Beaming sunshine warming your skin, water splashing in your face, and a cool breeze are all great if you're spending a day at the beach, but when these elements are part of your commute, then it might be time for a new soft top. While not having a top shouldn't keep you from wheeling your Jeep, we have to admit that the shade is pretty nice and protection from incoming mud bombs after hammering through a pit makes the drive home less crusty.
When it comes to replacement tops, one company simply has it covered, Bestop. From the guy who just needs a little sun protection to the wheeler who wants the fully-enclosed off-road experience, Bestop's huge product line offers something for everyone. We're a big fan of keeping things simple, and since we use the back of our '97 Jeep Wrangler more as a truck bed than a people-mover, we opted for the Bestop Halftop. As a complete replacement soft top, the Halftop morphs the Bikini top, Windjammer, and Duster into a quality, user-friendly, one-piece design. The replacement soft top not only gives our '97 Jeep Wrangler a fresh look, but it keeps us covered without reducing visibility.
1. The provided Z-bar attaches...
1. The provided Z-bar attaches using the sheetmetal fasteners and is designed to secure the top's net divider in place. This is a great addition for the guy using the back of his Wrangler as a storage trunk, since the net divider will prevent all your junk from sliding up front.
2. The windshield header is...
2. The windshield header is what secures the front of the soft top and acts as a pivot brace for the sunroof feature. Latching the header down to ensure proper placement, drill two holes on each side and then thread in the new mounting screws.
3. When snapping the top into...
3. When snapping the top into the windshield header it is important to take your time and make sure that you have both sides even. A warm sunny day and a helping hand are two great aids to make this a quick step.
4. Bestop utilizes many of...
4. Bestop utilizes many of the Wrangler's existing snap rails and lips, making for a quick and easy instillation. As elemental as it may sound, be sure to follow the instructions since the top is designed to install in a certain order.
5. A zip in rear window is...
5. A zip in rear window is used to seal up the cabin in inclement weather. And when you're ready to leave the doors at home and let the breeze flow through, a permanent window mesh resides in back to let the fresh air cruise.
6. Since our original sport...
6. Since our original sport bar covers were extremely weathered, we installed a new set of rear sport bar covers. The Bestop covers come complete with foam padding, simply zip into place, and are a nice finishing touch to complement the new top.
Top It Off
It is very important to get the top in the sun and perform the install on a warm day. The Bestop material is all high-quality stuff and is a little snug when it's cold. We've driven our '97 Wrangler a fair amount with the new top and enjoy the new look and visibility. Wind noise is about the same as you would expect from a factory Jeep soft top, maybe a little less. Installing in about an hour, the Bestop Halftop fits great and gave our Jeep the new mini-pickup look we were hoping for.