Bestop Bikini Review

[Lawndart]

I purchased a Bestop Bikini from one of Bronco vendors. The first one arrived with a portion of the outer piping/edging not sewn to the fabric. The vendor was great and sent me a new one right away.

The nuts and bolts supplied for the front channel are problematic as the nuts are crimped a bit for locking and very hard to start and turn. I ended up using the front hard top bolts, which was much easer.
The instructions for the footman loops state to install the loops at/near the tailgate. However the cinch straps sewn onto the top are too short to go thru the loops and make it back the fixed buckle. I had to add about 18 inches of additional webbing to each side.
The cinch straps are sewn to the top with only two linear lines. The stitches started to pull away from the fabric at installation. About 3 weeks later, I had to take the top to an upholstery shop and have them install a proper fabric doubler and add addition cross-stitching to the straps for additional support.

Generally, I like the overall design, look and coverage however they really fall short by trying to make the top as cheap as possible. On their website, they list –
1) Premium fabric maintains its shape in any temperature, is mildew-resistant, resists UV fading.
2) High strength thread at all stress points ensures durable Bikini top construction.
3) Industrial-grade webbing helps minimize flapping.
But really -
1) The fabric is not premium; it is OK
2) Not even close
3) This is just average webbing that can be had at any hardware store

Out of the box, the top may be OK for a car show queen or a bar hopper. However if placed on a daily driver that sees highway speeds from time to time, it will need to be modified.

I plan on working with a guy I know this winter to make a much better top that utilizes the front channel for use next season.

 

[Cvcoda]

I just got mine yesterday and installed to the front riser, but haven't installed the Pullman loops yet - so I can't speak to how well it holds up during use. But I'm glad I read this first so that I didn't come up short with the ties. One thing I noticed is that the back portion of the fabric is designed to fit around a regular roll cage. I have a family style cage and it would be nice if they had just kept the fabric straight rather than shaped to conform around the bars.

I'd be interested in seeing what you come up with.

 

[DirtDonk]

Sorry you're going through this Lawndart. I'll add a "still" to that since this has been an issue for a few years now.
The assumption was that the quality changed about the same time the manufacturing went overseas.

I know I shouldn't talk smack about our manufacturers, and we still sell and love the SuperTop, the seats, and other products from Bestop. But we had to stop selling their bikinis a few years ago for this very reason, and now make our own.
Hmm, I wonder if it would be less expense and hassle to just take theirs and do the "fixes" that you're dealing with first? I assume we thought of that angle, but ya never know!

Anyway, you're on the right track by fixing it now. When you take it to your guy, I would also add some material reinforcement to the area that stretches over the riser, as it tends to wear through all along that line after flapping in the wind for awhile. Especially at the curved corners.
Oh, and the edges of a wiper motor cover if you're still sporting one and it's touching. That is usually a Kayline/STC/Rampage issue, but might come into play on a Bestop too if it's close enough.

Show us what you end up with once it's done.

Thanks

paul

 

[DirtDonk]

One thing I noticed is that the back portion of the fabric is designed to fit around a regular roll cage. I have a family style cage and it would be nice if they had just kept the fabric straight rather than shaped to conform around the bars.

Hey Cycoda. You actually need a bikini designed for a full family cage instead.
The standard bikinis like you have were shaped like that 40 years ago or more and have not changed, since the basic bars are still available and in probably a majority of Early Broncos out on the road.

The two ways to go are either an off-the-shelf model if your cage fits the "standard" mold (there really isn't a standard, but you get the point) or a custom one if your bars are in non-traditional locations.
Either one is easy and even the custom is not much more money than the off-the-shelf one. In some cases it's the same price, in others it's a minor upcharge.

If you bought that from us (Wild Horses) sorry you didn't get the rundown first, but maybe the sales person thought you were dealing with a regular cage. Or you ordered online and we didn't question it.
Either way, if it came from us it shouldn't be any trouble to exchange it for one more appropriate to your use.
If not us, then maybe the retailer you got it from will help you out too.

Or you can use it as-is, which is what some others do anyway. Up to you.

As for the footman loops, if you don't feel like extending the existing straps you can move the loops forward on the bedrail, or on the inner wheel well where I like to put them.
Doesn't interfere with a hard top if still in use, and on some bars at least, seems to have a more natural angle.

Good luck!

Paul

 

[Glass Pony]

You may not have to use the footman loops on the family cage.
I didn't have to.

 

[Cvcoda]

Paul,

I'll probably just use it as is, it's not really that big of a deal. As long as it keeps the hot sun off of me, that's really all I care about.

 

[Cvcoda]

You may not have to use the footman loops on the family cage.
I didn't have to.

How did you fasten it? To the back hoop?

 

[Lawndart]

Good points Paul.

I was planning on doubling the material from in front of the rollbar all the way back and lengthing the doubling at the front channel, but did not think of the doubling at the wiper motor area. I run mine with the wiper cover off since I did not want to trim it. I also fabbed a bracket and run my visors

I guess the name grips me a bit... Bestop, ha!
Making the buckle fixed-position near the top and not lower down on the strap is just silly.

It saddens me that they could do $5 more work, charge the consumer $10 more and all would be well.

I'll show what I come up with down the line.

 

[Glass Pony]

How did you fasten it? To the back hoop?

I guess you can call it the "B" pillar hoop.

 

[Cvcoda]

I guess you can call it the "B" pillar hoop.

I thought you had the traditional bikini top, not a family size. Mine is the traditional length and stops at the "a" hoop.