by Terry Pritchard
Torque Staff Writer
We buy a Jeep to express our freedom and feel closeness with the great outdoors. That classic notion in an open-air vehicle has been part of the Jeep experience right from the beginning.
Soft tops provide the feeling of wind in our hair and sun on our faces while driving. Just put the top back and enjoy the drive.
These days, there are way more than just a smattering of soft top offerings. In fact, there are so many on the market that it can be quite confusing on which one to choose, or if a top will even fit your needs.
Some just include fabric and require the original top hardware, while others are complete top replacements for those who have a hardtop or need an entire makeover.
Here are our top five upgrades to your top-down or top-up life:
One — Mastertop SkyMaster Frameless Fastback Top:
The Mastertop SkyMaster has a sporty fastback look that definitely captures attention on the trail or road. Its angled rear window increases an opening that is larger than the original factory window and is easily opened and closed. Meanwhile, the top’s front section quickly folds back to provide a very large sunroof area over the front and rear seats — giving everyone that exciting, open-air feeling.
All SkyMaster tops feature fabric with OE-quality thickness and look as well as a premium upgraded twill fabric option. This premium twill will retain a darker black appearance and remain soft to the touch over all four seasons. Either option provides a quiet ride and protection from the elements like rain and snow with heat-sealed seams.
Rear windows can be quickly removed using high-quality, smooth zippers, for an even more open, versatile Bimini top. This SkyMaster top is a complete kit and includes all the necessary components for installation on your Wrangler such as a new top deck, door surrounds, tailgate bar and the front flip-back bow assembly.
Two — Bestop Supertop Ultra
Bestop has long been an industry standard and has crafted OEM Jeep soft tops for decades. And its Supertop Ultra certainly lives up to that reputation. This flagship product is designed using premium materials and hardware such as 30-ounce black twill fabric, zipperless window channels and sturdy aluminum framework.
Its durable twill offers a cleaner, darker appearance over just about all other types of soft top vinyl and is designed to provide years of optimal performance under any type of climate. It’s not just the twill fabric that is premium, either. The top’s windows are also an upgrade with thicker and clearer plastic that utilize a nice dark tint.
A patented lift assist on the soft top makes it simple for one person to open the front Sunrider feature and expose the driver and passenger to fresh air. This is a popular choice for Jeep owners who want a versatile soft top that can be easily converted from a full top to a safari or bikini. The hardware and zipperless window system allow for simple and effortless operation, making the top easy to transform however you wish.
Three — Bestop Replace-a-Top:
A classic, like the McDonald’s Big Mac or Burger King’s Whopper. This top has been around nearly forever and pretty much checks off all the boxes you want from a top — quality material, durable stitching, wrinkle-free fabric and exact-fit windows. In fact, anyone who bought a Jeep from the factory had this same top as it is a direct fit OE replacement.
All you need is working factory hardware.
Depending on the model year, some Replace-a-Tops offer 18- to 31-degree tinted side and windows, while others are clear. Additionally, those with half-steel doors can also get a top with replacement door skins as well.
All Replace-a-Tops utilize the same factory soft top material, which could be fabric or vinyl depending on the year. Also, with thicker sailcloth and twill fabric now available for many models, you can even opt to upgrade the material quality while still getting the same factory fitment.
Side and rear windows have the same DOT-approved vinyl openings, feature oversized zippers and are heat-sealed to protect against the elements.
Again, as long as you have factory hardware in working shape, this is an excellent replacement without having to purchase a whole new complete top system.
Four — Rugged Ridge Voyager Soft Top:
This soft top is designed for Jeep owners who want a simple and easy-to-install soft top that is also stylish and multi-functional. Plus, its fastback style design gives this top an aggressive and distinctive appearance.
The front portion is quick and easy to flip back in order to provide that open-air feeling without having to pull the top all the way back. But if you do require more freedom, then just unzip and remove the rear windows to convert to a Safari-style top. Additionally, Rugged Ridge wisely decided to construct this top with heavy-duty, self-repairing zippers that smoothly glide when removing or re-installing.
However, a real shining point for this top is an overhead panel that safely stores the windows and keeps them away from scratch-inducing debris. Material-wise, the Voyager is designed with a durable and thick 30 oz. premium sailcloth material with sealed seams to keep the elements out.
Five — QuadraTop Gen II Complete Soft Top:
Enjoy a complete Jeep replacement top experience with the fully-functional QuadraTop. This all-season product makes a great selection thanks to its serious value and wealth of features.
The full soft top kit comes with everything that you need to have a soft top as your permanent top solution or as something you switch into during warmer seasons. Its black diamond material is the same thick fabric Jeep has been using on its standard top for over two decades and definitely holds up to the elements no matter the season.
Heat-sealed tinted rear windows help keep internal temperatures lower on those really sunny days and are hassle-free to zip in and out. The top even offers a fold-back cable-style sunroof for those days when you want some open air, but do not require full top-down enjoyment.
