Bestop's Jeep Wrangler JK Trek Top NX

One of the best parts about owning a Jeep Wrangler is having the ability to easily remove the top and doors. As much as we like the refinement of a hard top, we’re still huge fans of soft-top Wranglers. Not only are soft tops easier to remove, but their minimal weight and simplicity make them perfect for the off-road lifestyle. If you’ve never wheeled in an open-top and doorless rig, we suggest giving it a try. While it may feel a little eerie at first, it is one of the best ways to experience wheeling in the great outdoors.

Even though we enjoy the free feeling of open-top wheeling, sometimes shade is necessary to keep from becoming blistered and beaten by the sun. For our ’08 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon we’ve enjoyed our hard top and factory soft top options. Over the years the factory soft top has served us well, but the trail pinstriping, mud stains, and touch of sun fade have given the relatively late-model JK a bit of a weathered look.

Getting the material in the heat and under the sun’s rays makes it easier to install, as the fresh fabric can be a bit tight.

Getting the material in the heat and under the sun’s rays makes it easier to install, as t

With all of the top options on the market for the Wrangler, it can be overwhelming figuring out which is the right match for your Jeep and lifestyle. We wanted something durable and easy to use, and of course it needed to look nice. Since we’ve had great luck with our Bestop tops in the past, we opted to give the new Trek Top NX a try. The Trek Top NX doesn’t use a conventional soft-top frame structure or hardware, but rather follows the sleek factory lines of the Wrangler’s factory rollbar. On the Unlimited models this creates a unique slant-back look that definitely helps the Jeep stand out in a crowd. The Trek Top NX is made of a black multilayer fabric that’s designed to resist mildew and retain its shape in all temperatures.

One of the major draws of the Trek Top NX is that it doubles as a Safari Bikini top once the rear windows are removed. This creates a clean look with added sun protection. There is also a built-in sun rider portion that allows you to quickly fold back the front portion of the top.

Installing the top took a little over an hour, and although it can be done by one person, a helping hand will make it go faster. For more info on the Trek Top NX and the entire Bestop line, check out www.bestop.com.

Once we confirmed that all of our hardware was accounted for we set the new top out in the sun.
Once we confirmed that all of our hardware was accounted for we set the new top out in the
To keep the top snug, Bestop uses a set of retention springs and arched bars. The rear brackets for the kit bolt to the factory rollbar using existing hardware and only require small cuts in the bar’s padding for the brackets to stick through.
To keep the top snug, Bestop uses a set of retention springs and arched bars. The rear bra
Bestop uses factory-style door surrounds that attach by using the stock holes in the Wrangler’s tub and rollbar. The new surrounds fasten in place with twist-style hand knobs, which make them easily removable for those topless occasions.
Bestop uses factory-style door surrounds that attach by using the stock holes in the Wrang

The Trek Top NX uses a total of three aluminum arch bars that fit into the provided brackets. And since the top has a sun rider feature, two pivot mounts allow the top to fold back just by unlatching the header bar.
The Trek Top NX uses a total of three aluminum arch bars that fit into the provided bracke
The tinted zip-in rear windows conform to the rear portion of the Jeep’s cage, which creates the unique slant-back look. The zippers all have fabric overlays that keep them protected and prevent leaks.
The tinted zip-in rear windows conform to the rear portion of the Jeep’s cage, which creat
The header of the Trek Top NX has the forward portion of the top already attached. This one-piece design makes for an incredibly easy installation. The header also uses the factory soft-top latch mounts.
The header of the Trek Top NX has the forward portion of the top already attached. This on

Top It Off
So far our soft top has seen a barrage of rain, sun, and road miles. As we write this we haven’t experienced any leaks, and surprisingly the highway wind noise is very similar to the factory soft top (not much at all). We enjoy the look and function of the top, especially in the Safari Bikini configuration. Even with the top in the sun, the side windows were an extremely tight fit at first, but as the days move on and the top sees more sun, the side windows have become easier to take on and off.