Sunrider owners - MY mess-up, or theirs?

[JonMN]

Did you get my DM that I sent you this morning? If not, you're welcome to email me and I'll see what I can do to help out! [email protected].

~Crystal@Bestop
www.bestop.com

Hi Crystal! Can you include me in the discussion too? I installed my Bestop last year, and had no whistling at all. Now I do have some whistling at highway speed. It's really hard to pinpoint the exact location. I have played with the latch adjustment a little, but not noticing a difference. Also checked all the torque values, etc. Still like it a lot. So if you have any tips, please let me know too.

Regarding the flap that has everyone in a flap (Sorry, I couldn't resist) I know your team says to leave it out, but it gets destroyed by the door (at least on one side of the Jeep) if you do this. Folding under keeps it safe until the Sunrider comes off for the winter. Not sure what you can do about this, as if you raise the front you will probably trap water in the channel. Perhaps a judicious upward bend near the inside-front of the rail would work--kind of like a fender over a wheel. (Don't worry, I will not attempt this) (another link on this topic: LINK)

In this position the door will crush it, and I really do not think it will recover.

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[WILDHOBO]

@WILDHOBO thank you for the tag!

@ShadowsPapa We have a DM going and you are going to let me know what the dealership says when you talk to the salesman again.
Bestop is aware of the change made by Mopar and we are working on correcting the 2025 version of both the factory Sunrider as well as ours. I appreciate you bringing this to our attention, please know our Engineering and Quality Teams are working diligently on a resolution!


~Crystal@Bestop
www.bestop.com

Any time. You’ve always gone above and beyond for me.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes. My JT goes in first thing Tuesday morning. Not sure if I'll stick around there or not.

For onlookers (Bestop knows this) - The shop people ordered a whole new sunrider.
It arrived last week. Tomorrow, they will do a test fit and go from there.
I'll let Bestop and JeepCares know of the results and even pass along contact info it desired It's good if they talk with each other - dealership to Jeep to Bestop.

Today I noticed a whole lot more wind noise but didn't bother checking further as by tomorrow, it won't necessarily matter.

In my case, though - it's not the changes made by Jeep - it's the fact mine simply sits sooooo very low, it's all but against the top of the door and it looks like heck when you look at the right front of the Jeep - it actually looks like there's a problem with it from a distance, it sits so high in the back and low in the front.
So mine isn't an issue as far as change - that jeep added that mucket and rain channel, it simply fits my truck wrong.

Take away the mucket issue - it's still a poor fit.

I'm hopeful, though - going ahead and ordering a sunshade - probably a Spiderweb product.

I’m not convinced yet. I can see that thr 25’s have a totally different seal across the windshield as well. I’ll be interested to see if the second sunrider is any different.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’m not convinced yet. I can see that thr 25’s have a totally different seal across the windshield as well. I’ll be interested to see if the second sunrider is any different.

Mine does really sit low and hard on the windshield seal

 

[WILDHOBO]

Mine does really sit low and hard on the windshield seal

And the seal looks way different than on mine.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just got a call from the dealership.
They said the new sunrider fit like the first one.

They have taken pictures and measurements and have a STAR case started.
They are keeping it into tomorrow, hoping to hear back on the STAR case.

I'm not really surprised - several other Jeep owners have shown similar issues, and I've seen differences in the attachment points between mine and what others have (larger mounting pads compared to mine, different design and so on)

That really digs down and sits real deep in that seal, not on it.

Looking at it from the side, it really slopes downward badly from rear to front.

 

[JonMN]

Interesting difference in fit. Mine seems to be a little further forward, and the fabric does not drop as far into the channel. (2024 Bestop and JT). Might be a little difference in clamp adjustment, I suppose.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Interesting difference in fit. Mine seems to be a little further forward, and the fabric does not drop as far into the channel. (2024 Bestop and JT). Might be a little difference in clamp adjustment, I suppose.

But your mucket seal bits are still tucked up in.
If yours fit correctly, that would not be done.
It's supposed to fit like the panels, just rest on that mucket, not push down on it.

Sounds like both Jeep STAR and even Bestop people will end up involved.

 

[JonMN]

But your mucket seal bits are still tucked up in.
If yours fit correctly, that would not be done.
It's supposed to fit like the panels, just rest on that mucket, not push down on it.

Sounds like both Jeep STAR and even Bestop people will end up involved.

Yeah, it's a quandary. My take is that the Sunrider was just designed before the advent of Mucket seals, and not changed after they were introduced. My choice is protect them like this until fall when I take it the cover off rather than let the door crush them all summer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah, it's a quandary. My take is that the Sunrider was just designed before the advent of Mucket seals, and not changed after they were introduced. My choice is protect them like this until fall when I take it the cover off rather than let the door crush them all summer.

those seals fit under the panels perfectly. The panel fitment never changed. So the fit of the sunrider has been wrong for years but didn't matter up through 2020.

If the sunrider drip rail landed like the panels, there'd be no issues at all.

So technically, Jeep didn't really change anything - the panels fit exactly the same.
The sunrider has not ridden properly from back then as it didn't matter before 2021

There should have never been any change required if the drip rail on these sat level along the top of the door.

That, or they've just not really controlled dimensions very well over the years!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Just got a call from the dealership.
They said the new sunrider fit like the first one.

They have taken pictures and measurements and have a STAR case started.
They are keeping it into tomorrow, hoping to hear back on the STAR case.

I'm not really surprised - several other Jeep owners have shown similar issues, and I've seen differences in the attachment points between mine and what others have (larger mounting pads compared to mine, different design and so on)

That really digs down and sits real deep in that seal, not on it.

Looking at it from the side, it really slopes downward badly from rear to front.

Sorry to hear that, but I’m glad it’s on their radar now. I hope it’s resolved quickly. Can they work on the problem with another 25 and give you yours back with freedom tops?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sorry to hear that, but I’m glad it’s on their radar now. I hope it’s resolved quickly. Can they work on the problem with another 25 and give you yours back with freedom tops?

Interesting question - but then hopefully tomorrow will come with some interesting information anyway.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Interesting question - but then hopefully tomorrow will come with some interesting information anyway.

Agreed. I hope it’s resolved before it gets too annoying. You’ll love having a sunrider I think. It’s so nice.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Agreed. I hope it’s resolved before it gets too annoying. You’ll love having a sunrider I think. It’s so nice.

If they (whoever they is) get this "fixed", I plan on a spiderweb sunshade and headliner for it to beat the heat and noise.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Update!
Dealer called - still no word from STAR people.

So without my Jeep for yet another day (took it in Tuesday AM early, they'll have it into Thursday)
Bummer as it means I have to take Pickle to the vet and try to get our large cat carrier into my little car.

No resolution, no word from ANYONE.

LOL - I BAFFLED them all!

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