Trailer it with soft top or pull it topless

[oldjeeplady]

Advice from those of you that have trailered or flat towed your CJ at higher speeds on the interstate. What do you do? Do you pull it with the soft top installed or pull it topless?

Why do I ask? When we brought the 79 CJ7 home from Aurora IL we had the Bikini installed. We almost lost it as it pull loose from the windshield channel, but we saw it flapping behind and pulled off to remove it. After getting it home I discovered the two piece windshield channel had lost almost all the screws holding it in place. So they have been replaced and it now appears solid. I said appears.... Time will tell. Near as I can tell our soft top is a Bestop Supertop with the two piece doors in black vinyl like model 51598. This exact model doesn't appear to be made anymore but I did find some install instructions pdf on the bestop site. It needed some seams resewn which I did, and has a few small tears in the rear window which I plan to patch with Gear Aid Tenacious Tape until I can replace the window fabric ( I have an industrial uphostery walking foot machine)

Maybe this question will answer itself after we get some miles on the Jeep but I don't think we will be going as fast as when trailering it.

So what are your experiences?

 

[jammer1]

Theirs no difference between towing or you driving the jeep. The top may have not been tied down tight enough and the flapping you get allowed the top to come out of the windshield channel. If the screws were loose or the holes were enlarged it may not have been able to take the top flopping around and came loose. I've only had it happen with the bikini top once and it was because I didn't pull down the straps (to the rear corners) tight enough. Put the top back on and tightened and never had another problem.

 

[Torxhead]

I have done lots of flat towing my CJ behind my pickup. It actually seems to push the front of the softop somewhat down but the doors seem to try and open though. Bending the doors for more load on the hinges will fix that. 60 m.p.h. does seem to be a safe speed with a bit more air in the tires and a bit of toe in at the front wheels is good also. The furthest I have gone is to Moab,Utah which is about 725 miles. I did have an issue similar to Jammers when driving the CJ on the highway and have added a bunch more screws to the top channel.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I've flat-towed my CJ7 all the way to Montana and back without a top.
No issues.
Use pop-rivets on the windshield channel....
LG

 

[Posi]

I trailer mine once a month from March-Nov. I always tow with windshield down, saves on fuel.

 

[007]

I would definitely put the top on. I flat towed mine out there last year 1300 miles each way with no problems. But when it does rain, like it did on the way back, you're going to get way more road spray off the tow vehicle that flies right around the front windshield and right in the tub.

You get way more spray towing it than you would if you were just following someone because you're a lot closer on the trailer than following on the road.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chris insull]

I've flat towed my '71 both ways and don't have a preference; just depends on the weather forecast. What I do, however, is inspect the top every couple of hours during a "pit stop" to make sure the Velcro over the doors is still attached and.

 

[oldjeeplady]

Thanks We trailered it with the top on to Ouray and back just recently. Had some problems getting caught in a hail storm which blew both flaps above the doors loose and ate a wiper blade. After getting so wet inside the velcro above the doors wouldn't stay put. After inspection it seems worn and too narrow for the stresses so I am replacing it with new 1.5 inch velcro. I will have to add some fabric to the flap area to accommodate the wider velcro. I am working on this now and will post some pics when done. Thanks for the response.

 

[Torxhead]

Interesting issue, I would think adding snaps to where the velcro begins to come undone would help.