Bestop Trek Top NX Review

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Bestop Trek Top NX Review

Starting my review page for this recent upgrade on my '04 TJ.

This is one of the best additions to the Jeep so far. I love the Sun Rider feature, and the fact that I have a safari top that can be close in with the detachable windows is awesome.

I can protect my kids on the highway, and open things up when we get the the Jamboree!!!

Original Condition of the Jeep
When I bought my '04 TJ Unlimited, it had the original hard top on it. I like the hard top, but constantly found myself dreaming of opening things up and getting some fresh air. My preferences seem to have changed since I moved to Texas from up north. Where I once dreamt of a hard top to keep me warm (soft tops are warm too, but I never opened it up in the frigid north), I now found myself wishing I could drop the top and enjoy the great weather.

The hard top did its job for the most part, but the original owner had damaged the left rear corner slightly. It was repaired, and it was professionally done so it really didn’t bother me except for a slight gap on the tailgate. This misalignment caused water to accumulate inside during a hard rain or in the car wash.

Choosing a New Top
I have been looking for a new top for quite a while. After my first Jamboree in ’09 I decided I definitely wanted a safari top. It would allow me to keep most of the sun off of the family and I. The only problem I had with this idea is that I also wanted to be able to close in the cab if the weather turned bad. On many Jamborees, mornings will be cold even if the daytime temps are good for open air Jeep’n. This presented a bit of a problem as I could not find a safari top that also had windows.

That is, until recently when Bestop came out with the Trek Top NX. Best of all, not only did it offer the windows I was looking for, but it also sports the Sun Rider feature. So, it seemed I had found what I wanted, and I snatched it up and installed it myself.

Ease of Installation
This top installs very easily. It works as a one-man job without too much difficulty. Probably the hardest part is getting the top to stretch enough to fit completely. The safari top fits fine, but getting all the windows in is a chore.

That said, the whole thing went on in about an hour, after which I had to allow the top to stretch a bit while one the Jeep before I could zip up the rear window.

Instructions were straight forward and I found that things went in a logical order that kept me moving without getting lost.

First Impressions
First off, let me say that this top looks cool. The fastback rear window is a nice touch. Combine that with the dark tinted windows, and the Trek Top is one of the best looking tops of the road. I get tons of envious looks every day with this top on the Jeep.

Secondly, as much as I wanted the safari top, I really haven’t used it much. This is because I’m mostly running to and from work, so I prefer the top on in the morning and I don’t want to spend the time pulling all the windows out when I am heading home. The great thing is, I don’t need to due to the Sun Rider feature.

I am enjoying this feature for its simplicity and ease of use. I just pop the clamps from the driver’s seat, grab the support bar and flip it back – 30 seconds tops!

Finally, I’m thrilled with the fact that when I hit the trail, I will be able to open the safari top up. I may not use it to and from work, but when I’m out on a trail, I am certain this will be put to use.

Over Time
It has only been a few weeks, but the more I drive with the Trek Top NX on, the more I enjoy it. Time will tell, but I believe I made the right choice and will enjoy this upgrade for a long time to come.

Durability

This is yet to be determined. I haven’t had the top on long, but it seems well built. The bow over the front section should keep the water rolling off, but I haven’t seen much rain this year so it hasn’t been tested.

If I encounter any durability issues I will add to the review.

Bestop Trek Top NX Review

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Bestop Trek Top NX Review

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