Sunrider owners - MY mess-up, or theirs?

[ShadowsPapa]

My '20 Sunrider fits perfectly on my Overland (ordered 5/19, delivered 7/19). No leaks even going through a car wash. Installation is very easy. Must be some slight changes in model years of the JT vs. Besttop products.

As far as getting one's hair all tussled and tangled from the wind, I have found that driving with the top open, all four windows PLUS the rear slider open, really helps in that vein. One gets more of a 'flow through' vs. a whirlwind inside with the rear slider open.

My wife has to wear hats or something like clips and combs to keep her hair covered and in place to cover bare spots caused by a rare condition where the body's immune system attack hair follicles. It's not a matter of "my hair is a mess, Now I have to comb it". It's a start all over disaster. Takes aomg time to compensate for that. So, it's not how most think of when a woman's hair is out of place. If she's prepped for going to town or church, or had a hat on, wind is evil

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[Eagle22]

I think yours is one of the posts/threads I found doing searches around the internet for these issues.....

My question would then become - if you "tuck" that behind the sunrider rail, and then you later remove the sunrider for any reason (winder, trade, it breaks, tire of it, or for any reason) - is that Jeep seal then forever distorted and smished out of shape from being smashed behind the rail?
Or - is that the lesser of two damages?

Has anyone done that, then later removed the sunrider to see how the seal survives?
This is a "we'll try it and see how we like it" sort of thing. I had to get the sunrider to get the tonneau cover with my 25 - Jeep bundled them - if you want one, you must get the other. I thought we'll try it - I know my wife is REALL skeptical (might mess with her hair and she's got some issues with her hair going on due to age and her own body attacking it)

I have a bit of experience with this, and have commented a couple of times about the differences in the seals. I discovered the issue when I moved my 2021 Sunrider from my 2021 Gladiator, and installed it on my 2024 Wrangler. I had the issue with the flaps, that are different on the 2024 compared to the 2021.
2021 Gladiator: (with a new 2024 Sunrider):

2024 Wrangler (with 2021 Sunrider/ with flap up):

The rain will not drain properly with the flap down. I have not experienced any deformation of the flap on the Wrangler. I have also not noted any significant differences in the seals between the 2021 and the 2024, other than the flap.

So bottom line, I have had both a 2021 and 2024 Sunrider on the '21 Gladiator with not fit issues...and a 2021 Sunrider on the 2024 Wrangler with no issues other than the flap. I hope this helps.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The back only required a little bit of pressure to get the bracket on and it does not have any issues with the door seals.

The rear clamp is easier now - I took all of the bolts out this AM, removed that clamp, lifted each front corner and tucked the seal up behind the sunrider rail to prevent it from being ripped to shreds and then put everything back in place..
Putting that rear clamp back in was easier today - apparently the thing had been distorted from sitting, shipping or whatever and it didn't take quite as much effort this AM to put that clamp back i place. That made me feel better about the rear part of this beast.

But the more I look at it, the instructions and so on - the more I believe bestop has ignored the changed over the years that Jeep has made, and Jeep is up to their old crap of never updating instructions or images to match current reality. The instructions show the 2020 seal -VERY VERY different from today, and is dated August 2020. It's like their trailer brake controller - you have to ignore half of it because it's so wrong. Copy and paste is not Jeep's friend.

Huge gap between top edge of door at the rear, down to a business card at the front, crushing seals and almost hitting the door - worse on the right -

Left to right -
Left -It's so tight that this seal is pinched down to nothing.
Middle - There is maybe a business card clearance here - maybe not even that much gap.
Right - I tucked that seal up behind the sunrider rail to prevent it from being ripped to shreds opening and closing the door as there is basically no gap between the top and the top edge of the door.

Both sides but the right is worse.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have a bit of experience with this, and have commented a couple of times about the differences in the seals. I discovered the issue when I moved my 2021 Sunrider from my 2021 Gladiator, and installed it on my 2024 Wrangler. I had the issue with the flaps, that are different on the 2024 compared to the 2021.
2021 Gladiator: (with a new 2024 Sunrider):

2024 Wrangler (with 2021 Sunrider/ with flap up):

The rain will not drain properly with the flap down. I have not experienced any deformation of the flap on the Wrangler. I have also not noted any significant differences in the seals between the 2021 and the 2024, other than the flap.

So bottom line, I have had both a 2021 and 2024 Sunrider on the '21 Gladiator with not fit issues...and a 2021 Sunrider on the 2024 Wrangler with no issues other than the flap. I hope this helps.

I believe Jeep made two changes - one earlier to prevent you from getting dripped on getting in and out, and then later, another flap put in - maybe for wind noise because the 2024 and 2025 are so much quieter!

How is the clearance between the sunrider's "drip rail" (lol, it' s a joke, the fabric is in and out of that rail on mine) and the top edge of the door? Mine comes awfully close to hitting the door on the right.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I hope this helps.

in this case, all comments, pictures, ideas, helpful, yes. thanks.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not that I paid the upmost attention to the Sunrider on my previous 2021 but the seals are definitely different and my install from the 21 > 25 led to similar looking seals to yours, although after an adjustment it is not as bad (there is still a slight bend). No water or wind so I haven't bothered to worry that much.

As for the rear clamp, for the 2-3 times I've installed the top I have not had to apply pressure to the rear whatsoever.

After bolting the two bolts on each side the rear clamp kind of just slid into the channel and the holes lined up for me without any real manipulation.

I took mine apart as far as that clamp and all of the bolts and the latches so I could raise the front corners and "tuck" the Jeep's seal up under the rail to protect it some.
When I put it back together, that clamp was a lot easier to install. I could use one hand to push the top to the bar and the other to slip the clamp into place. Not nearly the pressure it took last night.
So I'm hopeful that the issue with the rear was a one-time, first install thing due to some distortion caused by handling, storing, shipping or maybe I grabbed it wrong lifting it up to the roof of my JT with my back as it is...........

 

[Aleph]

@ShadowsPapa I have a 2023 and I do not have the same issues. They must have redesigned for 2024.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

@ShadowsPapa I have a 2023 and I do not have the same issues. They must have redesigned for 2024.

I'm hoping Bestop chimes in.........
I can't comment about the 2023 JT weatherstripping, seals, and so on, but I know the 2020, 2022 and 2025 are different from each other in the sealing, rain diversion and noise control areas.

 

[Jeepmonster]

I found this TSB when I was considering updating my weather strips/seals. The header seal, which I'm assuming is the subject of the fitment issue, has gone through several updates. Not sure if geometry actually changed or if newer JTs have something completely different.

 

[heretic]

I had the same problem. the rubber flap MUST go on the outside not behind the rail.
I had to grind the rail down close to the inside to allow room for the rubber flap to lay flat.
not sure what is different about my and yours from others that report no problems.
adjusting the rail up for clearance only allowed water in and still bunched up the flap.
what I did worked for me. YMMV

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I had the same problem. the rubber flap MUST go on the outside not behind the rail.
I had to grind the rail down close to the inside to allow room for the rubber flap to lay flat.
not sure what is different about my and yours from others that report no problems.
adjusting the rail up for clearance only allowed water in and still bunched up the flap.
what I did worked for me. YMMV

View attachment 427465

As I showed - mine can't go outside. Closing the door smashes the seal up between the top of the door and the sunrider rail - inside. You can't close the door without crushing and shoving the seal inward.

There's zero clearance for that seal.

there's no adjustment to the rail - it bolts to the frame of the Jeep, so however low it sits when it's bolted on, is how low it sits.
i would have to do what you did - GRIND the sunrider rail to make that seal fit properly and in my case, a lot! The rail almost doesn't clear the top of the door its so bad.
There's another thread where a guy posted pics of his and the sunrider rail shoved the seal down so bad it almost folded it over, downward.

not sure what is different about my and yours from others that report no problems.

Years, perhaps? I am beginning to believe that the Jeep quest to quiet down the 24 and 25 models (yes, they are a ton quieter!) means that the seals are different and things up there at that windshield header area fit differently.

If @Bestop gives the OK - then grinding it is - I'd actually thought about that, but then I didn't want to screw up any warranty - I don't know if Jeep warrants this since it's a Jeep accessory that came with the truck - or Bestop since they made it.

Grinding would also resolve the almost 0 clearance between the door top edge and the sunrider - two birds, so to speak.

 

[Eagle22]

I believe Jeep made two changes - one earlier to prevent you from getting dripped on getting in and out, and then later, another flap put in - maybe for wind noise because the 2024 and 2025 are so much quieter!

How is the clearance between the sunrider's "drip rail" (lol, it' s a joke, the fabric is in and out of that rail on mine) and the top edge of the door? Mine comes awfully close to hitting the door on the right.

nice and even gap on all doors (Gladiator and Wrangler). I'm at the beach right now with the Wrangler, so it's the only shot I can give you:

It sits nice and even on both Jeeps. The fabric sits tight in the drip rail as well. I still contend that the Sunrider is the best, and most useful mod I've done on my Jeeps. When ever it's above 60 degrees outside, we have the Sunrider open...so they get lots of use. I have been really impressed with their engineering.

Really sorry to hear about your difficulties...after reading many of your posts over the years, I know you're a stickler for getting things right, and not accepting sub-standard work or quality.

Maybe they sent you a Bronco Sunrider?

p.s. do you think they changed the seal between my '24 and your '25?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

nice and even gap on all doors (Gladiator and Wrangler). I'm at the beach right now with the Wrangler, so it's the only shot I can give you:

It sits nice and even on both Jeeps. The fabric sits tight in the drip rail as well. I still contend that the Sunrider is the best, and most useful mod I've done on my Jeeps. When ever it's above 60 degrees outside, we have the Sunrider open...so they get lots of use. I have been really impressed with their engineering.

Really sorry to hear about your difficulties...after reading many of your posts over the years, I know you're a stickler for getting things right, and not accepting sub-standard work or quality.

Maybe they sent you a Bronco Sunrider?

p.s. do you think they changed the seal between my '24 and your '25?

Yes, for sure, the gap on yours is near perfect - VERY acceptable for a bolt-on accessory.

The rear "drip rail" of mine sits higher than the one on the Jeep's top, and higher than yours, and it goes downhill a lot toward the front. Very different gaps.

 

[Charles 236]

Yes, for sure, the gap on yours is near perfect - VERY acceptable for a bolt-on accessory.

The rear "drip rail" of mine sits higher than the one on the Jeep's top, and higher than yours, and it goes downhill a lot toward the front. Very different gaps.

I just looked at mine. It is a '22, so the seals might be different. But I do know that the gap above the doors is at least as even as with the Freedom Panels. Also, mine has been on and off several times over the past three years, and it has always lined up the same. You may need to get the dealership involved, it could be made out of spec. Even if you decide that the Sunrider isn't worth the trouble, (I think that would be unlikely, mine is opened every time the weather is nice enough), you could sell it and recover a bit of the package price.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just looked at mine. It is a '22, so the seals might be different. But I do know that the gap above the doors is at least as even as with the Freedom Panels. Also, mine has been on and off several times over the past three years, and it has always lined up the same. You may need to get the dealership involved, it could be made out of spec. Even if you decide that the Sunrider isn't worth the trouble, (I think that would be unlikely, mine is opened every time the weather is nice enough), you could sell it and recover a bit of the package price.

Thank you. As always, I appreciate your sage advice (not kidding)

I'm hoping I like it.

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