Besttop Supertop install

[JimsCJ5]

First of all you should never attempt this when it's cold out. What a PITA.
Anyway, we got the top on but need some heat to raise the rear hoop enough to lock into position. Since it's December we'll have to heat the jeep in the garage to finish it. However, no amount of heat is going to fix this problem, I think.
Below is a pic of the top part of the two piece doors. It is supposed to slide in from the top. As you can see the peg is at least an inch off. This pic is with the front peg inserted but even with the front peg positioned over the hole the gap is the same. WTH?


So far I am a little disappointed in this top. For $900 I expected better quality.

 

[hondo]

this is the way mine was. you have to insert one post then the other (back then front i think) but it will fit. and yes the cold makes it a pain to install, i have had luck with leaving the pieces in the shop to warm up then install the main part of the top and raise the bows (lot easier to raise from the outside then the inside) then installing the sides, its kind of a pain to insert the plastic into the rails but i find it easier then raising the bows from the inside.

 

[tarry99]

Anything less than 70 degrees ambient and your wasting your time trying to install one..........80 + degrees and it fits like a glove......just have to wait for warmer weather or a heated garage. Trying to do so in cold Weather will sometimes damage the top or split seams...........Patience!

 

[JimsCJ5]

Merry Christmas.
I tried back first, then front but it is still no-go. If you hold the rear post right over the hole the front post is still 1/2 away. I can't see how this would ever work.
Got it sitting in the sun right now but it is only about 61 out.

 

[Torxhead]

That temp is a bit cool for a top installation. I hope that it is not a quality issue that Bestop skipped out on. You might have to consider that if the material stretching out won't help. That pic does show the problem, a larger pic would show more though.

 

[JimsCJ5]

Update:
parking it in the sun for a couple of hours was the ticket. I was able to raise the rear hoop from the inside once the fabric had warmed up.

Still have not resolved the issue with the doors.

The instruction say to start with the front pin but it does not seem to make difference on either side.
The distance between the sockets on the door is 32 1/4" and the upper door pins are 31 1/4" measuring c to c.
Front pin in the socket:

Rear pin:


We have the old supertop and the measurements for the lower door pins is 32 1/4" and the upper pins is 32 1/4". No problems with the way the old doors fit.
Here is a pic so you know we are not crazy. This is the new and the old upper doors. The old uppers fit great in the new lowers:

One theory we have is the uppers are for a 75 or earlier CJ.

We'll be calling Morris today. Wish me luck. The last time we had a situation with a bad fitting part they made me send them pics and then said they took one out of inventory and fit it and had no problems.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

So far I am a little disappointed in this top. For $900 I expected better quality.[/QUOTE]

I had a soft top from a yj for a brief period, it was the mopar brand but for all intents and purposes it was the same as a bestop, I wasn't happy with the quality so I.sold it. I thought i was done with soft tops until I got the 400 dollar tj and saw the way the tj tops work, I got my hands on a tj supertop nx and after new years I'm gonna try to retrofit it to my cj.

 

[Only in a Jeep CJ]

I hope that it is not a quality issue that Bestop skipped out on. You might have to consider that if the material stretching out won't help. That pic does show the problem, a larger pic would show more though.

I have installed two of these Supertops and I can say that I was disappointed in the lack of quality.

I can tell you that based on your picture, there is a problem with the frame pins. Sitting in the sun may help the fabric stretch, but it wont help move metal that was welded wrong.

 

[Petescj]

I have installed two of these Supertops and I can say that I was disappointed in the lack of quality.

I can tell you that based on your picture, there is a problem with the frame pins. Sitting in the sun may help the fabric stretch, but it wont help move metal that was welded wrong.

Now proudly manufactured in Mexico.

 

[Dan86CJ7]

how does this tj top fit???

 

[Dolf]

Anything less than 70 degrees ambient and your wasting your time trying to install one..........80 + degrees and it fits like a glove......just have to wait for warmer weather or a heated garage. Trying to do so in cold Weather will sometimes damage the top or split seams...........Patience!

...and doing it when the sun has been shining on it for a couple of hours helps too.

 

[JimsCJ5]

Problem solved.
I rec'd an email from Morris with a message from Besttop.

The upper door frame has a slip-joint on the lower frame which allows you to pull the frame apart enough to fit the lower. There is nothing in the instructions about this and you can't see it since it is sown in. You really have to pull very hard to spread the frame apart.

Fits OK now. Not perfect but we hope we can adjust the hinge a little. At least we have windows now!

Thanks everyone for their input. On to the next problem: wiring.

 

[Torxhead]

Thanks for the update Jim, instructions can be a bear sometimes.