Hardtop vs soft top

[67sport]

I'm quite surprised by all the hate for the hard top. I can't imagine not having one as an option. Half cabs, soft tops, full canopy's- dang, collect them all! I guess most Broncos live in warm climates with no storage space but I wouldn't be without my hard tops. We off road in the woods. If you have no top, half the forest ends up in your truck, and branches and dead heads puncture and tear soft tops in no time, especially when youre out at freezing temperatures.
I have 2 hard tops, one for each truck. To be fair, right now I have a half cab on one, and a soft top on the other, but I switch them around.
And 3-4 guys? 2 guys can lift a bronco top off, one on each side and have it off in in no time. The same 2 guys lift the top off a 72 blazer a few times a year. Now that ones heavy, but still 2 guys can get it done.
Cool to see all the different ways guys enjoy their trucks I guess!

 

[LUBr LuvR]

Well if y’all ever find another really nice hard top - or decide to part with one of yours, please let me know.!

 

[BGBronco]

I think the softtop matters.

For years, I did the softtop summers and put the hardtop on in late autumn to get another month or so (at the end and then beginning spring season). Early & late road saltings and the hardtop install friend gathering hassle took a toll. I finally got a BC top and now do not see a time I would use my hardtop.

BTW, I got the unadvised "white" top. It matches the original top better and did not soil like they advised it would. It did great with almost 10k miles this season. Is the BC top perfect - not quite, but it almost is and certainly is the best out there.

Please post a picture of the white BC Top!

 

[Lawndart]

I had the frame painted Wimbledon white and the fabric is "white". BC did not recommend using this color as they said it would soil fast. Mine was driven almost daily for 7 months - it did fine. I will post a after season picture in that thread and a season review sometime in the near future.
Here is the thread - https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/bc-soft-top-frame-color-thoughts.309415/

 

[Jakedog]

I ran my hardtop more often than I did my soft top on my first bronco. The soft top was great when the weather turned nice, but the flapping in the wind while driving on the highway got old quick.
I think the bikini top was my favorite for warm weather.
I could remove the hardtop by myself in my early 20's so that part was never a big deal, but that ain't happening any more.
I'm strictly soft top or bikini top now.
Having the option to switch to one or the other is nice.

 

[Hazegray]

This was my solution, bought a ragged out hardtop and went to work. I admit it's not for everyone, but with a windjammer, it helps cut down the swirling that a basic bikini top creates.

The hard top ended up being just too hard removing and reinstalling without scratching the paint...

 

[abn373]

This was my solution, bought a ragged out hardtop and went to work. I admit it's not for everyone, but with a windjammer, it helps cut down the swirling that a basic bikini top creates.

The hard top ended up being just too hard removing and reinstalling without scratching the paint...

I really like that. Way better than a half cab because you can actually recline the seats. Frankly it looks better than a half cab (to me).
My hard top was trashed. I bought a Kayline soft top, ended up trading it for a really nice hardtop (back in the late 90s). I could never get the hard top to line up right on my FG tub, so I sold it and bought a Bestop....which is in a gorilla box and sitting on the shelf. I almost never use it. I have tube doors, so not much point. I use a bikini or nothing.
I am lucky enough to have a garage for it and its not my Daily, so if it looks like rain, I just don't drive it, and if I get caught in the rain, well its not the end of the world. I am usually not that far away from home anyway.

 

[Shimmy]

i get that hardtops may be heavy, but there are a few options (hoist, pulley, winch) systems available to take it on and off with ease these days. I dont think i'll ever get rid of my hardtop.

 

[bigmuddy]

I have my original full top. Just ended a 10+ year run with the half cab. Now have a full top again with the Legacy slider. Full top open when I want. Full top closed when I don't. Loving it so far.

Tim, I have one sitting in my garage awaiting the install. I don't know where you are located but does the slider leak?

 

[bigmuddy]

I think the softtop matters.

For years, I did the softtop summers and put the hardtop on in late autumn to get another month or so (at the end and then beginning spring season). Early & late road saltings and the hardtop install friend gathering hassle took a toll. I finally got a BC top and now do not see a time I would use my hardtop.

BTW, I got the unadvised "white" top. It matches the original top better and did not soil like they advised it would. It did great with almost 10k miles this season. Is the BC top perfect - not quite, but it almost is and certainly is the best out there.

Good to hear it didn't pick up alot of dirt!