My Hardtop has finally succombed to age and is lying in pieces in my backyard. I'm looking for a good softtop that fits, is almost rain proof, and is somewhat durable. Any advise experience and or suggestions on what to get?? Besttop? Kayline? Tigertop?
any advise / experience would be apprieciated, thanks
-Rick

Best top just released the FJ-40 supertop. No snaps.

I had a Kayline and thought it was great. Not good if you have a full roll cage though - couldn't take it down easily. The doors had their own bolt deal that they would latch too and that bolt would stick out and catch on my clothes sometimes. If one is made to latch to the stock LC latch, that would be better.

I have had a Kayline Fast-Trac for going on seven years now. I run it and hard doors in winter, and a bikini in summer. Like every soft top, the Kayline has it's problems. Most of them are related to the doors. The two peice doors blow. They use stock hinges, not quick release. They have a shitty designed latch/handle, and the stricker is a kidney busting bolt. Also, they bow out at speed, creating an inch plus gap for water etc to flow in. Thats why I run the hard doors. When I bought the top, I paid $499 for the top and doors. I think Specialty Top Company www.specialtytopco.com, who bought Kayline charges $500 for the top only, and close to $750 for the top and doors. I am probably going to sell my top after this summer. Not because I am unhappy with it, but because I found a set of OEM top bows last year. OEM top looks and functions alot better than any of the adapted jeep tops, in my opinion.

Ross

Just wait until you get to Tx and you won't need one :)

Try and find some OEM bows and top. Very cool and darn near bullet proof. I'm still looking for some if anyone knows of a set. peabody_420@yahoo.com

There is a guy from Europe working on importing stock-replica bows and tops at a VERY good price. See if you can stall on your purchase for a few months. IMO, this will be well worth the wait, and the pricing I've seen is quite good as well.

He's on the board....ehstinkle or something like that (SORRY - I probably brutalized it there....) :D

Originally posted by woody
There is a guy from Europe working on importing stock-replica bows and tops at a VERY good price. See if you can stall on your purchase for a few months. IMO, this will be well worth the wait, and the pricing I've seen is quite good as well.

He's on the board....ehstinkle or something like that (SORRY - I probably brutalized it there....) :D

Did Pakistan join the EU to try to hold off India??:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Ehsan Kiani is the guy working on this. Here are a couple of link to some pictures he has set up.

http://www.islamabadjeeps.com/mods/bows2.htm

http://www.islamabadjeeps.com/mods/bows3.htm

His email address is ehsankiani@yahoo.com and he is on the PBB as well.

HTH,

Originally posted by MD11Fr8Dog


Did Pakistan join the EU to try to hold off India??:flipoff2: :flipoff2:



serves me right....I just post on one thread about bitch-slapping someone and turn around on the next thread and get bitch-slapped myself....

lol

:flipoff2:

Rick, how soon till you have to go to tayhoss (best mexican pronounciation)?

You'll probably be selling your hardtop up here where there is more demand for them...right? (I dont' want a hard top so don't take this as a hint of any kind)

Hi Rick,
Bill here,I met you up at Evans creek last Sunday.I had the tan cruiser that Angie was using as a footstool to get into her and Daves rig!!I've got a Kayline fasttrac top that i've had for the last 4 years or so.Nice fit
and good worksmanship,although some people have had problems.It's not the easiest to get on,but it does stay nice and tight at speed on the road.It would be nice to have easily replaceable windows on it tho.
Have fun down in Tex.
Take care,Bill

I have used two different tigertops, and the canvas (or denim I guess) one was far superior in fit than the vinal one. It seems to be holding up really well, too. Not loud at all on the highway like the vinal one was, and I can actually use all the snaps!! The vinal one was a fair top, but getting it to snap in cold weather sucks.
As for the fastrack, I have put them on two trucks and I think they are overrated. The rail system is a PITA, and if you have anyone in the back it makes getting in and out a bit of a challenge. Plus. like all kaylines, it overhangs in the rear when it is down, nice to catch trees on if you wheel in tight areas. Not a bad top for open area wheeling, I guess, but up here the trails are very narrow, and not the best place for any kayline top.

The factory tops have the best fit, and hold up really well (I have a friend who redid his a few years ago) but make wheeling in tight spots impossible, as they are HUGE. They are really pricey to recanvas, too if you do rip it, which my friend did less than 2 months after the install. By far the coolest looking top, tho.

For the money, I would say get the tigertop, and use the factory softtop snaps and holes near the door where they WILL come off at speed. Seems to work well.

Originally posted by wngrog
Just wait until you get to Tx and you won't need one :)

goin to Hood?

He said the Ahole of texas...where ever that is:D

Yep it looks like I'm goin to Hood, but first I'll spend 3 months or so in Ft. hoochie coochie, gettin some skills.

Bill It was great to wheel with ya an had a blast doin the 311 with 6 FJ40's, what a fun impromtu Cruiser run. I found out my tire pressure guage was off by 15-20 lbs because when I got to Wilkeson to air up my tires were at 30-32 psi ( I had bled them for 1 minute apiece without checkin them, man I hate to think what pressure I was at driving to Evans :eek:

I'm going to try to find a decent price on the "Supertop" it's looks like the best all around solution for me. Thanks for the input Folks.
-Rick

if you've got a cage that's even remotely custom, rule out both besttop and kayline and go oem...my first cruiser had the special baja cruiser rear bar which fit rather nicely under the hardtop, but not at all under my p.o.s. tigertop and my current 40 has a custom cage that doesn't fit under my kayline but easily under my hardtop...aftermarket softtops suck!!!