MAX Speed for Soft top

[Fancy2.0]

Thanks everyone, this definitely helps a ton!!!

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[UTDieselRubi]

One thing I do just to keep everything nice and tight is wrap the center with 2 large velcro straps. Its a cheap solution to preventing the wind from stressing the fabric too much. It also keeps the flapping noise down.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The only thing I noticed was a slight decrease in gas mileage.

Yes, slight drop in MPG.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

One thing I do just to keep everything nice and tight is wrap the center with 2 large velcro straps. Its a cheap solution to preventing the wind from stressing the fabric too much. It also keeps the flapping noise down.

Any pictures of how you did that? Mine really vibrates, flaps and shakes in the wind.

 

[UTDieselRubi]

Any pictures of how you did that? Mine really vibrates, flaps and shakes in the wind.

Not on hand but Ill grab some pics tomorrow and post them.

 

[firemedic2714]

My sunrider really whips at highway speeds when it's open.
The middle of the fabric whips up and down really really fast. I'd expect at some point, it could weaken the fabric as that's how you break nylon cords - bend them back and forth.

I need to find a way to secure it to keep it from flipping up and down like a fish's tail when it's out of water. I'm rather surprised their design doesn't somehow connect it to the cross bars.

The wind across the top of an OPEN roof - it's a sail up there. Makes me wonder on a full soft top.
Blow across the top surface of a piece of paper and it will lift, drop, lift, drop and so on.

It sounds like you're not pulling the the folds towards the back of the Jeep when it's open. I see Wrangler owners doing this all the time.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It sounds like you're not pulling the the folds towards the back of the Jeep when it's open. I see Wrangler owners doing this all the time.

???
You mean you have to open it and then get out and pull the folds back?
That's silly.

Videos I see, they go along and simply swing it open. No one has ever talked about that, it's not in any instructions or any video I've ever seen where anyone does that.

 

[firemedic2714]

Whatever, dude. No one said you HAD to do that. I'm just trying to help. I've been doing it this way since I've owned Jeeps and I've never had any flapping. There's no velcro straps in any video or instructions either. Are those going magically fasten themselves around the top without getting out of the Jeep?

 

[stingrey]

Yes, slight drop in MPG.

...and a big increase in Smiles/Mile

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Whatever, dude. No one said you HAD to do that. I'm just trying to help. I've been doing it this way since I've owned Jeeps and I've never had any flapping. There's no velcro straps in any video or instructions either. Are those going magically fasten themselves around the top without getting out of the Jeep?

The straps are in the instructions. (And mentioned in some videos) I can post the instructions........

So I wonder how it came to be that folding it different was a thing. You are the first to have ever mentioned it and yet a number of others talk of the vibration. No one has ever mentioned your way is all I'm saying, while many show opening and closing without ever getting out.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Whatever, dude. No one said you HAD to do that. I'm just trying to help. I've been doing it this way since I've owned Jeeps and I've never had any flapping. There's no velcro straps in any video or instructions either. Are those going magically fasten themselves around the top without getting out of the Jeep?

Ps - not saying or implying YOU are silly, or anything about you - just that nowhere else is it said that there's any certain way - and it's silly to have to figure it out, fold it a certain way.
Unrelated to you or the suggestion, other than "what's up with Bestop" in all of this, and why are people having to figure out their problems and they say nothing at all.

Here's the instructions - and here's the part that vibrates.......... I'd be very interested in how this can be folded forward! (yes, really)

The instructions say to secure it with the straps, but very few do - some open it at a stop light, flip it back, and drive on.

And I've pointed to the part that vibrates, makes a woodpecker knocking sound - since it's at the very back, where the back is secured to the rails, not sure how to make it go back farther.

 

[firemedic2714]

I dont have a Sunrider, but I do have a full soft top (also made by Bestop). It comes with those velcro straps, too. On mine, they're supposed to go around the folded frame arms (just like your Sunrider diagram shows) on each side to keep the top from closing itself in a strong tailwind (that's the only thing I can think of). My owners manual has diagrams that look like those in your comment. The straps are way too short to go around the top itself. The soft top frame has gas struts that slow down the folding and allow it to be opened at speeds up to 30 mph (IIRC). Most of the time the wind catches the folds for me and pulls them back. I wonder if the sheer weight of the soft top (and subsequent increased wind resistance) keeps it from vibrating and the smaller Sunrider just doesn't have either of those.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I dont have a Sunrider, but I do have a full soft top (also made by Bestop). It comes with those velcro straps, too. On mine, they're supposed to go around the folded frame arms (just like your Sunrider diagram shows) on each side to keep the top from closing itself in a strong tailwind (that's the only thing I can think of). My owners manual has diagrams that look like those in your comment. The straps are way too short to go around the top itself. The soft top frame has gas struts that slow down the folding and allow it to be opened at speeds up to 30 mph (IIRC). Most of the time the wind catches the folds for me and pulls them back. I wonder if the sheer weight of the soft top (and subsequent increased wind resistance) keeps it from vibrating and the smaller Sunrider just doesn't have either of those.

I have not tried not using the velcro - but one reason I do use it is our wind. A day where it's under 15-20 mph is a nice day. Days where I can fly my drone are few and far between except in the middle of summer when you pray for a breeze. Otherwise, from September into June - WINDY.
I've had a baseball type hat sucked off my head going down the road when a truck passed.
So I'm afraid the first semi that goes by me in either direction will suck that thing up and over.
I MAY try it as several guys who made YT videos simply open and close it - from the driver's seat, never getting out for anything - but then there's that wind again (no wonder thousands of acres are covered with wind power farms here)

I have an appointment next week for the dealer to look over the horrible fit mine has.
Since they had never seen one installed and didn't know how they worked or attached, my JT got a lot of attention Tuesday when I brought it to their attention - several guys where there looking it over. One asked "did you torque it down according to instructions" and the sales guy, Scott, interrupted him and said "this guy is picky as they come". I did explain that although I thought the torque was too high, it wasn't going to matter because you'd have to bend or break something for the fit to be changed - like crush that roll cage bar!
It's like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle - it just plain slips into place, can't make a mistake on installing. If the bolts go in with no resistance at all, and you can spin them in all the way by hand - it's on right.

Will be interesting anyway.

As far as max speed for these - I'd say "it depends". If you live here, you need to account for that 30 mph wind you are driving into and add that to the 70 you are going and you have 100 mph wind speed.
Are you on 2 lane or 4 lane roads? Passing traffic - trucks - on a two lane can really mess with things.
But I don't see a "practical limit" unless you have a reason for red and blue flashing lights coming up behind you. These are speed limited so it's not like my car where the only thing limiting the speed is my foot.

 

[UTDieselRubi]

Any pictures of how you did that? Mine really vibrates, flaps and shakes in the wind.

Here's how I do it. This is with rear windows in. Easier when its out, but same effect.

 

[Bestop]

Hi there - Going through this thread, I'm seeing pictures of tops folded back and a bungee type concoction to keep it folded back, which really isn't necessary. You can go the posted speed limit with no worries. The only time I would imagine the top folding itself forward is if you pass a semi truck at the same time a huge gust of wind hits you from behind.

As for the Sunrider for Hardtop, most folks don't use the velcro strips on the sides when the top is folded back however they're included in the kit in case you prefer to secure the top more when its folded back and yes, you have to get out of the vehicle to secure those.


~Crystal@Bestop
www.bestop.com

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