bestop sailcloth top woes

Nate,

We had the same problem with a friends it was cold out and struggled. We brought his TJ into my garage and cranked the heat up to about 80 degrees. It still took us awhile because we needed to stretch the top. We used a couple of small hold down straps and keep tightening until the top went down. The damn thing was as tight as a drum head now after about a month it fits well. Since it was such a bear hw decided not to try his sun rider top until thing stretched.

Coasty

Hook the front header first, then the rear corners. The first time I put the top on my Rubi' I took a tiedown strap and tied a loop in the end. Put a foot in the loop and hook the other end to the bow in the corner and use that to pull the corner down so you can use both hands.After a dozen times up and down it's not necessary. Also, you will have some tugging of the top to get the rear panels aligned so that the windows go in (rear and sides). Once they do I painted on a couple witness marks on the tub for where the corners need to be for next time the top goes up. Last thing: Watch the center bow over the drivers head. There is an FSB on this. The saddles don't sit evenly on the rails, and will pop off to one side. The cure for this is to pull down on the bod in the center and bend it until the saddles fit correctly.

Damn, I think I'll stick with my YJ...that new fangled stuff sounds like a lot of hassle.

-- Old Crow '82 FLTC(P) '95 Wrangler YJ BS#132, TOMKAT, SENS, SLOB#13

thanks much for the responses. i ended up parking it in my garage and turning the heat up to 85 degrees overnight. the next day it was still a struggle, but i finally got it.

.....now if i can just get the soft doors to align properly.

Is that Montana? We still have three or four feet of snow in Colorado, and everything exposed is covered with dirt, mud and road salt. Whatever you do, don't realign the windshield hinges or the body side door bottom hinge. Once you do that, your hard doors will never fit again.

Earle

Well, down in the slums of Colorado, it is just about 70 today and the very last bit of snow has finally bit the dust, except possibly for any still hidden under the layer of mulch.

Where rumors are that > Is that Montana? We still have three or four feet of snow in Colorado,