Soft Top help

[DruBlazer]

Ok, so I know this dead horse is been beat many, many times. But I wasn't paying attention to all those posts. I now need suggestions. It would appear as though Kayline and Besttop are the ones that ya'll are running. And I want quality. I'm not too terribly conserned with cost.

Thanks,
Drew

[Medicanman71]

Then you need to think about if you want to be able to zip out the windows, if you want to drill holes in the side of your truck, etc etc.

[bouncytruck]

Go with the http://www.specialtytopco.com tops. They appear to fit much better than the bestop products. Specialty Top Co (STC) makes two basic models - Fasttrac and snap top. Both require a lot of holes drilled in your body for snaps and brackets. The biggest difference is that the side windows zip out on the Fasttrac and roll up on (safari style) on the snap top. The fasttrac comes with storage bags to put the side window in when they aren't zipped in, but the nature of rolling them up can scratch the clear plastic. They both take just a couple minutes to put fully down into the area behind the rear seat (of course the fasttrac takes more time if the windows are in than if they aren't). The fasttrac more closely follows the shape of the original top.

Niether offer much security. The fasttrac is slightly more expensive, but it is considered the more "premium" product.

You can get fabric swatches from the manufacture if you aren't sure what color or fabric you want. Both are available with clear or tinted windows.

I can post pics of my 72 right after I installed my fasttrac & pics of my 69 with an old Kayline snap top tomorrow - I don't have pics on this computer.

[bouncytruck]

Go with the http://www.specialtytopco.com tops. They appear to fit much better than the bestop products. Specialty Top Co (STC) makes two basic models - Fasttrac and snap top. Both require a lot of holes drilled in your body for snaps and brackets. The biggest difference is that the side windows zip out on the Fasttrac and roll up on (safari style) on the snap top. The fasttrac comes with storage bags to put the side window in when they aren't zipped in, but the nature of rolling them up can scratch the clear plastic. They both take just a couple minutes to put fully down into the area behind the rear seat (of course the fasttrac takes more time if the windows are in than if they aren't). The fasttrac more closely follows the shape of the original top.

Niether offer much security. The fasttrac is slightly more expensive, but it is considered the more "premium" product.

You can get fabric swatches from the manufacture if you aren't sure what color or fabric you want. Both are available with clear or tinted windows.

I can post pics of my 72 right after I installed my fasttrac & pics of my 69 with an old Kayline snap top tomorrow - I don't have pics on this computer.

[Medicanman71]

The fastrac doesnt take THAT many and they're only on/through the bed rails and a few on the windsheild frame.... its far more pimp too if that's what you're looking for...

[bouncytruck]

That's just the same as the snap top. The snaps along the bed rails are in brackets that bold down to the top of the bed rails. The rest are across the windshield frame & tailgate. I have one of each, the number of holes drilled is basically the same.

[Burt4x4]

I too have had both the snap top and now a FastTrack.

I love the new 'Denum' fabric my FastTrack came in..it looks more like canvas than vynal and the tinted windows are way cool. The zip out windows make for a way better 'safari' look than the old style roll up windows did.
The only place the FastTrack saves you on drilling is the top of the bed rails..the brackest that mount up use the hard top holes..you still have to drill the window frame and tailgate.
Good Luck
Burt

[NuBomb]

Not to hijack, but how long does it take for them to send once you order one. I'm planning on ordering a fastrack and would like to have it for late-spring early summer.

Dru, if you are in the market, 4 wheel customs.com offers the fastrac kit for 605 + shipping. That is the best price I've found so far.

[loblazer]

I just bought a tailgate off a guy who had the Kayline on it. It has snaps drilled in it. Would it not be better to put some kind of velcro strip across the gate to hold the snaps? You have no security anyway so why drill holes?

He has the black kayline safari for sale for $300. CDN. Average shape. No rips. Let me know if you want his phone # in Cambridge, Ontario

Doug

[bouncytruck]

Burt, the old Kayline on my '69 has the snaps mounted in metal brackets along the top of the bedrail too. The brackets bolt down to the holes from the hard top.

NuBomb, it took about 2 months for my top to arrive after I ordered it, but it depends on the stock they have on hand. I ordered a white one and I think they made it to order. I think it was Medicanman71 that ordered one of the last black ones in stock last year and got it almost immediately. Call them to find out the lead time. I missed the summer when I ordered mine. It sat in the box for almost a year waiting for the good weather. I finally installed it last spring and pulled it off again last fall. Can't wait for the sun to come back.

loblazer, The old Kayline tops have velcro on the frames around the door windows. When it is hot outside, the adhisive gets soft and the velcro comes off. I'd assume the same thing would happen on the tail gate.

[Burt4x4]

Hmmm My old Kayline had the rails too but they needed their own holes driled to secure the rail to the bed rail..mine did not line up with the factory holes. I guess you could dril out the rail to fit the hardtop holes?? I got my Kayline way back in like 94 so maybe they changed it after that or when SCT took over???

Eaither soft top is WAY better than a hard top in my opinion.

[Medicanman71]

What i was saying is i'd rather (and did) drill more holes in the bed rails then on the side of the bed like with the snap top. I'd hold off on installing the tailgate snaps , mine could have been drilled lower so it would hold tighter, now i'd have to go and drill a 2nd set of holes to get it real tight, i just dont use the back window and never have.

As far as getting one goes, mine got to me REAL quick, - it was IN stock.... i got the last black one with dark tinted windows in stock. He said if he had to make one, it'd probably be atleast a month longer! I got it right before the winter rains came too heh.

[bouncytruck]

With the snap top, the snaps do not go directly into the bed side. They go into a bracket, very similar to the bracket for the fasttrac, that rides on top of the bed rail.

This may not be the case with the best tops. Personally, I don't like they way they look as much and they don't appear to fit as well.

[Medicanman71]

ahhh i see

[ian villeza]

I have a Besttop and like it a lot, Drive in the rain all the time(Hawaii) with no leaks. Fits real nice. Depending on the individual doing the installation will determine fit in my opinion. I like the look of my Besttop over the fasttrac.

[Yukon Jack]

Here is a post over at CK5.com showing pics of how a boardmember over there got his Fasttrack to fit good.

[bouncytruck]

ian - can you post some pics of your top?

Thanks for the link Yukon. (I don't venture over to CK5 much anymore - only so much time in a day.)

I noticed in his post the one problem area I have with my Fasttrac - around the door windows. Mine do this same thing...

[ian villeza]

My Best top.

[ian villeza]

Front..

[2wdBlazer]

I hate soft tops. I Can't wait to finish my bulkhead so I can start using my half-top. :start evil laugh:

[smokekiki]

I have a Besttop too.I prefer the looks of the Fastrac top,but with the high center bow on the bestop,it keeps water from pooling on the top.It also fits better around the window.
bouncy,how old is your top?

[bouncytruck]

Those pics of my orange '72 were the day I installed it. It has been on one season now. There is one small hole in it from the door glass rubbing.