Bestop Sunrider and snow?

[MHulsey91]

I bought a bestop sunrider top for my JT this past summer. With the snow/ ice in the forecast should I put the hardtop panels back on or will it be okay? My first winter with it and just wasn't sure if it would be okay or not. Thanks.

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[OVERLORD]

Mines been on since new, in the Northeast, no issues.

 

[Pickles85]

I swap mine in the winter because I find the freedom panels are warmer and easier to clean with all the salt on the road but there is no need to swap them.

 

[Main Line Willys]

I would take the 10 minutes and swap it out.
The material can stretch.

I have 2 sunrider tops for my JT in storage right now. Both of them have had the fabric stretch so now they flop and make noise.

One of my Spring projects is to see how I can adjust the frame to tighten up the fabric.

 

[Labswine]

Mine's in from mid/late April to late October, then I put the Freedom panels back in, and, yes it stays warmer in the winter. I'm sure it stays cleaner and nicer by not exposing it to winter road conditions too...i.e. salt and yuck.

 

[pharmfrank]

Live in central NYS, my Sunrider has been on since 2021, year-around. If I recall correctly the
instructions do not recommend on then off on again. So far I have had no issues although I
am more concerned with high winds and flying debris during the winter. This is my first
'convertible' so I have no past experience, but I have seen a fair number of leaky Freedom
panels (mostly on JK's). I would think that any Freedom panel would outlast either the
Twill or Diamond fabrics but what a PIA to swap out and store etc..

 

[MPMB]

I bought a bestop sunrider top for my JT this past summer. With the snow/ ice in the forecast should I put the hardtop panels back on or will it be okay? My first winter with it and just wasn't sure if it would be okay or not. Thanks.

Short answer - Just don't let inches of snow sit and melt on top of the Sunrider.

How much snow and what type of snow? Dry or wet?

You know a few years ago when Yellowstone NP got hit with all the flooding and roads got washed out? This was just before then - Memorial Day weekend. And yes, we had the Sunrider on.

It was wet snow, so it did sit and as the truck warmed up, water did seep in a little. But we're talking a couple drops. The inside was damp, and I brushed the snow off.

The top will be fine overnight, just clean the snow off before you warm up the JT to go anywhere, or if it gets really warm while there's still inches of snow on top of the truck.

 

[IamPro2A]

I'm in NH (not too far from Mount Washington, home of the worst weather in the world), so we get plenty of snow. My wife has had a sunrider on her wranglers for the past 10yrs, and I have never removed them in the winter. I treat it the same way as the tonneau cover on my Gladiator. Generally we get light fluffy snow, but if it's wet and heavy, I try to at least get the bulk of it off both the sunrider and the tonneau every 3-4", and I try to clear everything asap after it stops. For the light fluffy snow, I like to use a leaf blower to clean off the vehicles, less chance of scratches or damage. Don't use anything real hard... if you wouldnt use it on your hood, don't use it on your roof.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Live in central NYS, my Sunrider has been on since 2021, year-around. If I recall correctly the
instructions do not recommend on then off on again.

Mine doesn't say that and there's zero reason to not go back and forth. Doing it properly has no effect on anything.
Mine may never go back on after the bullshit Bestop and Jeep have put me through on the shitty fit.
They totally stopped even trying to work with it, so I'm following my attorney's advice. (the Iowa AG said to lemon law it, my attorney says "sue 'em all")

I sure hope everyone here with one gets a proper and correct fit and doesn't have to do any hacks.

 

[JonMN]

I have been taking mine off for the winter. But I have noticed that it seems to take a day or so for the seals/gaskets to change shape to shut out wind noise. Anyway, no problems so far.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have been taking mine off for the winter. But I have noticed that it seems to take a day or so for the seals/gaskets to change shape to shut out wind noise. Anyway, no problems so far.

Took a while on mine but then the sunrider really sinks hard into the windshield frame seal

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