Sunrider owners - MY mess-up, or theirs?

[Mister Lamb]

Didn't get a chance to further inspect mine after this thread until today... My Sunrider also looks to be fu$&king up the seals on my 25 Mojave X. Taken off a 2021 Gladiator.

Top

Passenger

Passenger (Door)

Passenger (Door Shut)

Driver

Driver (Door

Driver (Door shut, yikes)

Install was pretty seamless, everything lined up and hand threaded before torquing down. Alternated between sides when tightening, rear clamp required minimal effort to get 2 bolts in. Cant shift left or right otherwise the black plastic bolt clamps things wouldn't line up with roll bar

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[Trollboogie]

Mine did the same. The gap was even on the sides, but folded the mucket seal under the door frame. And bad wind noise from the front center. It worked great on my 21. I put my freedom tops back on.

 

[Mister Lamb]

Mine did the same. The gap was even on the sides, but folded the mucket seal under the door frame. And bad wind noise from the front center. It worked great on my 21. I put my freedom tops back on.

Luckily don't have any wind noise which is why I didn't think I had an issue with mine but I think the case is closed that @Bestop has to make adjustments to align with the new seal design

 

[WILDHOBO]

Luckily don't have any wind noise which is why I didn't think I had an issue with mine but I think the case is closed that @Bestop has to make adjustments to align with the new seal design

That seams very clear. 2025 models seem to have a new seal design. Bestop and Jeep-Bestop haven’t modified sunrider to match.

@ShadowsPapa, if it were me, I’d get a refund from the dealer for the cost of the sunrider, and move on. I don’t think there’s a solution until sunrider creates a 2025 compatible Gen2 JL/JT sunrider. The only thing I can think of otherwise would be to replace your Jeep’s 2025 seals with 2024 seals.

 

[rhaney02]

That seams very clear. 2025 models seem to have a new seal design. Bestop and Jeep-Bestop haven’t modified sunrider to match.

@ShadowsPapa, if it were me, I’d get a refund from the dealer for the cost of the sunrider, and move on. I don’t think there’s a solution until sunrider creates a 2025 compatible Gen2 JL/JT sunrider. The only thing I can think of otherwise would be to replace your Jeep’s 2025 seals with 2024 seals.

The dealer needs to replace his damaged seals caused by the ill fitting Sunrider top anyway.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That seams very clear. 2025 models seem to have a new seal design. Bestop and Jeep-Bestop haven’t modified sunrider to match.

@ShadowsPapa, if it were me, I’d get a refund from the dealer for the cost of the sunrider, and move on. I don’t think there’s a solution until sunrider creates a 2025 compatible Gen2 JL/JT sunrider. The only thing I can think of otherwise would be to replace your Jeep’s 2025 seals with 2024 seals.

the seals of my 2025 look much like the 2023 and 2024 I've seen, I have yet to do side-by-side comparison (other than my wife's 2023) but the 24s are the same.
However....
Interesting comments from the service advisor:
He said, and I have NOT verified this - so this is HIS word, noting more - he says the 2025 freedom panels are different, different part numbers. He said the panels have changed.

The have another sunrider on order and will go from there. I'm going to follow this through and if necessary, get JeepCares and even Bestop involved in this, if nothing else, to help others.
I need to check with Benny on the panels. It does sort of make a little bit of sense since the 2025 is so VERY VERY much quieter than any other Jeep I've ever been in, including my 2020 and 2022. No comparison. You don't hear wind noise unless it's REALLY windy and the road noise is really low - you can't even hear your own tires. And that's weird for a Jeep JL or JT.

It needs to be resolved, if I back off at this point - Bestop and even Jeep will just sit back and say "our job here is done".
No, it's not.
Even the people at the dealership have said again - this is just not right.

The dealer needs to replace his damaged seals caused by the ill fitting Sunrider top anyway.

That's another thing - any damage done will need to be resolved. Regardless of the final resolution (giving up or insisting that Bestop and Jeep finish the job) it needs to be right.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Benny shows that all of the freedom panels are the same going back to day one, and forward to 2025.

 

[Trollboogie]

That seams very clear. 2025 models seem to have a new seal design. Bestop and Jeep-Bestop haven’t modified sunrider to match.

@ShadowsPapa, if it were me, I’d get a refund from the dealer for the cost of the sunrider, and move on. I don’t think there’s a solution until sunrider creates a 2025 compatible Gen2 JL/JT sunrider. The only thing I can think of otherwise would be to replace your Jeep’s 2025 seals with 2024 seals.
[/QUOT

That seams very clear. 2025 models seem to have a new seal design. Bestop and Jeep-Bestop haven’t modified sunrider to match.

@ShadowsPapa, if it were me, I’d get a refund from the dealer for the cost of the sunrider, and move on. I don’t think there’s a solution until sunrider creates a 2025 compatible Gen2 JL/JT sunrider. The only thing I can think of otherwise would be to replace your Jeep’s 2025 seals with 2024 seals.

Mine is a 2024

 

[WILDHOBO]

The dealer needs to replace his damaged seals caused by the ill fitting Sunrider top anyway.

Agreed.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Benny shows that all of the freedom panels are the same going back to day one, and forward to 2025.

Confusing.

 

[Gatorized]

Benny shows that all of the freedom panels are the same going back to day one, and forward to 2025.

Does your wife’s 4xe have freedom panels? i would swap them to see if they both fit yours and hers.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Does your wife’s 4xe have freedom panels? i would swap them to see if they both fit yours and hers.

Excellent idea.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah, talk my wife into letting me pop the roof panels out of HER Jeep - well, I can try........... LOL

 

[JonMN]

Sunrider owner here on a 2024. It's a fun option! Wow, I had thought the Jeep logo version was identical, but that difference in front attachment plate makes me wonder if other things are different too.

I also tuck in the flaps as somewhere (not sure of year) the seal changed a little. Also show indentations where it hits the door seal. Figure if it finally bugs me I can replace the seal (think it about 15 minute based on videos). Part numbers for door seal: passenger 68271724AH; driver 68271725AH.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sunrider owner here on a 2024. It's a fun option! Wow, I had thought the Jeep logo version was identical, but that difference in front attachment plate makes me wonder if other things are different too.

I also tuck in the flaps as somewhere (not sure of year) the seal changed a little. Also show indentations where it hits the door seal. Figure if it finally bugs me I can replace the seal (think it about 15 minute based on videos). Part numbers for door seal: passenger 68271724AH; driver 68271725AH.

Is your the Jeep branded or Bestop branded?
No way I'm paying for seals and replacing them when an ill-fitting top is the issue, sorry. Jeep and Bestop own this issue.
Some also say tucking the seal can lead to leaks. It's designed to be how it is from the factory, another ding against Bestop/Jeep.

Bestop says "don't tuck the seal" as well as "it should not fit like that - yet, no answer. OK, don't tuck the seal but if I don't, it's ruined and won't work with the freedom panels later.........
"Call" - it can't be fixed over the phone. No possible adjustment.

My JT is only 3 months old, it's their (Jeep's and perhaps Bestop's) problem.

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