I just recently bought a best top bikini top for the jeep. I had a pair of door surrounds off a 98 sitting around. I wanted to eliminate the gap from the doors to the top, so i decided to put them on. It appears the top is to small across the jeep to fit. I can BARELY get them to snap in if i dont use the knobs to screw into the roll bar. Even then the top is pulling so hard onto the surrounds its pulls them towards the middle and is not sitting correctly. I even let the top sit our in the sun all day to get some more play or stretch out of it, but it didnt do much. I was thinking of maybe trimming the surrounds down but i dont think there is much to take off there. Im open to any suggestions.
I want my bikini back on
mine stretches REAL tight too. I found that if I put half the insert in the front half of the door surround on one side then go to the other side and put the insert into the back half of the surround then slowly work them til there all the way in it works best. Sometimes it takes a pair of channel locks to kind of pinch it along the way, after you get it started, but be careful not to mar the fabric or crack the insert. Also (obviously) lift up on the surround while you're pulling down on the bikini.
That's the hardest part of the install. I use a flat-head screwdriver to help push the plastic tabs in. Let it sit out in the sun for about an hour to loosen up a bit.
Mine was hard at first(the top that is!) but after a couple of days in the sun it was alot easier... but mine is rarely off... the blazing South FL sun is a bit to much on the top of my noggin! live in the NE for most of my life... do not miss the snow...and have not had the doors on in weeks! Merry Christmas!
I have a factory mopar bikini top that I haven't been able to strech all the way across either. I am going to trim just a hair off the surrounds when it gets warmer.
hey is there a difference in tops with wise between the newer tj. I have a 97 and the top was bought used off craigslist. Is it possible the 03+ tj's have a narrower top then my 97 would have.
This worked for me - start at the front corner on either the passenger or driver side(doesn't matter which), dont put it in more than half way, go to the other side and put the back corner in and get it to go as far as you can. Then go to the original side and finish. It helps to have someone hold the first corner in when you go to do the other side.
The tops are made from denim. They will stretch a little after being installed and they are a lot easier to put on when it is hot outside.
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