Bikini Top and Windjammer

[cjones]

I was just wondering if it was worth it to run the windjammer with bikini top and tonneau cover. How well does this keep water out or protect against the elements? I like the look, but not sure about keeping water out. It looks like water gets in around the windjammer. Suggestions?

[Hipee]

The windjammer/bikini top combo are not weather proof. They help keep the majority of the weather out (there Bestop is one of the better ones) but I wouldn't want to drive in heavy rain with it if I could help it.

Bestop has a newer model out that seals up around the rollbar tighter, providing a better seal to keep water out. If it doesn't rain too much in your area, then it should keep you dry.

[cjones]

[ QUOTE ]
The windjammer/bikini top combo are not weather proof. They help keep the majority of the weather out (there Bestop is one of the better ones) but I wouldn't want to drive in heavy rain with it if I could help it.

Bestop has a newer model out that seals up around the rollbar tighter, providing a better seal to keep water out. If it doesn't rain too much in your area, then it should keep you dry.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well.... thats what I thought, but just wanted to get someone elses opinion. Thanks

[Paul E]

The problem lies in the gap between the door surrounds and the sport cage (where the surrounds curve). That is where you will get most moisture in. Whether it is a safari or bikini, that gap is there. The top that Hipee is talking about is the half top.


I'm TEMPTED to get this, but since I already have a bikini and tonneau, it make seem a bit redundant...

http://www.bestop.com/images/products/53809-15.jpg

[gmbtj]

plus the fact that it cost just as much as a normal replacement top, if not more, is REDICULUS!!!! (not including the sailcloth tops, of course)

[imported_gblue]

I have the exact setup as pictured here except I dont have the door surrondings, my top goes around the roll bar. There is a big gap there. When it rains the water kinda puddles on the top, when you drive it all comes in on top of you. The windjammer is nice but water can also get in behind it. I vacumed about 5 gallons of water out of my jeep last week but the top is nice, It does offer some protection I guess if you are moving. It also leaks around the front top near the windshield.. I just got the top a couple of weeks ago from Qtec for about 350. I lost my soft tops during the fire so It was the cheapest option for me. I love it and keep it off most of the time unless Its really comming a big storm.. One thing that helps is that if you fold your seats forward they dont get as wet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



[ QUOTE ]
The problem lies in the gap between the door surrounds and the sport cage (where the surrounds curve). That is where you will get most moisture in. Whether it is a safari or bikini, that gap is there. The top that Hipee is talking about is the half top.


I'm TEMPTED to get this, but since I already have a bikini and tonneau, it make seem a bit redundant...

http://www.bestop.com/images/products/53809-15.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

[cjones]

Thanks for the input guys. I will probabaly stick with the soft top for now.

[Hipee]

Yeah, the half-top was what I was thinking about. That is suppose to be as weatherproof as a regular soft-top. I would love to get that but I have the factory overhead "sound wedges" and dome lights, which I don't want to remove. So they'd be "outside" of the top and wouldn't do me any good. Not to mention the summer sun around here would destroy them.

[ZONA]

Personally I found the Bestop and all other tops for Jeeps a big pile of dung. I cannot believe there isn't some kind of form fitted top that just pops in on the roll bars and stays. Not fabric either, that just catches air or has straps hanging off. Plus, this stupid windshield channel is lame. You can't even put your hard top back on without unbolting and removing the channel. Poor Poor Poor design for these tops if you ask me. Thinking of designing something much better. Maybe I will market it..............hehehe.

[Paul E]

You can get a drill in header that DOES work with the normal tops. Bestop DOES make a solid bikini top (at least they did) and I saw it in Quadratec or 4wd.com's catalog.

[ZONA]

I thought I saw that also but I think it's just fabric which is quite taught. Show me a solid top. Thanks.

[Hipee]

jeeps are suppose to be topless. Tops are a temporary solution for the rainy season.

[Paul E]

That from a guy who lives where it rains for 3 months of the year. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

In Cali it is EASY to run without tops, everywhere else though, rain is a constant problem. It's been raining on and off here for over a week, with probably another week to go.

... and they our rainfall totals are below average for the year here /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/screwy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smashfreakB.gif

[Hipee]

3 months? We're lucky to get 3 months worth of rain here. I always take the top off on Memorial Day and don't put it back on until after Labor Day.

[Paul E]

heheh in soCal, rain would start around November with really spotty rain showers then it would be "Flooding season" *snicker* with severe puddling along the sides of the road until February or March. After that, kiss the clouds goodbye for a while.

While I loved the consistent weather in soCal, the constant sun got a bit old some times. Nothing like a good thunderstorm to clean the air and water the vegetation!

[Dave Taylor]

I saw an article from a 3rd party company in one of the jeep magazines about a top-system that doesn't have support bars; and just goes on over the rollbars....I will try to dig it up.

As for bikinis and windjammers; I have both; and there is about 2 inches of gap between the edge of the wj and the rollbar...why they don't make the wj wide enough to go to and maybe a little past the rollbar; I have no idea. Kinda stupid IMO.

If you don't haul 3 people; they might be OK; but mine isn't really worth it; because I have to haul and use the rear seat pretty often.

THe only problem with rain; really is in a standstill or slow speed; if you are running 45 or faster; even topless; the rain will go over and not in.

I sure would like to see a half-cab system that was easy to throw on though; that just went on over the roll-bar.

[imported_gblue]

After pumping out 25 gallons of water out of my jeep last week I put my hard top back on.

[Hipee]

Rain?! We don't need no stinking rain! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif