Sunrider for hardtop accessory is crazy noisy! Is this normal?

[BroncoBets]

I picked up the Sunrider for hardtop accessory from my dealer this weekend. I was shocked how loud it is when driving on the highway with it closed.

There is A LOT of wind noise coming from between the windshield and the Sunrider top, though I can't feel any actual air coming through so it seems to be sealing correctly. It is MUCH louder than the factory hard top panels. It sounds like you're inside of a wind tunnel once you hit 65+ mph. Passengers have to yell to each other. I measured the decibel level using a meter on my phone and it was between 90 and 95 decibels when held near the roof. About 85 decibels when held at the steering wheel. I've contacted Bestop (the manufacturer) but no response yet.

Is anyone else with the Sunrider top experiencing this level of noise? I'm trying to figure out if I have a faulty unit or something.

Sponsored

 

[EveryDayBronco]

Of course it's loud!

 

[ramblinwreck]

Sounds like something is wrong. I’m pretty sure with top off at 80mph my interior isn’t 90 decibels.

 

[gkellys]

Hopefully it gets worked out by Bestop. If I ever get BD, it was high in the upgrade list. i have one on a Wrangler. It added no wind noise. Something in the application design, or installation is wrong. Keep us posted please.

 

[ChompSticks]

yup it is loud.... I made adjustments. I pushed some tubing in the weatherseal and the corners especially. then I adjust the strike latches as well. This makes it a little tougher to latch the top but it got rid of wind noise and water instrustion. it's still loud though. sometimes it feels quieter with the top open

 

[BroncocnorB]

The one I had on my jeep was crazy loud too - I was an early adopter and had to do a lot of finagling with it. Crazy thing is, the best top full soft top (I have twill) is crazy quiet. You’d think that they’re using the same design for the header seal and latches?

 

[shoelessjoe]

I picked up the Sunrider for hardtop accessory from my dealer this weekend. I was shocked how loud it is when driving on the highway with it closed.

There is A LOT of wind noise coming from between the windshield and the Sunrider top, though I can't feel any actual air coming through so it seems to be sealing correctly. It is MUCH louder than the factory hard top panels. It sounds like you're inside of a wind tunnel once you hit 65+ mph. Passengers have to yell to each other. I measured the decibel level using a meter on my phone and it was between 90 and 95 decibels when held near the roof. About 85 decibels when held at the steering wheel. I've contacted Bestop (the manufacturer) but no response yet.

Is anyone else with the Sunrider top experiencing this level of noise? I'm trying to figure out if I have a faulty unit or something.

I have one installed on my 4DR Badlands and it is loud at highway speed.

 

[WVBaptist]

I have a 2022 Wildrak with a hard top I bought the best top sunrider and installed immediately after I purchased the vehicle. I like it a lot, but I think it is louder than my daughters soft top big bend. I drove the Big Bend softie for 20K or so before my daughter bought it from me, and I really liked the soft top. But the Wildrak hard top looks a lot better so the sunrider was the answer for a quick way to throw the top back. I like it a lot better with the sunrider back and I think at interstate speeds especially 75 MPH or more it’s about the same noise open or closed.
I have the twill version of the besttop which is supposed to be the better version, it’s just loud. It does seal up tight. I take it through automatic car wash’s regularly and it doesn't leak at all.

 

[Bflagstad]

I had the same issue. I installed the Sunrider on my 2022 Wildtrak and the noise was terrible and the latches were very hard to unhook when released.

I called Bestop customer service for guidance and they told meFord had changed something in the 2022 design and that they are working on a solution but it could be 60-90 days for a solution and recommended I return the top to the seller. I have boxed it up and I’m waiting for my return authorization.

 

[BroncoBets]

I had the same issue. I installed the Sunrider on my 2022 Wildtrak and the noise was terrible and the latches were very hard to unhook when released.

I called Bestop customer service for guidance and they told meFord had changed something in the 2022 design and that they are working on a solution but it could be 60-90 days for a solution and recommended I return the top to the seller. I have boxed it up and I’m waiting for my return authorization.

Thanks. This is my sense as well. Something seems off about how it fits on the 2022 model. I also have the issue you mention where I have to wrestle with it to get it to release the hooks in order to open it.
Thanks for confirming.

 

[sptu]

Thanks. This is my sense as well. Something seems off about how it fits on the 2022 model. I also have the issue you mention where I have to wrestle with it to get it to release the hooks in order to open it.
Thanks for confirming.

Same here, I thought it was me only.
I will send mine back as well.

do you think this problem would be only on the sunrider or also on the toptrek?
I'm wondering if I should try the toptrek instead.

 

[skiborsy]

Loud Sunrider on a ‘21 here. Close to ruining the vehicle for longer trips. Basically seems like the whole thing is 1/2” too short front to back leaving space at the header. The volume is fine up to about 60 and much louder above that. IIRC, around 80db per my Apple Watch at 75-80 on stock Sasquatch tires.

 

[Bflagstad]

Same here, I thought it was me only.
I will send mine back as well.

do you think this problem would be only on the sunrider or also on the toptrek?
I'm wondering if I should try the toptrek instead.

I’m not sure

 

[BadSquatch]

Mine rattles and squeaks a lot. Anyone else?

The truck is solid, so the Bestop noise annoys me.

The rattling isn’t too bad. When I hit big bumps, the top bounces a bit. Not too big of a deal.

But, the squeaking drives me crazy. Small bumps cause it. It’s definitely the top, not the truck.

Not sure if there’s anything I can do, except crank up the radio.

 

[smast]

Three fixes are needed.

First agree that adjusting the latches as far forward as they go helps.

Second if you have a lot of flapping noise at the top the sleeve that attaches with Velcro to the center bar is loose. I fixed mine by taking a piece of 3/4 in tubing and cutting it down the center. Then wrapped that tubing around the bar and then reattached the velcro sleeve around all of it. That makes the velcro sleeve attachment tight and eliminated the flapping entirely.

Finally to address the wind noise in the front I bought some 1-in wide by 5/8 thick foam weather stripping material and attached it on the front of the hardtop as shown. Between those three it drastically cut down on the noise in the vehicle. Now about as good as the bestop sunrider was on my old wrangler. Bestop tech support basically asked me to send a video of the noise which I did and then they said that's to be expected. Not impressed. See pictures

Sponsored