swapping between Bestop Trektop soft top and OEM hardtop

[ed_freeman]

I’ve had my rig for a year now… ‘23 Black Diamond, hardtop. Love it. Specifically bought this one (new from dealer) because it had both hard and soft tops. I hadn’t been able to try out the soft top until today so… imagine my surprise to find that inside the boxes isn’t the OEM soft top, but the Bestop Trektop soft top (the slanted rear top). I think I like that look better so no harm no foul.

But then I realized it is the lesser black diamond/vinyl version, not the better twill version of the Trektop. Not ideal, but probably not worth complaining about.

Now I’m reading the instructions on how to install this thing and it’s not at all like the OEM soft top where you basically unbolt the whole unit in one piece and lift it off. There are 50 pages of instructions and 20 different pieces that get bolted on separately. Can be easily done, but it’s no longer a 15 minute top swap.

Furthermore there a multitude of adhesive seals that get stuck onto the lip of the body. This is good for sealing the Bestop Trektop soft top when it’s installed… but what about when I switch back to the hardtop? Can the hardtop just sit on top of these adhesive seals? How often will these seals need to be replaced? I fear taking paint with the seals upon replacement.

Also, do all these individual bolted on parts for the Bestop Trektop soft top have to be removed for the hardtop to go back in place?

From what I can tell so far, it seems like the Bestop Trektop soft top is a huge pain to remove and reinstall… at least in comparison to the OEM soft top that appears to be a single unit. What are the benefits of this top that I don’t yet understand? Why would I chose this top over the OEM version?

I’m beginning to think the dealership just gave me the cheapest soft top they could procure as opposed to the OEM that was supposed to be delivered.

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[Valhalla]

U got screwed...go yell at that dealer

 

[Tricky Mike]

Furthermore there a multitude of adhesive seals that get stuck onto the lip of the body. This is good for sealing the Bestop Trektop soft top when it’s installed… but what about when I switch back to the hardtop? Can the hardtop just sit on top of these adhesive seals? How often will these seals need to be replaced? I fear taking paint with the seals upon replacement.

Also, do all these individual bolted on parts for the Bestop Trektop soft top have to be removed for the hardtop to go back in place?

My experience is on a 2dr so there might be some differences, but I found the seals and such can stay. A few bolted on parts need to come off but most can stay, it will make sense once you're into it.

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