Ali Mansour
Brand Manager, 4WD & Sport Utility
One of the best parts about owning a Jeep Wrangler is having the ability to easily remove the top and doors. As much as we like the refinement of a hard top, we’re still huge fans of soft-top Wranglers. Not only are soft tops easier to remove, but their minimal weight and simplicity make them perfect for the off-road lifestyle. If you’ve never wheeled in an open-top and doorless rig, we suggest giving it a try. While it may feel a little eerie at first, it is one of the best ways to experience wheeling in the great outdoors.
Even though we enjoy the free feeling of open-top wheeling, sometimes shade is necessary to keep from becoming blistered and beaten by the sun. For our ’08 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon we’ve enjoyed our hard top and factory soft top options. Over the years the factory soft top has served us well, but the trail pinstriping, mud stains, and touch of sun fade have given the relatively late-model JK a bit of a weathered look.
With all of the top options on the market for the Wrangler, it can be overwhelming figuring out which is the right match for your Jeep and lifestyle. We wanted something durable and easy to use, and of course it needed to look nice. Since we’ve had great luck with our Bestop tops in the past, we opted to give the new Trek Top NX a try. The Trek Top NX doesn’t use a conventional soft-top frame structure or hardware, but rather follows the sleek factory lines of the Wrangler’s factory rollbar. On the Unlimited models this creates a unique slant-back look that definitely helps the Jeep stand out in a crowd. The Trek Top NX is made of a black multilayer fabric that’s designed to resist mildew and retain its shape in all temperatures.
Getting the material in the heat and under the sun’s rays makes it easier to install, as the fresh fabric can be a bit tight.
One of the major draws of the Trek Top NX is that it doubles as a Safari Bikini top once the rear windows are removed. This creates a clean look with added sun protection. There is also a built-in sun rider portion that allows you to quickly fold back the front portion of the top.
Installing the top took a little over an hour, and although it can be done by one person, a helping hand will make it go faster. For more info on the Trek Top NX and the entire Bestop line, check out www.bestop.com.
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So far our soft top has seen a barrage of rain, sun, and road miles. As we write this we haven’t experienced any leaks, and surprisingly the highway wind noise is very similar to the factory soft top (not much at all). We enjoy the look and function of the top, especially in the Safari Bikini configuration. Even with the top in the sun, the side windows were an extremely tight fit at first, but as the days move on and the top sees more sun, the side windows have become easier to take on and off.
