Frameless top

[DarinM]

Did a search - didn't have anything come up immediately obvious. I've got an 04 TJ. At a point where I can no longer see out of any of the windows - rear sides or the back. I'm thinking of getting one of the frameless replacement tops for it as I can get the whole top with new windows for not a great deal more money than just replacing the windows. Anyone have any experience with these? Thanks.

 

[Overlandexpeditionspecial]

Did a search - didn't have anything come up immediately obvious. I've got an 04 TJ. At a point where I can no longer see out of any of the windows - rear sides or the back. I'm thinking of getting one of the frameless replacement tops for it as I can get the whole top with new windows for not a great deal more money than just replacing the windows. Anyone have any experience with these? Thanks.

I have the Rampage/Viking one, going on three years now. I like it better than the stock top. Minor difficulty is the top is really tight (which is good) but you do have to make sure temps are warm to zip windows back in. Rampage has been good to work with, early on a zipper pull broke ( the cold temp tightness ) when I tried to force it closed, they sent a new pull free of charge.

 

[Bigjerm]

How is the rampage top on noise? I get a lot of wind noise from my factory soft top. Obviously you will always get noise but mine seems to "flap" at high speeds but everything is on and tight. A lot seems to come from the top where it bows up for the support bars and the rampage doesnt have that.

 

[Overlandexpeditionspecial]

How is the rampage top on noise? I get a lot of wind noise from my factory soft top. Obviously you will always get noise but mine seems to "flap" at high speeds but everything is on and tight. A lot seems to come from the top where it bows up for the support bars and the rampage doesnt have that.

I rode with a friend in his very stock TJ and did notice more wind noise and overall flapping with his stock top than the Rampage, I don't know whether his was sailcloth or original. I have a loud exhaust and humming tires, and still considered mine more bearable than the thumping flapping sound of his rear side windows.

 

[DarinM]

Good to know. Thanks. I also have a loudish exhaust and somewhat howly tires.

 

[DarinM]

Bought the Rampage top today and put it on. Some of the instructions were a bit unclear - if I hadn't had a safari top I probably would have been baffled at how to do the rear rollbar straps that attach to the seatbelt bolts.
The top is a very snug fit overall. I'll need a good sunny day to get the windshield retainer to fit in a bit better. I think this will eliminate virtually all the windnoise. Sight out of the windows is much improved over the stock top. The side windows are much larger, as is the rear window. The top appears to be well constructed. I didn't notice anything that appeared to be amiss.
I like the little mesh pockets that are over the visors and I'll be interested to see how well the interior bows hold up to rain.
I also like the window storage bag that comes with it and how it stores between the inner and outer layers of the roof.
Installation was relatively easy - the only problems I had were reaching a few things (my Jeep has a 4" lift and is sitting on 33"s. I'm 5'10" and kinda chunky. I can climb up on the tires or bumper, but it's a little challenging.
For the price point, I think this is a great option for fully replacing the top. My hardware was getting a bit worn out, my windows were shot and my canvas was getting pretty ratty.
Got a new top for $480 out the door and I like it very much so far.
I'll see how it does on a roadtrip here pretty soon and finish my review.
Have a great day!

 

[arveetek]

How long would you say it would take to install and then remove? I currently have a hard top and a safari top, no soft top. I've been wanting to get a soft top of some sort so that I can drive the Jeep more often in uncertain weather (with the top off, it usually stays parked inside if the weather is not nice). Would the Rampage top be easy to put up and down (take off) on a daily basis?

Also, do you need the factory style door surrounds with it? I don't have any door surrounds at all.

Thanks!!!

Casey

 

[DarinM]

The instructions recommend an hour for first time install. It took me probably 45 minutes. I don't know how easy it would be to do this on a cold day. I know my factory soft top was not fun to deal with in the cold.
I think I could have everything off in 10-15 minutes max, probably 15-20 to put it all back on. You can run this rampage top as a safari top - just zip the windows out and as I mentioned, there is a storage bag for the windows integral to the top.
The factory style door surrounds are required. The top has plastic runners that fit into the lip on the surrounds.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. We're supposed to be getting rain in Wichita over the next few days so we'll see how it works.

 

[arveetek]

Thank you sir.

The weather is cooling down, so I'll be putting the hard top back on soon. I'll be thinking and saving up over the winter for a new spring time top, I'm sure!

Casey

 

[DarinM]

I've had the top on several weeks now. Initially there was some wind noise, mainly around the windshield header - new tops never really seem to fit in to those on the ends. We've had temperatures here in Wichita from around 30F to around 90F since I put this top on. For about the first week I tightened the straps down a bit at least once a day as the top stretched. I haven't needed to touch the straps in at least a week and 1/2 now. There's almost no wind noise as the fitment along the header has adjusted into place. I've run with the doors off quite a bit (until the last couple of days) and at highway speeds the top doesn't flap around and is very stable. I'm really impressed with this thing. Visibility through the rear side windows is outstanding. A significant step up from the factory top. I can't see out the back anyway because I have a big tire in the way, but the back window is also much larger. I'd definitely recommend this top to anyone at this point. If anything changes down the road, I'll post up again.

 

[Bigjerm]

Thanks for the update. I am seriously thinking about getting 1 next year.

 

[Overlandexpeditionspecial]

The instructions recommend an hour for first time install. It took me probably 45 minutes. I don't know how easy it would be to do this on a cold day. I know my factory soft top was not fun to deal with in the cold.
I think I could have everything off in 10-15 minutes max, probably 15-20 to put it all back on. You can run this rampage top as a safari top - just zip the windows out and as I mentioned, there is a storage bag for the windows integral to the top.
The factory style door surrounds are required. The top has plastic runners that fit into the lip on the surrounds.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. We're supposed to be getting rain in Wichita over the next few days so we'll see how it works.

Cold days definitely make it more difficult (remember not to force the zipper), but thats still a good thing since it means the top is tight. I haven't taken the entire top off since I put it on, but Ive always preferred the safari top style anyway, so it's really quick to get to that setup. Glad your liking it DarinM!

 

[SteeperJeeper]

I have a trektop by bestop. I do have the OG version without removable windows how ever can attest to their quality. I havent had any leaks, except for the typical leg drip when you open the door after heavy rain. I even left the rear window unzipped only to come to find a pretty small puddle on the floor on my cargo liner. i highly recommend them. They are quieter than a regular soft top.