Hard Top or Soft Top?

[JAFO]

Topic has probably been beat to death, but all you owners out there, do you end up leaving on a hard top most of the time or do you prefer a soft top?

I have the old hard top from my truck, but it is going to need some work before going back on. Would you get a soft top just so you could get the truck on the road or just wait until your hard top was ready?

Or, do you end up just always using a soft top?
Opinions, suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[ransil]

soft top, for the times when needed, bikini top when crusing

 

[Blue Bastard]

I would only put a hard top on if it was a daily driver in really hot/cold areas. Removing and installing a hard time is too much time and effort for me . Otherwise the ability to remove the top quickly and put back on is best for me. Also can rock it with just Windows and doors out safari style to keep the sun of ya.

 

[Glass Pony]

I also would say it depends on climate.
I'm in the middle and I don't ride too much it the winter so it's a bikini in the heat of the summer, soft top in winter, and no top any other time.

 

[smokinjoe]

Guess it depends on where you live too. I put the softtop on mine and am planning on selling my hardtops (I have 2) but I also live in South/Central Texas, where's Doswell?

 

[JAFO]

Won't be a daily driver. And my thoughts are that the money it will take me to bring my hard top back to 100% is as much or more than the cost of the soft top. And I like the idea of easily removing the top (or sides). I'm leaning towards the soft top and keeping my hard top to restore at a later date.

 

[jwh]

I only drive mine from may - end of october because I don't want to drive it in the winter. I had the hardtop on for the first summer or two. Removed it a few times, but was a bit of a pain doing that. After that I got a bestop and haven't looked at the hardtop for 7 or 8 years. It doesn't seal up as well as the hardtop around the doors, but not terrible.

It depends on the climate I guess. If I ran mine year round, the hardtop would be back on from october to april/may

 

[JAFO]

I'm in Virginia. Last winter was cold as crap for a bit (1 degF). Summers are typically upper 90's and humid a few months. But like now we are having somewhat of an Indian summer and its been warm for November. But winter kicks in for us say January, February typical.

 

[Prizefighter]

I just asked this same question and the response from fellow Bronco drivers was soft top or no top. I was considering running half doors and a soft top for my trail rig in Arkansas but had hesitations about the rain or really cold months. I'm going for it and really looking forward to it now.

 

[jmangi62]

JAFO,you just answered you're own question bud,and you took the words right out of my mouth lol.Get that soft top on there and repair that hard top,my hard top was beyond repair so I had to choose between finding a decent used hard top or just go soft top,finally went with a new Rampage top and love it,good luck on you're choice.

 

[JAFO]

jmangi62, you are absolutely correct. I did answer it, didn't I. Now, which top to buy ????
I see there is an interesting top on B.C. Broncos, but it almost looks too square or something. Truck looks like an old Isuzu Trooper with that top. Looks really well made though.

 

[brandenpro]

I'm struggling with this decision. My hard top will probably need $1k to get it on par with the rest of the body, paint work.

If I get a soft top it will be the BC top. But I'm not in love with all the framing, or the look of the back its too squared off.

If I go soft top I don't want to store my hard top but I am sure I will regret selling it at some point if I do get rid of it.

I will probably have the top off 90% of the time its on the road.

 

[JAFO]

brandenpro, I have been having the exact same struggle. My top is repairable, but I'd want to replace the passenger side frame and maybe even the lift gate. Then with prep and paint, I know I'll probably have as much in it as the BC top. And the fact I am sure I would want to run with a soft top at some point makes me think I should get a soft top now, and take my time getting the hard top restored proper (like my Bronco). In its current condition that old hard top is not going onto my like new Bronco.

 

[jmangi62]

I'm with you on the BC top also,it looks too squared off to me too,like an old trooper hahaha,it is expensive because it's a quality top,very well made,another reason I went with a Rampage is I caught a sale and got it for a good price.It looks to be pretty nicely made and durable and waaay easier to remove during the warm months.

 

[zonian]

I love my hardtop, I keep it on most times....

 

[bronconut73]

If I were to go with a soft top it would be the BC top.

You can mount a roof rack to it with a 250 pound weight capacity.

You can zip out the windows for a safari style top.

You can get the windows pretinted.

It is an uber durable canvas like material.

Available in a number of colors.

Available insulation.

Excellent seal around the doors.

My friend Rob has no wind noise from his.

His Bronco is quieter than it was with the hard top. Stereo sounds better too.

Unfortunately it is twice the cost of a Rampage or Best Top and they will both get the job done......but I will definitely be going with the BC one day, as there truly is nothing on par with it in the present market....

 

[JAFO]

Those 'Pros' out weight the only negative I can come up with, which is I don't exactly like the shape of the back of the top. My daily drive is an FJ40, so noise shouldn't be a concern for me since you can hardly hear the radio in my current ride when you get up past say 45 mph.

 

[00gyrhed]

my choice got made for me.

I wanted the bronco dried in and drive able in cold weather and I needed it now. it cost me $600 or so to get the bestop and it was going to cost me more than that to replace all the rotted window seals, straighten, repair and paint the hardtop.

Made the decision simple and I haven't regretted it. My Bestop is actually quieter that the hardtop, I cant say how quiet the hard top could have between with the repairs and treatment.

It is great to be able to decide to put the top down anytime, any place, and the Bestop is actually pretty tight once you get it all adjusted properly to your door frames.

Much better than my old CJ5 was.

 

[ren71]

I think the shape of the bestop or rampage top are less appealing than the BC top. It looks like a cheap camping vinyl pup tent plopped on the Bronco, ruins the lines of the Bronco in my opinion.

 

[ep67bro]

I only have soft tops on mine now. Did the back and forth thing and it was a total PITA! I have an old STC top on my 67 and a new diamond black Rampage on the 73. I our climate in the mid atlantic it does the job all year long. But I also don't daily drive mine.