Category: Featured Open Air Dispatch
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Open Air Fun – Why a Bestop Soft Top is the Ultimate Upgrade for Your Jeep or Bronco
For enthusiasts of Jeep Wranglers and Ford Broncos, the call of the open road is synonymous with adventure, freedom, and the thrill of the great outdoors. One of the most transformative upgrades you can make to your vehicle is installing a Bestop soft top. This enhancement not only elevates your driving experience but also addresses common concerns associated with soft tops, proving them to be a superior choice in many aspects.
Seamless Transition to Open-Air Driving
One of the standout features of Bestop soft tops, such as the Trektop Glide Slantback Soft Top, is their innovative design that allows for an effortless transition from a fully enclosed vehicle to an open-air ride. The patented Sunrider flip-back panel enables you to quickly and easily enjoy the sunshine and fresh air without the need to remove the entire top. This convenience is unparalleled, offering spontaneity and ease that hard tops simply cannot match.
Debunking Common Myths About Soft Tops
Despite their numerous advantages, some drivers hesitate to switch to soft tops due to misconceptions about durability, security, noise levels, weather resistance, and maintenance. Let’s address these concerns head-on.
Durability: Built to Last
A prevalent misconception is that soft tops are less durable than their hardtop counterparts. However, Bestop soft tops are constructed from premium materials designed to withstand the rigors of both on-road and off-road adventures. The Trektop Glide, for instance, features high-quality fabric that resists fading, cracking, and wear over time. Reinforced stitching and robust zippers further enhance the top’s longevity, ensuring it remains a reliable companion on your journeys.
Security Concerns: Enhanced Protection
Security is a valid concern for any vehicle owner. While it’s true that soft tops can be more susceptible to break-ins than hard tops, Bestop has integrated several features to mitigate this risk. The Trektop Glide includes zippered pockets and reinforced seams to deter unauthorized access. Additionally, pairing your soft top with lockable storage solutions and being mindful of leaving valuables in plain sight can significantly enhance your vehicle’s security.
Noise Levels: A Quieter Ride Than Expected
Another common objection is that soft tops contribute to increased cabin noise, especially at highway speeds. Bestop has addressed this by utilizing advanced fabric technology and precision engineering to minimize noise intrusion. The snug fit and aerodynamic design of the Trektop Glide reduce flapping and wind noise, providing a quieter ride than many anticipate. While it may not be as silent as a hard top, the difference is often negligible and does not detract from the overall driving experience.
Weather Resistance: Ready for All Conditions
Concerns about weather resistance are understandable, particularly for those living in areas with extreme conditions. Bestop soft tops are designed with weatherproof materials that offer excellent protection against rain, snow, and cold temperatures. The Trektop Glide’s sealed seams and watertight zippers prevent leaks, ensuring the interior of your Jeep or Bronco remains dry and comfortable. Additionally, the insulating properties of the fabric help maintain cabin temperature, providing a cozy environment even in colder climates.
Maintenance and Longevity: Simple Care for Lasting Performance
Some drivers worry that soft tops require extensive maintenance and may not last as long as hard tops. In reality, maintaining a Bestop soft top is straightforward and can significantly extend its lifespan. Regular cleaning with mild soap and water, along with periodic application of UV protectant, can prevent issues like fading and cracking. Avoiding harsh chemicals and storing the vehicle properly when not in use also contribute to the top’s longevity. With proper care, a Bestop soft top can serve you well for many years.
The Bestop Advantage: Why Choose a Soft Top Over a Hard Top
Beyond addressing common concerns, there are several compelling reasons to opt for a Bestop soft top over a hard top.
Versatility and Convenience
Soft tops offer unparalleled versatility. The ability to quickly switch between an enclosed cabin and open-air driving allows you to adapt to changing weather conditions and personal preferences effortlessly. Unlike hard tops, which require significant effort and often additional assistance to remove and store, soft tops like the Trektop Glide can be adjusted single-handedly, making spontaneous drives more enjoyable.
Enhanced Driving Experience
There’s an undeniable joy in feeling the wind in your hair and the sun on your face as you navigate scenic routes. A Bestop soft top enhances this experience, fostering a deeper connection with your surroundings and making every drive feel like an adventure. This immersive experience is something hard tops simply cannot replicate.
Aesthetic Appeal
Bestop soft tops are designed with style in mind. The sleek, slantback design of the Trektop Glide adds a modern, aggressive look to your Jeep or Bronco, setting it apart from the crowd. This aesthetic enhancement complements the rugged nature of these vehicles, enhancing their overall appeal.
Cost-Effectiveness
In addition to their functional benefits, Bestop soft tops are also a cost-effective alternative to hard tops. They are generally more affordable to purchase and install, and their lightweight nature can contribute to better fuel efficiency. Furthermore, the ease of installation and removal means you can switch between configurations without incurring additional costs or requiring specialized tool.
Upgrading your Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco with a Bestop soft top like the Trektop Glide Slantback Soft Top offers a multitude of benefits that enhance your driving experience. By addressing common misconceptions about durability, security, noise levels, weather resistance, and maintenance, it’s clear that soft tops are a viable and often superior alternative to hard tops. Their versatility, convenience, aesthetic appeal, and cost-effectiveness make them an excellent investment for any enthusiast seeking to embrace the true spirit of open-air driving. Embrace the freedom and enjoy the journey.
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Bronco and the Future
The Ford Bronco in the Truck U shop already turns heads, but Matt and Bruno take it to the next level by adding the Bestop eTop. With just two latches and the press of a button, this powered soft top delivers a seamless open-air experience that introduces cutting-edge tech and modern comfort not found on any other convertible SUV.
The Care and Feeding of Your Bestop Soft Top and Bed Cap
The title here is a little bit misleading – of course, your Bestop Jeep or Bronco soft top or Supertop bed cap for trucks doesn’t actually need to be fed. It’s not a living thing, but it is a significant investment in your pride and joy on four wheels, and it is worth taking care of to ensure many, many years of faithful service and keep it looking extra sharp.
The advanced vinyl and twill fabrics Bestop uses to build our durable and precise-fitting tops do require a little extra attention both to clean them and protect them from UV rays, pollution, and the everyday wear and tear of simply living outdoors. Luckily for you, Bestop offers a line of specifically-formulated and affordable cleaning agents and protectants that will keep that soft top or bed cap looking factory fresh for a long time. We’ll go through a detailed process on how to use these products, but first, let’s look at why it’s so important to give your soft top or bed cap a little bit of love every now and then.
Why Clean and Protect Your Soft Top or Bed Cap?
There are two main reasons for taking time to regularly clean and protect your soft top or bed cap. The first we might simply call vanity. We want our rigs to stand out and look great, and many of us spend a lot of effort and money washing, waxing, ceramic coating, or even vinyl-wrapping our pickups, Jeeps, and Broncos. And you know what? Taking pride in our trucks and leaning into a little bit of vanity never hurt anyone! But all that work on the body of your rig won’t look right if your top is on the shabby side. Adding a few extra steps to scrub the soft top correctly with the right cleaner and protecting it afterwards will complete the dazzling effect you’re after.
The second reason is to ensure the longevity, functionality, and overall condition of your soft top or bed cap. The Bestop fabric-specific cleaning agents and the techniques we recommend to use them will go a long way toward getting as much of the grit, grime, and contaminants out of your top as possible. Removing these elements not only makes your rig look great, it also saves lots of wear and tear on the fabrics themselves, especially in the harsh environments many of us wheel in. Sand, mud, dust, road gunk from the weekly commute, and other abrasive junk we submit our Jeeps to in the pursuit of adventures both off-road and on can all take a toll. A clean top makes it easier to spot any potential trail damage as well.
The same goes for the vinyl windows found on many of our tops, cleaning them often keeps scratches and swirls at bay. Regularly cleaning and lubricating zippers keep their operation as smooth as possible, and prevent jams and having to force panels open or closed, which can lead to a broken zipper. Following up with the appropriate protectants wards off the deleterious effects of UV rays, as well as both air pollution and water pollution. Our protectants also help your cleaning efforts last longer, and the more often you protect your top, the more effective the protectant becomes.
Bestop Cleaning Products and Protectants
Our range of cleaning and care products are designed to be easy to apply and cost-effective, as well as formulated specifically for whichever fabric your soft top is constructed with. We offer a cleaner and protectant for vinyl fabrics, a specific cleaner for vinyl windows, and a protectant made especially for twill soft tops. Our soft top zipper cleaner-and-lubricant-in-one comes with a unique applicator, making that chore a snap. The vinyl cleaners and protectants are also available in a bundle for easy shopping.
All of these products can be used on any corresponding Bestop accessory, whether installed inside or outside your vehicle.
How to Clean Your Bestop Soft Top or Bed Cap
With Bestops’s cleaning products and protectants in hand, how do you go about getting the best shine and protection for your effort and your buck? It’s definitely not rocket science, and if you’ve ever washed a car before, you’ll have it down in no time. But there are a couple of important steps to follow to get the best results and to preserve all the finishes on your rig. We’ll mention a few guidelines here, but be sure to follow along with Rick in the video above for a thorough tutorial.
Simply, wash your vehicle thoroughly as you normally would, then apply the cleaner in sections of the top, starting on the roof and working your way down the sides; especially soiled areas may need a little elbow grease to get clean. Follow up with a good rinse. Moving your Jeep, Bronco, or pickup into the shade will aid in the correct application of the protectant, which simply needs to be massaged into the fabric with a towel until dry, again starting with the roof and making your way down the sides. Vinyl windows can be cleaned inside and out with a microfiber cloth and the window cleaner.
The one detail to pay close attention to with our cleaners and protectants is to make sure they are only applied to the fabrics or surfaces they are meant for. Keep the fabric cleaners and the protectants away from the vinyl windows and your vehicle’s painted finishes. Never use the vinyl window cleaner on the fabrics. Wipe away any excess zipper cleaner and lubricant with a dry towel.
We’re sure you’ll love the results! Remember, our amazing Bestop customer service team is always here to answer any questions. Be sure to share your squeaky clean 4×4 with us on Instagram!
