Very quick question about Sunrider install

[DBravo]

Anyone else find that the Sunrider rattles its ass off when it’s closed and the rear windows only (I let the dog hang out the window) are open? Mine had a different when-closed popping noise that I fixed but I wonder if this is another manifestation of that or a different issue simply caused by wind buffeting. Opening only the rear windows causes wind buffeting generally.

Under certain conditions (highway speeds, windy day, etc) Opening a single window does cause “buffeting” (what I call the annoying rapid air pressure changes inside the vehicle). Mine does not rattle so to speak, but does vibrate at highway speed at times. When on the highway I open both rear windows about an inch or so which mitigates that issue. Opening the sliding rear window accomplishes the same thing if you are riding with Freedom Tops off or sunrider open. If I wanted a quiet ride, I’d drive something else

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[Wolf Island Diver]

Under certain conditions (highway speeds, windy day, etc) Opening a single window does cause “buffeting” (what I call the annoying rapid air pressure changes inside the vehicle). Mine does not rattle so to speak, but does vibrate at highway speed at times. When on the highway I open both rear windows about an inch or so which mitigates that issue. Opening the sliding rear window accomplishes the same thing if you are riding with Freedom Tops off or sunrider open. If I wanted a quiet ride, I’d drive something else

This isn’t a quiet ride issue. I’m running 37” mud tires, I’ve got a cyclonic snorkel prefilter right outside the drivers window and I usually drive everywhere with the top open and windows down at 70-80 MPH. I live with noise.

This particular Sunrider was defective from The factory. Bestop service confirmed that some of them leave the factory with a missing rivet or other internal issues. They mentioned it was fixable but sent me another one rather require me to fix their $900 product. My OCD lead me to try fixing the top annyway and I did, at least the constant loud popcorn popping noise when closed. Satisfied, with my fix (rubber damping material inside the windshield assembly) I sold the warranty replacement. Then I noticed this issue.

Now, I’m just curious if I’m chasing normal expected sounds or I’ve got to go back into this thing and further investigate the possibly original issue. This isn’t the kind of sound that is within what one might reasonably expect for a soft top. It’s like the Ford Bronco hard top rattles everyone complained about. It’s pretty severe. However, I’m perfectly fine excepting that the weird use case of only the rear windows open is causing this if other people find that their top does the same thing. That’s what I’m asking about. Do other’s tops rattle incessantly when only the rear window(s) are open? I know that the cause is buffeting and that’s it’s 80% mitigable by rolling down all the windows. However, it still rattles a bit with all the windows down and the top closed. It’s how the top is reacting to that buffeting that I’m curious about and whether the rattling is just inherent in the product or if mine needs some more TLC.


+1 on running a mesh shade. My Spider Webshade lives in the truck 365.

https://www.spiderwebshade.com/collections/all/products/gladiatorjtkini

 

[JonMN]

Glad to see this question pop up. The flap on my '23 is also on the outside, seems to pinch and offer little benefit when closing the door. Noticed when raining that flap really drops more water inside than even the usual annoying amount. The other frustration was watching the install videos to save time with the z clip process by installing the side brackets first, then to discover they changed to a loop and screw w/loctite setup. It is a better setup, and thats what I get for skipping the printed directions.

Interesting that almost no one brings this up in the videos. Early videos, where the Sunrider rails fit into a rubber channel do mention the topic, but not later ones. Just watched a few more videos, and it's almost even between pushing that rubber behind the rail or letting it rest on the outside.

For example . . . grabbed from a video:

 

[JonMN]

Here is a response from Bestop: "The door rail should sit inside the mucket seal, if the seal is pinched it will cause the top to leak. "

Still not sure what is best, but would be interested to see how a few more have handled this.

 

[JonMN]

OK, last post for those that might be interested in the future. I think the weatherstrip design has changed since Bestop came out with the instructions. Here are a couple clips from their installation on a JT a few years ago. Note that the flap causing the flap (sorry!) is not evident.

Just for fun, I looked at my door closed with the rail behind or on top of the flap. Water is going to go the same direction no matter what! In my case if I have the flap on the outside it does not sit flat and the door crunches it, so I will just put it back behind the rail.

Thanks again for the replies!

 

[Reddout99]

Neat feature, you can unlock and give it a little push as you take of from a light and it will flip open (under 25 mph). You can also close as you decelerate for close assist. I keep a sunshade installed in my jeep year round, so I have to reach out the window to manually lift the sunrider and pull forward to close, which is how I arrived at the above solution. This is my 3rd year with the sunrider installed. I run Freedom hard tops in the winter.

Resurrecting this thread. I have a mesh sunshade on mine now too and was wondering if the bungies interfere with the Bestop rails sealing properly. Any issues?
There is one for sale locally for a good price

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

I have a mesh sunshade on mine now too and was wondering if the bungies interfere with the Bestop rails sealing properly. Any issues?
There is one for sale locally for a good price

I have a SpiderWebShade and beyond having to stretch the mesh out of the way to reach the front SunRider clamps, it doesn’t interfere. The front, side or rear bungees don’t cause any issue. I just leave the shade on 365, whether I’m running the SunRider or the Freedom panels.

 

[Reddout99]

I have a SpiderWebShade and beyond having to stretch the mesh out of the way to reach the front SunRider clamps, it doesn’t interfere. The front, side or rear bungees don’t cause any issue. I just leave the shade on 365, whether I’m running the SunRider or the Freedom panels.

Thanks. I have to do the same to pop off the freedom panels now anyway. Appreciate the reply

 

[DBravo]

Resurrecting this thread. I have a mesh sunshade on mine now too and was wondering if the bungies interfere with the Bestop rails sealing properly. Any issues?
There is one for sale locally for a good price

Absolutely no issues. The sunrider sits where the freedom tops normally would. The weather seal occurs between the drip rail of the sunrider and the weatherstripping on the top edge of your full doors, along the jeep weather seal on top edge of windshield and the seals on your rear hard top where the freedom tops usually sit.
The rail section that bolts to the roll cage is separate from the drip rail section and uses existing bolt holes in the roll bar. The side sunrider mount bolts and the bungees pass through the same bolt hole opening, but there is room.
I have been taking it through touchless high pressure car wash with sunrider installed with no issues or leaks for 2+ years.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Looks to me like no one with a 2020-2021 can actually come up with a solution because ours are later and a different design.
In my case, the sunrider rail almost hits the DOOR top edge! It's really a problem they need to address and not say that they'll fit 2020-2025 as they don't.
Mine has been nothing but trouble from really screwing up the seals to the point of damage, to the rear sticking up almost 2" and needing to forcefully pull the center of the rear down to get their "clamp" in place. I was really afraid that rear clamp part was going to break there's so very much tension on it. I mean a LOT. I could stick my hand through that gap on the rear and my door seals are really messed up (and the rails of the sunrider will eventually take paint off the tops of the doors.
Really crappy fit on a 2025.

@Bestop - you need to account for the changes in the weatherstrip on Jeeps over the years. (but I believe mine is defective anyway)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Here is a response from Bestop: "The door rail should sit inside the mucket seal, if the seal is pinched it will cause the top to leak. "

Interesting that the company ( @Bestop )has never said anything other than "do it this way" while some of us have posted photos showing "IMPOSSIBLE".

 

[Bestop]

Interesting that the company ( @Bestop )has never said anything other than "do it this way" while some of us have posted photos showing "IMPOSSIBLE".

I just responded your private message with a picture showing how the door rail should sit at the front by the windshield as yours isn't sitting correctly, which causes the rubber piece to fold, which causes leaking. I included Customer Services' number in case you need further fitment assistance!


~Crystal@Bestop
www.bestop.com

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just responded your private message with a picture showing how the door rail should sit at the front by the windshield as yours isn't sitting correctly, which causes the rubber piece to fold, which causes leaking. I included Customer Services' number in case you need further fitment assistance!


~Crystal@Bestop
www.bestop.com

I believe the only solution is replacement..
It's just a really poor fit, actually sitting lower than others across the windshield as well.

There isn't any fix. It sits properly on the Jeep's framework, you can't possible mess these up as it's like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle - it goes in and that's that. You can't mess up the bolts - they either fit the holes and screw in by hand, or they don't. If they don't, it's too far left or right or forward or backward. Mine - all 4, screwed in totally by hand until it was time to tighten them down. There's no passible way to miss. If it's not lined up, the bolts don't fit, the clamps won't center on the Jeep and the rear clamp won't go in place. It can't shift.
There's no possible up and down adjustment - the sides come down in only one way - flatly onto the tops of the Jeep's rails.
it's like screwing on a peanut butter jar lid - it goes or it doesn't go - there's no adjusting.

This should fit just like the freedom panels do as far as the top of the door gap, and the seals, mucket and so on. This isn't even close by a little bit.

I don't know what anyone can do over the phone since I and the dealer's people looked at it this week, then set up an appointment for further talking, looking.
My guess - it's going to take them making a case with Jeep for a full replacement.

You can't loosen a bolt and adjust something to "fix" it.

 

[Gatorized]

I believe the only solution is replacement..
It's just a really poor fit, actually sitting lower than others across the windshield as well.

There isn't any fix. It sits properly on the Jeep's framework, you can't possible mess these up as it's like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle - it goes in and that's that. You can't mess up the bolts - they either fit the holes and screw in by hand, or they don't. If they don't, it's too far left or right or forward or backward. Mine - all 4, screwed in totally by hand until it was time to tighten them down. There's no passible way to miss. If it's not lined up, the bolts don't fit, the clamps won't center on the Jeep and the rear clamp won't go in place. It can't shift.
There's no possible up and down adjustment - the sides come down in only one way - flatly onto the tops of the Jeep's rails.
it's like screwing on a peanut butter jar lid - it goes or it doesn't go - there's no adjusting.

This should fit just like the freedom panels do as far as the top of the door gap, and the seals, mucket and so on. This isn't even close by a little bit.

I don't know what anyone can do over the phone since I and the dealer's people looked at it this week, then set up an appointment for further talking, looking.
My guess - it's going to take them making a case with Jeep for a full replacement.

You can't loosen a bolt and adjust something to "fix" it.

Wondering if there is a difference in the fit of your freedom panels if you tried swapping them to compare fit on previous year JTs… would that correspond to how the Sunrider fits.

 

[kennyglm]

It will leak if it is behind the rail

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