Hardtop vs. Soft Top — What are you running this summer? ☀️🏜️

[MEDISN]

No top...big flag

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[Kevin Scarbel]

Totally fair — a lot of it really comes down to how you use the Bronco.It‘s less of a debate, more about what

就是。随便。

 

[darkscion0]

Solid canvas bikini top (for shade), no doors is the only way to go.

 

[hwall]

I ordered my first Bronco in 2022 when Ford was struggling with hardtop supply. I reluctantly went with the soft top on my Black Diamond just to get the truck.

A few weeks ago I traded her in and upgraded to a 4-door Outer Banks with the hardtop.

While the soft top was fun for a while, it was just too loud on the highway and the side windows were constantly popping out. I’m so much happier now, the hardtop makes a huge difference in comfort and quietness. I’ll never go back!

Definitely team Hardtop for summer (and every other season lol).

 

[skhubbard93]

Winter: hard top with factory roof rack (for skis, other stuff).

• Stands up to more-frequent car washing to get the salt off.
• Retains heat a bit better.
• Less road noise.

Summer: Bestop Skyrider.

• If I want topless, I can have it as quick as a stoplight and I don't have to leave the covering for the center of the vehicle behind anywhere.
• If I need the roof rack, I can throw it on because the clamshell is still there.
• I retain the rear window washer / wiper feature.
• The window glass is not prone to scratching or fading like the soft-top plastic windows.

For those wondering, yes, you can swap back-and-forth, but you have to do some tricky things to avoid having to take off some foam sticker pads. Also, there are a couple of plastic push-in parts near the C-pillars that you may need to replace sometimes. You cannot simply follow the instructions in reverse and forward again because of the stickers. My concern with doing this is that I might wear out some of the fasteners, which appear to have lock-tite preinstalled on them.

I've done this solo every time (twice each way now, and about to start the swap today!), but I don't recommend it. If you can put in a lift for the clamshell and possibly also the Skyrider components, that goes a long way towards making it a one-person job.

If anyone has more knowledge about areas of concern relating to this, I'd welcome the insight.

 

[Mabett]

Winter: hard top with factory roof rack (for skis, other stuff).

• Stands up to more-frequent car washing to get the salt off.
• Retains heat a bit better.
• Less road noise.

Summer: Bestop Skyrider.

• If I want topless, I can have it as quick as a stoplight and I don't have to leave the covering for the center of the vehicle behind anywhere.
• If I need the roof rack, I can throw it on because the clamshell is still there.
• I retain the rear window washer / wiper feature.
• The window glass is not prone to scratching or fading like the soft-top plastic windows.

For those wondering, yes, you can swap back-and-forth, but you have to do some tricky things to avoid having to take off some foam sticker pads. Also, there are a couple of plastic push-in parts near the C-pillars that you may need to replace sometimes. You cannot simply follow the instructions in reverse and forward again because of the stickers. My concern with doing this is that I might wear out some of the fasteners, which appear to have lock-tite preinstalled on them.

I've done this solo every time (twice each way now, and about to start the swap today!), but I don't recommend it. If you can put in a lift for the clamshell and possibly also the Skyrider components, that goes a long way towards making it a one-person job.

If anyone has more knowledge about areas of concern relating to this, I'd welcome the insight.

Appreciate the detailed feedback!

 

[JLC64UK]

Run like this usually from some time in May till some time in Sept./Oct. depending on the weather and then the hard top goes back on till the next year.

 

[Marc L]

I'd be more curious when people switch from hard to soft and back based on geography.
This will be our first year switching living in Chicagoland and we are planning sometime in mid-May putting on the softtop and switching back in maybe mid-September. We are trying to find 5 days of no rain forecasted just in case it takes longer than expected as we will be doing it outside as our garage doesn't have enough room without moving the other cars outside during the change.
I'm sure the switch will involve a lot of cursing between my wife and me.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I'd be more curious when people switch from hard to soft and back based on geography.
This will be our first year switching living in Chicagoland and we are planning sometime in mid-May putting on the softtop and switching back in maybe mid-September. We are trying to find 5 days of no rain forecasted just in case it takes longer than expected as we will be doing it outside as our garage doesn't have enough room without moving the other cars outside during the change.
I'm sure the switch will involve a lot of cursing between my wife and me.

Switching should take 1-2hrs max. I've done it by myself but I wouldn't recommend. Picking up the ST is doable for 1 person but putting it on the truck was a bear. Now I use a hoist to pull up the HT and one of my kids helps to put the ST on. How do you plan on removing the HT?

 

[Nc211]

Hard top...I'd be one of those weirdos that would be fine with a fixed hard top (i.e. non-removable).

My '75 has a steel top that has never been removed.

I've had soft top vehicles and just don't care for them. Having dark hair meant that in the summer sun by brain felt like it was cooking.

Uh huh, sure. We’ll go with the hair color as the reason for the cooking of the brain back in the 70’s… What a long and strange trip it must’ve been, Jerry…

 

[Marc L]

Switching should take 1-2hrs max. I've done it by myself but I wouldn't recommend. Picking up the ST is doable for 1 person but putting it on the truck was a bear. Now I use a hoist to pull up the HT and one of my kids helps to put the ST on. How do you plan on removing the HT?

No hoist. I've seen videos of somebody in the bed lifting the hard top off and carrying it to its resting place. That is what looks it is a bear. I think I watched this video

 

[Fast Eddie]

No hoist. I've seen videos of somebody in the bed lifting the hard top off and carrying it to its resting place. That is what looks it is a bear. I think I watched this video

I wouldn't do that.

 

[Marc L]

I wouldn't do that.

Meaning you would not use that method or you wouldn't do it solo?
My wife isn't weak, but although I'm very aerobically fit as a marathoner I'm not muscled.
We will watch all the videos available, make sure we have a soft spot to let the top down on and have good weather so we don't have to rush.

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