Reviews for Bestop Sunrider for Hardtop for 07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK
It was easy to install, but you will need to stretch it to get it to close. I used ratchet tie down straps to pull it. After I left it latched for a few days, it was easy to open and close. Very nice to just flip back on sunny days. Easy up and down!
Bought about two months ago, very happy with it! A little tricky to install, I am no mechanic, but was able to install it myself in one evening after work. Took a couple of minutes to figure out that the side rails slide on from the side, not the top, the instruction were not quite clear on this. Took a bit to get the bolts to line up to thread them in, but the good news is that once in, you are done! No more trying to thread the mushroom bolts every time that you put the Freedom too back on! A little hard to stretch out the fabric the first time, but opened and closed easily within a couple of days. Can now open or close it within 10 sec. slight increase in wind noise close, no added vibration, wind noise or parachuting when open, even when driving 70 mph.We are in the middle of a drought in Florida, but no leaks so far. I did get a wet left thigh after opening the door after a leak test, water dripped off the front of the side panel, so be aware. However, very happy, much more convenient than the Freedom hardtop front panels, keep the easy opening and closing of the back half of the
Freedom hardtop.
Installed much easier than I thought it would. It's very beneficial to have two people doing the installation. As far as functionality goes.. so far so good.
This 1/2 convertible Sunrider top is wonderful.......I had it installed by my mechanic. I can sit in the driver's seat and open the top without moving out of the seat. Likewise, I can close it the same way with very little effort. The great thing about the Sunrider is not only how easy it is to open/close, but in the event of inclimate weather, you can immediately close the top, unlike that of the hard tops. The Sunrider is well worth it and it is very enjoyable.
Straightforward installation, installation video as well as "Sunrider for Hardtop Tips and Tricks" youtube video helped greatly.
It took me nearly 2 hours as I worked alone and I took my time getting the rear rubber seal to seat well against the hardtop (I did not overlap the rubber seal over the hardtop but rather I folded it in), It also took a couple tries to get the rear screws into the bracket, as other reviewers have stated.
The fit and finish is perfect, looks great and does not leak. I used a hose to spray water onto the sunrider and aimed at the front corners in front of the rain gutters and behind the windshield, as well as the area between the soft-top and hardtop. No leaks! It also stormed that night and no leaks. However, if I open the door while it is raining or there is water draining from the soft-top, the water will flow down the gutter at the front and enter the jeep. This is not a big deal as I can install weather stripping that should prevent this from happening.
When driving at highway speed, I do notice more road noise when closed vs. the hardtop. No noise difference and no flapping at highway speeds when open.
This is a great product and I would buy it again!
I've owned many Jeeps, from CJ's to JK's, but my current 2016 Willys is the only one I've owned that has had a hardtop. My wife and I like how quiet the hardtop is but it is a pain to go topless (in fact, I've never even taken the whole thing off). The Freedom Panels are nice but are heavy and take up a lot of room in the back when removed. I decided to order the Sunrider so that my wife and I could quickly and easily get more of an open air experience yet still retain most of the hardtop qualities that we enjoy.
I've been running one of the black twill versions on my 4 door JK since February of 2017 and have been very pleased with it. If there has been any increase in wind noise over the factory Freedom Panels I haven't noticed. The first time I took the Jeep through a car wash after installing the Sunrider water poured in the interior and I immediately regretted my purchase. However, I popped the Sunrider off and reinstalled (a bit slower and more carefully) and haven't had any more problems...I'm pretty sure I rushed through the initial installation and didn't line something up correctly.
It is so much more convenient than having to deal with the Freedom Panels and the storage space they soak up when not installed. The Sunrider can easily be raised and lowered while sitting in the driver's seat of the Jeep, though I have to get out of the seat in order to attach the velcro straps to each side of the Sunrider. That takes all of 30 seconds so it's not really a big deal and if you have a passenger you might each be able to remove the a strap while seated.
In all I'm very happy with my purchase.
Install was pretty easy, looks great, doesn't leak, and is a breeze to operate. I couldn't be happier!
Top is outstanding, water tight and easy to use - now that I scowled at it a few times. It installs fairly easily, though a second set of hands is nice (though not required). The only annoyance was that the latch mechanisms in the front weren't intuitive to use and initially appeared to not reach the anchor loop on the Jeep. It wasn't clear at first how the latch opened and closed and it was stiff right out of the box. But now - now I have the perfect hybrid between a soft and hard top. I can finish my shift at the hospital, hop in my Jeep and pop the top like a convertible to blow off all the hospital air on the way home - but in the morning, I don't have to hassle with Freedom Panels but still mostly have the security of a hard top in the hospital lot overnight. Well worth the money.
Mix hard top and soft top
Open air