soft tops and winter

[bax]

In the frozen north, is it possible to keep a soft top on in winter? Will the cold crack or rip it as you drive or even sitting? I would think Ice would be bad too.

 

[tasker]

why do you ask? moving closer??

 

[bax]

No, My daughter is thinking about taking her bronco to Montana. The only top I have is the BC soft top. Wondering if it would live.

 

[CopperRanger]

A year ago last October I bought a used Best top from a member here that was 4 years old and on his daily driver. He drove the Bronco year round in Michigan. He bought a half cab top so he was selling the soft top. It held up really good and still is in great condition.

 

[tasker]

can be done....not the warmest but can be done

 

[bax]

Ok Then. Thanks for the info.

 

[Viperwolf1]

I've been running a soft top only year round for almost 10 years in CO. No problems due to temps or snow. If the top fits well it's just as comfortable as a hardtop.

 

[DirtDonk]

If the top is still near you bax, I would be tempted to do something like stitch some velcro strips around the windows so that when it's parked for extended periods (as in overnight or while in school or work or whatever) and it's expected to snow, she can stick some soft towels over the windows.
This isn't going to protect from the cold obviously. It's just to keep her from having to scrape anything off the plastic to see. Especially the back window.
Also won't help the slush from collecting while she's driving, but at least it'll reduce the number of times she'll have to mess with them.
Scraping, cleaning and stuff like that are not plastic-friendly things.

Paul

 

[charlie6976]

...maybe put in a 195* thermostat. That's 15* more heat inside.


Assuming you have a 180* thermostat.

 

[hyghlndr]

No real problems with the top down to 0 to -10 below for sure, we have driven one of ours a few times during the winter. Surprisingly with the GM fan upgrade it was pretty comfortable. At that cold the top is not as flexible, so I wouldn't mess with opening the windows or even the tailgate flap.

 

[ZOSO]

Just dont try to move the windows in the cold. They do get brittle and can snap if bent too far.

 

[Juiceman]

Soft top in MA

Just dont try to move the windows in the cold. They do get brittle and can snap if bent too far.

I am running soft top only. Keep it in the garage when it snows, but I do drive it in the cold. My suggestion as well - don't mess with trying to take the top up/down/windows out/etc in the cold. Probably common sense, but I did it and cracked one of my side windows. $100 mistake.

 

[gnpenning]

This winter has been unseasonably cold and snowy. Kind of a good thing to see what you can expect for worse case. You didn't mentioned what she has for parking, carport, garage,etc. Will it be a daily driver? As mentioned snow and ice removal would need to be done with caution. I used to drive a convertible in the winter and lost the back window even with parking in a garage. There is someone in the Missoula area that sales Bronco parts and of course Steve with Big Sky is close to her. She may be able to find a hard top. Be easier to find one on the way here.

I'm sure she will love driving it up her. Make sure you put in a gun rack so she can carry a shotgun to keep the wrong kind of guys away, of course it would work on the Grizz to. She can use it for fishing poles as well.