Old Bestop Info

[KyleQ]

Looking for info on old Bestop Bronco tops - what was bad about them, snaps vs zippers, are the windows removable or do the roll up? Do they leak? Just looking for some general information about the very old design - looking at one that is 10+ years old tomorrow that has never been out of the box, wondering what to look for and what not.

Thanks

 

[DirtDonk]

Never heard of any quality issues with them. Most of us didn't like the smaller-than-stock rear side windows, looks-wise.
Side panels did not zip out from what I remember. They rolled up like all the other aftermarket tops of the day.
Snaps were simple and reliable, but you have a hard time getting them re-snapped in cold weather if you take the top off. Material shrinks, so it's hard to re-do whether it's snaps or rails. Snaps are just a little harder.
Only colors were Black or White, but that wasn't an issue for most back when.
Top had a different slope to it and the taller front riser wasn't as sanitary looking as later designs.
Still though, the whold thing worked well enough for twenty or so years before they started updating things, so as long as the material is still in good shape, and the price is right...

Make sure of that last bit though. Old vinyl is old vinyl. Certainly worse if it's been outside, but even in a box it gets old. So make sure it's not going to crack and split on you.
Inspect it well grasshoppa. Then make most wise decision.

Paul

 

[KyleQ]

Thanks - that is exactly what I was after. Hopefully everything is ok - I'm going to unfold the entire top and make sure it is still good. I'm pretty excited about a chance to get a soft top, should make the summer wheeling a lot cooler - do people run them in the winter too?

The price is right though - that is for sure.

 

[DirtDonk]

Sure, depends on the owner and, more often than not, the location.
I run mine all rear round as a daily driver, but I live in CA, which is a whole world of difference than in MN in the winter time.
So personally, with the ice and snow being more prevalent, I'd go to the hassle of putting the hard top back on when it starts to get cold. You'll ruin your windows quick enough by trying to clean the residue off of them and the cold may crack vinyl things anyway. Not that it can't handle a certain amount of it, but if you want it to stay in the best shape for a longer period of time, store it in the harshest times.
Two things ruin a vinyl window. Sunlight and grit. Nothing worse than trying to clean that film that's left over after driving around in the snow/slush/ice/dirt/salt/stuff for a week. It's like sand paper meets cement in this area. Don't know if it has the same properties in your locale, but it's practically guaranteed to scratch your windows if you try to wipe it off.

Paul

 

[70_Steve]

do people run them in the winter too?

I put mine on a year and a half ago, and haven't taken it off. But then again... I'm in Phoenix.

If heat in the winter is an issue, Wild Horses has a Windbreaker, that tiewraps to the B-pillar, to isolate everything behind the front seats. Make heat more available. But instead of $170 for a Windbreaker, I use a $6 clear vinyl shower curtain liner... Does just as good!!!

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Wind_Breaker/WILD_HORSES

 

[KyleQ]

Thanks for the feedback guys - I'll let you know tonight if I got it or not. I doubt I'll let is pass by, I erally want a soft top and Bestop seems to be the top choice out there...

 

[DirtDonk]

I really want a soft top and Bestop seems to be the top choice out there...

Go for the good deal, of course, but not because Bestop seems to be the top choice now. When your top was made, Bestop wasn't. It was less expensive and easier to get certainly, but most people I knew at the time, liked the Kayline better. Better looking, bigger windows, more color choices, lower profile (part of the better looking part too, I guess), first to offer zip out side windows (just before they closed their doors!) and all that.
Since then, not only has Bestop improved their design (quality was never an issue), both from a looks and function standpoint, but they also became the only game in town for awhile. There are now other choices again of course, like BC Broncos and Wild Horses, but among the soft top manufacturers, Bestop had it all going on. All that money from being Jeeps O.E. supplier didn't hurt things either. Kayline and then STC struggled along, building nice stuff, but never quite getting into the mainstream unfortunately. Good stuff, I thought.

But hey, cheap is cheap. And if it's a good deal by you, it's worth getting. Just for the fun-factor.

Paul

 

[KyleQ]

Well I picked it up, I was blown away when I saw the quality of the top, it has never been out of the box or even unfolded. It is PRISTINE - I'll have pics later.