DIY - 2 front panels only on a 4-Door - Rear Bracket = $40

[Jack667]

Hi - I've been messing around with the idea of running the 2 front panels only for various reasons and I've seen some threads here, often with someone saying they're working on a bracket. I just made mine today - couldn't be simpler.
After much thought, planning, and measuring -
Went to Lowe's and bought a 4 foot piece of steel. 3/16 thick and 3" wide. Since I'm used to removing the center bracket on each side to put my Jtop on or take it off, I figured I could use one of the bolts to secure the bar. It would be better to have a 49" bar but 48" is just barely enough.
The latches worked right off the bat, but I had to lift the bar up to make them grab, and then the tensioned seemed a bit too high. So I shimmed the bar up with a few washers. It's still tight now, so might need another shim. I want it snug but not too much tension on those latches and the latch hardware.
Check out the photos - which include the item code - and let me know if you have Qs. I plan to paint it black - just getting it set up for now.

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[Fordified1]

You could bend a slight arch into it instead of shimming.

Personally, we prefer to run all 3 front panels only instead of just the front 2, and do frequently.

 

[Jack667]

I guess I could have added above that the main reason I want a 2-top solution is that I want to be able to store them in the trunk, on the go.
I have a JTop bikini /bimini and I've been caught twice in the rain. Wife was a bit upset with the amount of water that came in - especially the second time!!
That's the main problem to solve here for me, but I know many others have posted here that they really like driving with just the front two, and people seem to want a bracket for the back latches.
About the shims... I haven't worked it out yet, but this should go on top of the Jtop. I need to take that bracket off, put the Jtop on, and then my new bar, and then the bracket. All that to say I might not need a shim with the Jtop - it will already shim it up a bit.

one other side note to my top saga / constant conundrums is that I need to take the Jtop off every time I want to put the hard top on or off. It sort of defeats one of the main purposes of going with JTop in the first place! Why - I use a Lift-N-Go hard top removal dolly thing and it doesn't work if the dumb JTop is in the way. That bracket and I are very good friends!

 

[tgoat]

Looks good! Question though....I'm running the two front panels stock with my POS Ford Bimini underneath, no bar or back support. Is that dangerous or not recommended?

 

[Jack667]

Looks good! Question though....I'm running the two front panels stock with my POS Ford Bimini underneath, no bar or back support. Is that dangerous or not recommended?

Some people here say its fine.
I've been using ChatGPT for research, basically hi-powered and summarized web searches. Saving me a lot of time. Often say to use this forum as a source.
Here's what it spit out about that Q when I asked the other day:
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Short answer: no—don’t do that.

For the 4-door Bronco hardtop, Ford’s 2025 Owner’s Manual explicitly warns: “Do not drive your vehicle with only the center or the rear roof panel removed.” That rules out driving with the middle panel off while the front panels remain installed, and it also rules out running with the rear cap off while other panels are on. The manual also cautions that all installed panels must be properly secured. Ford Service Content

Bronco6G owners echo why: the center panel helps support the rear edge of the front panels, and the rear section supports the center panel. If you remove the middle and rear, airflow can lift the back of the front panels at speed. Community consensus is that this configuration is unsafe on-road (especially at highway speeds).

 

[tgoat]

Thank-you for this!! I'll be looking into a solution like the OP. I'd better stay off the highway.

As an aside. DO NOT BUY the Ford Bimini by Bestop. Complete garbage waste of money. So disappointed.

 

[zrizik99]

You could bend a slight arch into it instead of shimming.

Personally, we prefer to run all 3 front panels only instead of just the front 2, and do frequently.

I was thinking about doing this upcoming weekend - any tips?

 

[Fast Eddie]

I wonder how much flex you will have with that bar on the highway. An angled bar would be more rigid. I would also think using a B brace with a custom attachment point for the front roof panels would work (the B brace gets very close to the factory handles).

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