Viking Offroad TJ Fast Back Soft Top - Page 5

BaldHeadedDawg · 07-23-2008, 02:55 PM

Anyone heard when an LJ version will be available?

Twitchy · 07-23-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaldHeadedDawg

Anyone heard when an LJ version will be available?

When I talked to them yesterday they said about a month

hulkboy · 07-27-2008, 07:18 PM

okay it looks like theres a guy in my area selling one of these tops and i want it.. problem is it may be the old style... are the older ones that much differant then the new and improved ones.. what kind of problems am i looking at if i purchase this one..

Twitchy · 08-01-2008, 02:48 PM

Let me start by saying that the service Thor and his crew provided over the phone was outstanding and lived up to all the comments I had read on here. Congratulations Viking, you have a customer for life with me. One issue that did arise was that the header shipped separately from one location and the top from another. In theory this is fine, however I got hit with two shipping charges, duty, etc. Sadly the charge for header ended up being very high and almost equal to the soft top shipping charge at one third the weight. I mention this for the following reasons, one, so that other consumers can be aware of this when ordering, granted the biggest difficulty is that I live in Canada so the pricing was naturally higher. Secondly and the part I am most proud of, when I emailed Thor to let him know what happened, just in case he was unaware, he immediately returned an email with the offer for me to fax him my shipping paperwork and return some money to me. This blew me away and had not been part of my original intent when contacting him. I declined that offer and explained that I understand how hard he has worked to establish a reputable business in a difficult industry. I think many other retailers, in this industry and others, should take a page or two from Thor's palybook for customer relations.

Now, the top is absolutely outstanding, I have previously owned a fastback top and this one is volumes ahead of others in quality of stitching, noise reduction and man o man, the visibility is killer, not cause the windows are new, Im talking about the field of vision out the back and side. I will say this though, I run a 2004 Sahara with roll bar pads and the fit is still super tight, I realize its partially due to it being new and needing to stretch but I can't imagine stretching it over padding.

Thank you Thor and Viking, you have a customer for life and I have already enjoyed spreading the news of Viking and the quality product and service you offer. Here's the shots of the old manufactures top from the side and the new Viking

Twitchy · 08-01-2008, 02:49 PM

and the old and new from the rear

Twitchy · 08-01-2008, 02:51 PM

correction in first post, I meant to write that I have NO roll bar padding and the fit is still tight

machine0020 · 08-02-2008, 10:45 AM

I too have the new top. I saw they were available, and emailed Thor. I had a reply that same day, and ordered it immediately. I received my email confirmation saying I would get a UPS tracking number and three days later my girlfriend calls me in Mexico telling me my top is there! It was too quick to even get a tracking number! The top is great. I had some fitment issues but I will chalk it up to it being new fabric and if I had laid it out in the sun it would have stretched I am sure. I removed my footman loop a while ago to install my SPOD and Source, so I had to rig the strap a little, but other than that no problems. It took me 2 hours to install, but that was mostly adjusting for the very tight fit and putting on the windshield channel. Now that it has sat installed in our 100 degree plus sun for a couple days, the top is stretching and fitting nicely.
Someone on here asked about how loud it is compared to stock. I have a decibel meter, but didnt think to take a before measurement. I will take an after measurement if anyone is interested, but it is DEFINITELY quieter. My radio only has to go halfway as loud as before. Also I was doing 80 in fourth with the gas only halfway down on the freeway. That is UNHEARD of in my Jeep. I think I would have no problem closing in on a 100 mph! There is almost no drag as compared to my stock softy, and I can only imagine my gas mileage will go up. Overall this is one of the best mods I have done to my Jeep, now all I have to do is get some black uppers for my half doors. The brown ones and black top are not too hot a combo!

graham74 · 08-02-2008, 01:46 PM

Hi guys. First post!!! I have been on here a while and found the people on this forum especially knowledgable (especially Jerry Bransfield and Mrblaine) Thanks to all!! I ordered a top from Viking a couple of days ago (arriving on Monday.... YYEEAAAHH!) I have searched for the answer to this question several times and can't find an answer, so if it is out there somewhere, sorry for bringing up an old problem. Will this top work with a soundbar or will I have to remove it? I appreciate the help. When I ordered I forgot to ask Thor....

On a side note, I just wanted to say again that the guys at Viking are top notch!! Thor has been extremely helpful. It is very refreshing to see the guys who own a company like this take such a personal interest in how their product performs. Best of luck to them.

graham74 · 08-02-2008, 02:09 PM

sorry about the last post. looked a little closer at Stu's write up and I see he has one on there before he starts and he was pretty thorough when he gave instructions. I imagine it's still there!!

98_classic · 08-02-2008, 08:20 PM

I think its been asked but just as a reminder question, does anyone have pics of this top in the down position? Also is the safari top position as far down as it goes? I like my factory top for the reason that it goes down all the way. If this one only goes into safari top mode, do you take the entire thing off to put it down?

machine0020 · 08-03-2008, 12:53 AM

ill put mine into safari tomorrow and take pics. now that its been put on, it should be no problem to take it completely off quickly. as for top down i think that that would pretty much be just taking it off! It came wrapped up in a thin cardboard box so it should roll up to stow nicely behind the bck seat.

Twitchy · 08-03-2008, 04:13 AM

Not the perfect shot but it does show how far back it goes on my 04 Sahara TJ

Si1ver03Rubicon · 08-03-2008, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyCrawler

Been running my Viking Top for about year.

Attachment 51704

Attachment 51705

Why does it look weird to the rear? Kinda rolled/loose look?

**FXSTCHEWY** · 08-03-2008, 06:12 AM

I like the look, I would be interested in one for my LJ.

raskull · 08-03-2008, 11:41 AM

When you take it completely down, you are essentially removing it. You can then lay it flat in the back of the tub or roll it up.