was to wrap / paint part or all of the top white. I'm not so sure I want that aesthetically, but I do think it would help with the heat at least.

LMK if you guys, especially in the Sun Belt states, have come up with any solutions.

Indiana location 90 degees.
I chose to not add the factory roof liner on my 2 door Black Diamond. I have added a Bestop top in place of my front panels and the inside temps of the Bestop vs the back shell are dramatically higher ,so I don't think you need to add reflective to the Ford tops.

 

[ChrisB351]

Louisiana here with hard top and the oem sound deadening. I havent had any issues or complaints with it whatsoever.

 

[JT58Bronc]

I live in South Fl and the sun is super hot. I have the hard top with factory insulation on my 2 door and outside the top gets pretty hot to the touch but inside there is no heat radiating at all from near the top. The sun is so hot here I got white the color of my Bronco. No issues at all with the insulated top at all. I am very happy of how cool it stays inside and keeps cool easily with the AC on.

 

[mattymik]

Indiana location 90 degees.
I chose to not add the factory roof liner on my 2 door Black Diamond. I have added a Bestop top in place of my front panels and the inside temps of the Bestop vs the back shell are dramatically higher ,so I don't think you need to add reflective to the Ford tops.

Louisiana here with hard top and the oem sound deadening. I havent had any issues or complaints with it whatsoever.

I live in South Fl and the sun is super hot. I have the hard top with factory insulation on my 2 door and outside the top gets pretty hot to the touch but inside there is no heat radiating at all from near the top. The sun is so hot here I got white the color of my Bronco. No issues at all with the insulated top at all. I am very happy of how cool it stays inside and keeps cool easily with the AC on.

Thanks guys. Good to know you haven't had issues!

 

[Andrew72]

I have a MIC with sound deadening. Its been really Hot and humid here in Atlanta. Haven't noticed the heat from the top though.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

Not a problem here in Phoenix. And it was 116 this weekend.

Hotheads was supposed to develop a reflective headliner (like they sell for Jeep) but I don't know if they ever did.

 

[mattymik]

Not a problem here in Phoenix. And it was 116 this weekend.

Hotheads was supposed to develop a reflective headliner (like they sell for Jeep) but I don't know if they ever did.

Thanks. I figured I couldn't possibly be the first person with this idea.

If I were keeping the softie, I'd definitely look at putting some removable reflective liner up there. I think it would make a big difference.

 

[Tacanta14]

Not a problem here in Phoenix. And it was 116 this weekend.

Hotheads was supposed to develop a reflective headliner (like they sell for Jeep) but I don't know if they ever did.

I've signed up with 2 different email addresses to get the notice when Hotheads gets their liner out for the Bronco, which they said (many months ago) was imminent; crickets so far!

 

[mattymik]

Well, the good news is that the hard top is definitely much better insulated than the softie. I could immediately tell the difference.

So the whole issue of wanting a reflective insulation is moot.

However I actually think this could work great in the softie, if anyone wants to try it

 

[Jon D.]

I've signed up with 2 different email addresses to get the notice when Hotheads gets their liner out for the Bronco, which they said (many months ago) was imminent; crickets so far!

Same here

 

[Bill K]

I'm picking up my Wildtrak tonight -- I'm pumped!

Unlike my OBX, this will have a hard top.

One thing I was struggling with on the softie was the heat that would radiate off of it in the hot-ass Texas sun. If you put your hand up near it, you can feel all that heat. Now, it's true that the softie is DARK black (as opposed to the dark gray MIC top), and it also lacked any sort of liner (which the hard top has).

But I'm still worried that the hard top will have the same issue to an extent. I was thinking how it may help to put a reflective headliner underneath the top --- something along these lines. Has anyone done something like this? Would these even work / mitigate heat radiation at all? (Note that I'd do a black version since it would look better in the interior)

Another thought I had was to wrap / paint part or all of the top white. I'm not so sure I want that aesthetically, but I do think it would help with the heat at least.

LMK if you guys, especially in the Sun Belt states, have come up with any solutions.

Am in North Texas as well. A/C seems more than adequate with my hardtop. You may be better served with a high quality tint job. Just had my 2 door done with state legal darkness on the front windows, and darkest he had ceramic tint all around for others. Really happy with the results and believe this has made a big difference.

 

[WT205]

You could also use a protectant like 303 Aerospace to gain some UV resistance.

 

[rayhil67]

Last month I installed the sunrider in my 2DR and there is a big difference in cabin temp from MIC to soft top, and if u let it open the MGV seats will barbecue your A$$. What I've been doing is I have a 4inch piece of a 2x4 that I set between the the top and the windshield and it creates a nice little vent, and in the event of pop shower not much water gets in.

 

[Gilligans_off]

What I've been doing is I have a 4inch piece of a 2x4 that I set between the the top and the windshield and it creates a nice little vent, and in the event of pop shower not much water gets in.

sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen to me

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