What’s the big deal with the Bestop Sunrider?

[Higher_Ground]

Honestly it's the price for me. I understand the convenience everyone mentions, but that's all it offers for me.

I think it looks ok compared to the regular soft top. I also agree with everyone else who says "who cares what it looks like". I just think for that much money I can invest in other places that aren't simply to save me some time.

All that being said, the price is a shock because I am not having to compare it to say the price of a full soft top or even replacement freedom panels. All of those things aren't cheap either, and in fact cost more than the sunrider if you had to replace them.

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[GladnotSad]

For me it’s not a matter of the ease of taking the panels off. It not having to put them back on. You cannot beat the ease of closing the Sunrider when you need to park or when it starts to rain. It’s a 5 second change over.

 

[USMC32GTR]

It looks cool but this is why I got a soft top to begin with. Weird to me to get a hard top and then convert it to the convenience of a soft top.

 

[wvyankee2]

Really cool. Would be nice to have. Price is just stupid. I'll pass.

 

[Jt2187]

I don't usually carry a lot of stuff in the bed and have a tonneau cover so the Freedom panels work fine for me, not all that interested in a sunrider.

Now, the Bestop 2-piece fabric doors on the other hand...would LOVE a set of those, but would be $1,000+ for front and rear.

 

[jurfie]

You will ride with top down more with the sunrider than with freedom panels, I guarantee that.

This. I'm inherently lazy and there are a bunch of times I'm doing a quick drive to the store or something and would love to take the Freedom Panels out but can't be bothered. The ability to throw the Sunrider back and close it up when inside the store (if the skies look questionable, which is often around here), then throw it back open when heading home would be nice. I do use the sunrider option of the JK soft top (when I swap it on in the summer) more than dropping it fully on those types of trips.

The nice thing about Jeeps is that you can add what you like, and if someone else doesn't like it, then they don't have to add it.

 

[GoVR46]

Not trying to crap on it. It’s a serious question. It’s not that hard to remove the freedom tops. Only takes a minute. So what makes the Sunrider so great? The one advantage I can see is that you do it from anywhere without having to worry about storing the panels, but it seems like a tonneau cover would solve the same problem and provide extra utility for the same price or (much) less.

Am I missing something? I’m new to Jeeps and this product gets rave reviews so I feel like I’m missing something. Thanks

Can’t take the freedom panels off while sitting at a light. And if your in a location that downpours without warning can’t close up shop without pulling over first.

 

[njvin]

This. I'm inherently lazy and there are a bunch of times I'm doing a quick drive to the store or something and would love to take the Freedom Panels out but can't be bothered. The ability to throw the Sunrider back and close it up when inside the store (if the skies look questionable, which is often around here), then throw it back open when heading home would be nice. I do use the sunrider option of the JK soft top (when I swap it on in the summer) more than dropping it fully on those types of trips.

The nice thing about Jeeps is that you can add what you like, and if someone else doesn't like it, then they don't have to add it.

I’ll second this. 100% will drive with top down more than with freedom panels. When down the shore in the summer, it’s off more than it’s on for short trips. Close up in seconds and not another thought if the weather turns. Pricey, yes. But if you use it more than the freedom panels over the life of the Jeep. Worth it in my opinion.

 

[Fixerupper]

What is the difference in twill and diamond?

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

What is the difference in twill and diamond?

$100.

Seriously, diamond is a vinyl, twill is, well, twill.

OK, more seriously, the vinyl is like the fabric on a lot of rolling tonneau covers; twill is a heavier weight woven fabric like the premium soft top that insulates better. I honestly don't know why they don't just eliminate the vinyl option.

 

[obrianmcc]

Not trying to crap on it. It’s a serious question. It’s not that hard to remove the freedom tops. Only takes a minute. So what makes the Sunrider so great? The one advantage I can see is that you do it from anywhere without having to worry about storing the panels, but it seems like a tonneau cover would solve the same problem and provide extra utility for the same price or (much) less.

Am I missing something? I’m new to Jeeps and this product gets rave reviews so I feel like I’m missing something. Thanks

You're paying for convenience. It simply folds open and then closed. Yes ... the Freedom Tops are easy to remove, but where do you store them. If you're on the road and it starts to rain, gets too dusty, or cools off, with the Sunrider you simply close it.

For those who bitch about the price ... it's simple.... Move on and don't make the purchase. I think it was money well spent.

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

You're paying for convenience. It simply folds open and then closed. Yes ... the Freedom Tops are easy to remove, but where do you store them. If you're on the road and it starts to rain, gets too dusty, or cools off, with the Sunrider you simply close it.

For those who bitch about the price ... it's simple.... Move on and don't make the purchase. I think it was money well spent.

Best summary!

 

[db305]

I live in South Florida, which makes top down driving a frequently-desired experience. Flipping the Sunrider back is a whole lot more convenient than removing Freedom panels. even though that itself is easy, as OP pointed out.

as a former miami resident, i can agree that a sunrider would come in handy if caught around town when a biweekly monsoon-esque summer sun shower hits out of nowhere.

happens in houston too, but thankfully not as frequently.

also, you don't burn the piss out of your hands if you want to take the top off on a hot day.

 

[MCATDT]

Single best mod I have done. Living in Florida weather is beautiful but rain can hit at any time. I open the top every day and no longer worry about daily pop up rain. Flip it open in 5 seconds and close it just as fast. Worth every penny if you want to feel the open air in your JT any time and anywhere!!!

 

[BillG]

I’ll put it this way, when I wrecked my JL, this was one of the accessories I made sure I pulled off for the JT before closing with insurance. Maybe not my most useful accessory, but definitely the most used.

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