Dropping Supertop & Taking It With You

I have read that the Bestop Supertop can’t be dropped without removing it completely. Here is a link to a guy with a Wrangler that runs a couple straps around the top. Does anyone have experience with this? Could be a make or break thing for me.

Thank you.

 

Huh? I run about 7-8 months of the year with my Supertop down. I leave the back & sides at home so they don't get scratched up. The top gets folded down & rolled up behind the rear seat. I put a couple straps around it to keep things tidy, but it's not nessecary. The upper doors get stowed behind the rear seat, I put them in king size flannel pillowcases to protect them. The lower doors stay in place as 1/2 doors. If it rains I can put the top up and the upper doors on in a couple minutes, and stay dry.

Edit-
Here's a top down pic, you can see the black strap around it.

 

With the front channel a pain in the rear for me, I have rolled it up and flood the rear corners inside and put it under the windshield folded down. If going with the windshield up then I just take it all off and fold it up. Personally, I am not convinced the front channel was an improvement over the prior style. Now, I admit I have never had one of the older style but it seems to me like it’s much faster.

 

Not sure what you mean by the front channel...the windshield?
Mine attaches into the factory windshield channel just like all the other tops I've seen.

 

Earlier tops as used up through CJ2A had what I call "curtain" fasteners across the top of the windshield and corresponding grommets on the front edge of the canvas top. Much easier to unfasten than the top as compared to later tops with the front edge of the top being slid into the channel. I agree the channel attachment was not an improvement, but it probably saved a few dollars.

 

Thank you for the photo! To confirm, the top is still snapped to the bows?

I’m trying to figure out if it’s practical to drive to work with the top up, then drop it later in the day, or other way around for rain or cold.

Thank you everyone for your input and experience.

 

Yes

 

I’m also interested in your spare tire carrier and jack setup. If you think of it next time you are walking around your Jeep, would you mind taking a picture or two? Thank you again!

 

I've posted pics of this thing before but it's been awhile so I took a couple of new ones today. Basically a big chunk of 1/4 angle iron bolted to the back of the frame. Two 1/2" coupling nuts welded to that gives it the ability to pivot down. Two uprights, and a crossbar with holes that line up with the factory tailgate chain holes. The actual tire mount is just the stock side spare tire mount.
The nice thing about this setup is it's very lightweight & strong, plus all the weight is on the frame...the upper pin holes just keep it upright. The drawback is if you use your tailgate often, it's in the way. I have a rear seat in mine so I rarely use the tailgate.

 

Thank you Colojeepguy! I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I like the coupling nut idea. That seems more rugged than some of other similar style racks. I also like the use of space with the compact jack.

 

I’m talking about the channel you have to slide the front edge into. As it gets to the hood standoffs I find it becoming a PITA doing it by myself.

 

My Jeep doesn't have hood stand offs.

 

If you flip your hood standoffs upside down so the notch faces up, you don't need to slide the top through the end of the channel. you can just tuck the lip into place and then pull the top tight:

 

It still may not be an easy task depending on how wide the opening is in the channel. The material and sewing can also vary.
For my bikini top, it is easier to start one end and pull through. The flipped stand offs do help. I am not sure if the legs on the
stand offs are a little different in length to conform to the curvature of the hood with the wind shield down. Something to consider
when flipping. My Supertop is still "NIB". Not sure how that will work out when it comes time. No hurry with the weather here.

 

If you respect having a straight hood that is an option. The weight and bouncing of the windshield frame can be damaging if you care.
I never put the hood up latch back on and the stand offs are nice place to rest your hood when open.

 

You need to swap the stand-offs side to side when you flip them. I'm assuming the notches were for wiper clearance, but the wipers are no-where near hitting the stand-offs when flipped.

 

I’ll look at it when at the cabin.

 

I find the safety clasp to be the hard part when getting the Bestop plastic strip into the windshield channel