Soft Top - Quality and Durability
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: covington
Soft Top - Quality and Durability
I am looking at buying a soft top for my 1990 Bronco and am looking for info specific to the quality and durability of the tops that some of you have bought. Of course, I want a top that allows the use of my back seat. What brand do you think is best and have you had any problems with the fit of the top, the top flopping in the wind, and leaks. I especially want input from guys that have had theirs for a while, but any input is appreciated.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Madison/CT
Soft Top - Quality and Durability
JBG sells a top that allows the use of your backseat. My firend purchased the one that follows the contour of the body, and its not what i would call top quality. If your interested in a soft top for broncos, buy the one that skyler makes. Its about 600.00 but its the best one out there in my opinion. You don't need to drill any holes and it bolts right into the holes for the hard top.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: SE Texas
Soft Top - Quality and Durability
As far as I know, you only have 3 choices: 1)Skyler, 2)Kayline, or 3)custom-made. I have the Skyler fastback top, but they did make a canopy top that is basically a canvas replacement of the hardtop. Their website (www.skylercorp.com) says that the co. is for sale, and they're currently not selling tops. You might be lucky enough to find one on ebay or other classifieds evry few months. While Kayline has also sold out and has quit makin tops, you might find one at JBG which is the dealer for these. Cheaper than the Skyler top, but requires drilling for mounting the brackets. If you know of a boat shop nearby, they might be able to build you a custom canopy, or if you're so inclined, you can build your own out of the canvas and railings for a boat canopy.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 236
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Soft Top - Quality and Durability
Kayline was bought out by Specialty Top. http://www.specialtytopco.com/
I've got one, and it's made really well. It actually increases the headroom and widens the sides in the back by an inch or 2.
Only problem is drilling into the truck, but all holes except for those on the tailgateare are covered by the hard top if you put it back on some day. And they are snaps, which sometimes come off, but you can buy 10 for $1 and it only takes 30 seconds to put it back on.
Just keep 303 Aerospace Protectant on it every 6 months or so and the color will keep, and the windows will last.
Brian
1988 351 EFI
I've got one, and it's made really well. It actually increases the headroom and widens the sides in the back by an inch or 2.
Only problem is drilling into the truck, but all holes except for those on the tailgateare are covered by the hard top if you put it back on some day. And they are snaps, which sometimes come off, but you can buy 10 for $1 and it only takes 30 seconds to put it back on.
Just keep 303 Aerospace Protectant on it every 6 months or so and the color will keep, and the windows will last.
Brian
1988 351 EFI
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Soft Top - Quality and Durability
I have the slantbacl soft top on my 95 Bronco and I absolutly love it to death. It installed easy, allows the back seat to be used, easy tailgate access, and easy removal for open air driving.
www.soft-tops.com
You mentioned durability- well its been installed 3 years almost 46,000 miles and I haven't a single complaint. All the hardware has held up and the material has not stretched or faded.
Take a look at some of the pics and let me know if you have any more questions.
www.soft-tops.com
You mentioned durability- well its been installed 3 years almost 46,000 miles and I haven't a single complaint. All the hardware has held up and the material has not stretched or faded.
Take a look at some of the pics and let me know if you have any more questions.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 236
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Soft Top - Quality and Durability
that one works and it's cheaper than the Specialty top one, but you have serious blind spots on the left and right sides, and only kids can sit in the back seat comfortably. if you're 6' like me, your head hits the top when you sit in the back unless you lean forward.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
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Soft Top - Quality and Durability
I'd go with a Skyler because the others require you to have to drill many snaps into the body which i'm not up for doing. They are great quality for the $550. They mount on plates that bolt to the body into the holes that the hard top bolts go into.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Soft Top - Quality and Durability
Your right the back seat can be a little tight, but at least its still usable. Taller people are OK for short trips, and most cute girls fit fine
As far as blind spots, I have really never had a problem... Now that I think about it- losing the two side windows is alot. Oh well, three years and no accidents!
I did have to drill alot of holes which are covered when the hard top goes back on.
I like it for $350
As far as blind spots, I have really never had a problem... Now that I think about it- losing the two side windows is alot. Oh well, three years and no accidents!
I did have to drill alot of holes which are covered when the hard top goes back on.
I like it for $350
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 236
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Soft Top - Quality and Durability
I had to drill the same amount of holes as anollmann, but if you want to use the back seats there is no way around that.
The Skyler top is nice, but it makes it look like a truck and you definitely can't use the back seat.
I love my one from Specialty Top http://www.specialtytopco.com/ . If you want to save $100 to $150 go with the other one that allows back seat use.
http://www.soft-tops.com/new/bronco.html
Brian
The Skyler top is nice, but it makes it look like a truck and you definitely can't use the back seat.
I love my one from Specialty Top http://www.specialtytopco.com/ . If you want to save $100 to $150 go with the other one that allows back seat use.
http://www.soft-tops.com/new/bronco.html
Brian
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
Soft Top - Quality and Durability
now what if you had a roll bar in the back there. is there a soft top that would fit around it ok. that would also allow more head room I would think for the back seat??
just a thought.
later
just a thought.
later
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 66
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From: SF Bay Area
Soft Top - Quality and Durability
I have the Specialty Tops "full" top for my '95. Just got it and I like it fine so far, can't wait till summer.
I am also in the process of building a full cage for the truck. Main reason is to protect the back seat passengers (my kids) when there is no roof. But I've extended a halo over the front seats and have down bars in the front corners.
I designed the roll cage so that it would fit within the hard top OR the soft top. Because the soft top frame needs to be able to fold down, there isn't a whole lot of difference in clearance one way or the other. The main challenge was getting the spreader bars at the right height/width to allow for the maximum side clearance for the back seat passengers. Even there the difference between hard top and soft top clearance is only about half an inch.
I test-fit the hard top last weekend, and wow, it fits perfectly.
I have some preliminary pics (not quite done yet, still need to figure out a pair of (removable) bars from the floor up behind the rear seat), email me back privately through FTE and I'll point you to where you can find them, if interested.
MerCrew66
I am also in the process of building a full cage for the truck. Main reason is to protect the back seat passengers (my kids) when there is no roof. But I've extended a halo over the front seats and have down bars in the front corners.
I designed the roll cage so that it would fit within the hard top OR the soft top. Because the soft top frame needs to be able to fold down, there isn't a whole lot of difference in clearance one way or the other. The main challenge was getting the spreader bars at the right height/width to allow for the maximum side clearance for the back seat passengers. Even there the difference between hard top and soft top clearance is only about half an inch.
I test-fit the hard top last weekend, and wow, it fits perfectly.
I have some preliminary pics (not quite done yet, still need to figure out a pair of (removable) bars from the floor up behind the rear seat), email me back privately through FTE and I'll point you to where you can find them, if interested.
MerCrew66
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