Removing the soft top -Not so easy

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

Like the title states, if you think removing the soft top with a short wife/significant other/neighbor/friend etc. will be easy, think again. Went to go pull the soft top off the wife's bronco this morning as I'm swapping it out for the bestop trektop and I didn't realize it would be so heavy and my wife who is pretty strong but as tall as a grasshoppers kneecap at 5'2" would have such a hard time lifting her side of the top's frame out of the mounting pocket and then walking it back over the spare tire & 3rd brake light. This was even after putting the bronco in the street and having her stand on the curb giving her an extra 4-5" of height. I can literally remove my LJ wrangler's soft top by myself and carry it into the garage.

Good news is...we're still talking and married but we both had some words of frustration towards the heavy a** top. Bad news is...the strut definitely rubbed against the rollbar when removing the top and I'll need to touch that up.

Sponsored

 

[MikeyFrog]

as tall as a grasshoppers kneecap

Dying at this description

 

[Mr. Nice]

Like the title states, if you think removing the soft top with a short wife/significant other/neighbor/friend etc. will be easy, think again. Went to go pull the soft top off the wife's bronco this morning as I'm swapping it out for the bestop trektop and I didn't realize it would be so heavy and my wife who is pretty strong but as tall as a grasshoppers kneecap at 5'2" would have such a hard time lifting her side of the top's frame out of the mounting pocket and then walking it back over the spare tire & 3rd brake light. This was even after putting the bronco in the street and having her stand on the curb giving her an extra 4-5" of height. I can literally remove my LJ wrangler's soft top by myself and carry it into the garage.

Good news is...we're still talking and married but we both had some words of frustration towards the heavy a** top. Bad news is...the strut definitely rubbed against the rollbar when removing the top and I'll need to touch that up.

Good for you throw that ugly top away! Ford definitely under engineered it.

 

[vrewald14]

Genuinely curious… Why swap the stock soft top with the Trek top?

IMO the Trek top is not better…. It’s just different.

For me the Ford soft top has lots of convenience and features associated with it, even if there are lots of people with wavy window phobia out there…

I personally see no value in switching to the Trek top.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

Genuinely curious… Why swap the stock soft top with the Trek top?

IMO the Trek top is not better…. It’s just different.

For me the Ford soft top has lots of convenience and features associated with it, even if there are lots of people with wavy window phobia out there…

I personally see no value in switching to the Trek top.

Reasons why I'm wanting to switch to Bestop:
- OEM wavy side windows drive me crazy.
- have zero use for the rear cargo lift of the OEM soft top.
- my wife won't be lowering the soft top completely to the rear, mainly just flipping the front back and/or removing the windows.
- not a fan of the OEM structural frame on the sides with 2 large dogs that stick their heads out the sides when the windows are removed. Especially when off-roading as this would create a hazard of them bashing their heads or getting wedged in the frame legs/hinges. Also makes for a cleaner look with the trektop when the windows are removed.
- slanted rear of the trektop IMO looks better.

Last but not least, this Bronco will be replaced if/when our MY23 arrives with a painted MOD top.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

I beg to differ on that and I could care less about it being manual. Ive owned a jeep with a manual top for 8yrs and never once thought I wish it was automatic. All the wife needs is to flip it back and she’s good. Does the Bronco look silly flipped back, sure, but does it look silly with the stock top folded in its down position the way it does, yes. Does the mic top look silly and has issues, yes. So looks like none of the options are perfect.

 

[Thraxed]

Do you even lift? /s

 

[SpringTXOR]

You will love the Trek Top, and it really isn't that hard to take off. Mine will be going back on after I get MIC 2.0 #2 on mine Tuesday.

 

[Zangski]

What's your plans for your soft top? I have a hard top being build 2/7 and in my initial order had included both tops. That wasn't an option with the 22MY. What would it take to take that off your hands? Denver area also.

 

[Broncojy]

Putting it back on is even worse. Got some new scratches on mine when doing so. I was pissed.

terrible engineering

Sponsored