by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Ninety-three million miles. Give or take a few.
We all know this is the unofficial distance between Earth and Sun.
And yet, when you have your Jeep hardtop or soft top removed to enjoy open cabin freedom, it can sometimes feel like that distance has somehow compressed to just a few feet. Heat beating down. Comfort level bordering on oppressive. Especially when you are stuck in stop-and-go driving conditions.
So, what to do?
Well, you can either suck it up, slather on the sunscreen and deal with those furnace-like conditions, drag that full top back on your vehicle, or find another solution that still lets you drive with an open cabin while providing some semblance of protection.
Something like the Mastertop ShadeMaker Freedom Mesh Bimini Top.
See, all bimini tops help shield you from the bright sun and its, sometimes, oppressive heat. But, many of those bimini tops are also constructed with thick soft top material that cuts off exterior roof visibility.
So, an excellent compromise is a mesh bimini top that still ensures viable protection while also keeping to that open cabin theme.
The Mastertop Freedom ShadeMaker Bimini Top utilizes heavy-duty mesh material and is designed to withstand the elements, while blocking up to 70 percent of harmful UV rays. This easily protects you from sunburn and helps reduce your Jeep’s interior temperature in the process. Its robust construction ensures long-lasting durability and allows the top to remain intact and functional no matter the weather conditions.
Over a recent 10-day span, as temperatures in the northeastern United States soared into the mid to high 90s, we pulled the hardtop off Project Snazzicon and installed the ShadeMaker to see just how all that text jargon held up in the real world.
Hint, it is definitely good.
First thing — this is not a top to permanently replace either your hardtop or soft top. It will repel water from light showers falling straight down, but anything like side-to-side rain, or a harder storm downfall will get your Jeep interior wet.
In fact, we had a small break in the heat one weekend night as thunderstorms erupted, so we quickly threw on a Quadratec Softbond 5-layer car cover to make sure our vehicle’s interior was securely protected from moisture.
On to the product itself.
One of the standout features of the ShadeMaker Bimini Top, besides the material itself, is the ease of installation. There is no additional retainer bar on the windshield to worry about, elastic bands, or rubber tuck-in railing. Or, for that matter, any drilling, either.
Instead, the ShadeMaker utilizes a strap and buckle set-up on its two-piece design. For the front section, straps loop around the right and left-hand front windshield edges and wrap around the roll cage into buckles. In the rear of the front section, straps tuck in above the rear doors and loop back under the front door rear edge into buckles.
Additionally, there are two T25 torx screws on the front of the soundbar that need to be undone facing the front seats. Then, two more straps attach to the screws and are re-installed to the soundbar. Buckles on the back edge of the top install into each strap for added fitment.
For the rear section, two clips with buckles plug into small holes in the metal framing above the middle of the soundbar. Straps on the top material then lock down into those buckles to secure into place. Next, left and right straps utilize more clips into OEM mounting holes above each rear door. After that, additional straps wrap around the front and middle of the rear door's roll cage, as well as rear straps that slide under the rear roll cage into buckles.
Finally, just like in the front, two rear center cutout T25 torx bolts need to be removed, straps attached, and then threaded through buckles jutting from the top material.
It all sounds like a lot, but threading and attaching the straps does not take long at all. And once everything is in place, all straps can be cinched up tight with a simple pull.
We put in a bunch of miles with the top attached over a few weeks, and it was quickly evident that the top was a solid fitment that didn’t flap around in the wind like other bimini versions. Plus, the mesh performed as expected by letting in light without any additional heat.
Each strap and buckle is box stitched for durability and strap ends fit seamlessly into each buckle. For the time we had the top, once we tightened each strap, everything remained snug until removal.
Speaking of removal, the MasterTop ShadeMaker Freedom Bimini Top Plus actually never needs to be taken off the vehicle unless you really want it removed. Because it uses different attachment points, you can leave the top in place forever if you want. Reinstall your soft top or hardtop and leave the ShadeMaker in place. No worries. No hassle.
The ShadeMaker Bimini Top is available in black or red, and it can be used alone or in conjunction with other Mastertop products, such as the Wind Stopper or Tonneau Cover, to create a customized setup that meets your specific needs.
All in all, if you want to truly enjoy open-cabin driving with a protective shield above your head, the MasterTop ShadeMaker Freedom Mesh Bimini Top Plus is perfect for your needs.
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