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I’ve had the @X-Rack X-Rack Easy-Fold Soft Top Windows installed for about a month now, so I figured I’d post some real-world impressions for anyone who’s been following these or considering a set.
First, some background. My Bronco is a Raptor, so it didn’t come with a soft top. I specifically wanted one, so I found an OEM Bronco soft-top take-off and then tracked down the mounting hardware that the seller didn’t have. At the time, I didn’t think removing the OEM windows would be a big deal. I was mostly excited about finally being able to drive the Raptor around with the top down.
It didn’t take long to realize that removing the OEM windows isn’t difficult — it’s just a hassle. You remove all three windows, then either find somewhere in the Bronco to safely store them or leave them at home. Leave them home and you’re committed if the weather changes. Bring them along and they’re taking up cargo space and you have to protect them. Then, when you want to close everything back up, you’re lining up and reinstalling all three pieces again. Anyone who’s owned a Bronco soft top already knows the routine.
I’d been following X-Rack’s posts about their Easy-Fold windows here on Bronco6G for months, starting back when they were still teasing them as a product that was coming soon. When they posted the $799 early-adopter offer, I jumped on it immediately. I purchased these myself — X-Rack didn’t give them to me or ask me to write this review. I ordered July 22, received them July 28, and installed them July 29.
Installation — 9/10
Installation was very straightforward and took me roughly 15–20 minutes. Difficulty was probably a 2 or 3 out of 10. Everything lined up correctly with the factory tracks, Velcro and clips, and I had no fitment issues. You do need to measure your window clip location before ordering because apparently Ford used more than one configuration. Mine matched up fine.
My only installation advice: watch X-Rack’s installation video first. I spent more time than necessary reading through the written instructions before realizing there was a video. The instructions were fine, but watching the video would have gotten me through the installation considerably faster.
Fit & Finish — 10/10
This was probably my biggest surprise. They really don’t look aftermarket. The fit is pretty much the same as the OEM windows, and I haven’t noticed any more wrinkles, sagging or gaps than I had with the factory pieces. The material feels excellent.
In fact, my brother came over after I installed them and didn’t even notice that I’d changed the windows until I pointed it out.
The biggest visual difference is that the X-Rack side panels are blackout rather than transparent. I thought that might take some getting used to, but it hasn’t. From the driver’s seat I couldn’t really see through the OEM rear-quarter windows anyway. As an accidental test of that, I drove about 7,100 miles on my Memento Mori Run earlier this year with event/sponsor graphics completely covering those OEM quarter windows and never missed the visibility.
Rear visibility isn’t really a factor for me either. The Bronco Raptor’s 37” spare already blocks a significant portion of the rear window, and with the soft top completely folded down, rear visibility through the factory mirror disappears anyway. I solved that separately, before I even got the soft top and soft windows, with a WolfBox G900 TriPro digital rearview mirror. (Maybe I'll do a separate review on that too)
Ease of Use / Convenience — 10/10
This is where these completely changed the soft top for me.
With the X-Rack windows installed, I unlatch the front and fold it back, release two clips on each side while leaving the rearmost attachment in place, roll/fold the flexible material down diagonally, and finish lowering the top. Nothing comes off the Bronco. Nothing has to be put in the cargo area. Nothing gets left in the garage.
I finally filmed and timed it today instead of guessing:
Completely closed to completely open: 45 seconds.
Completely open to completely closed and latched: 55 seconds.
And those weren’t attempts to set some kind of soft-top pit-stop record. That’s just me operating it normally.
I actually considered reinstalling my OEM windows just so I could time the factory process for comparison. Then I realized I didn’t want to go through the hassle of removing the X-Rack windows, digging the OEM windows out of storage, installing them, removing them again, storing them again and reinstalling the X-Racks.
Which, come to think of it, pretty much proves the entire point of this review.
Build Quality / Weather Protection — 10/10 so far
I’ve only had them installed for about a month, so I’m not going to pretend I can give anyone a meaningful long-term durability report yet.
What I can say is that I’ve driven them at 80+ mph on highway sections going to and from my cabin, driven through pouring rain, and taken the Bronco through automated car washes several times. No leaks. No issues at highway speeds. No concerns so far with the material, stitching, clips or Velcro.
They’ve basically stayed on the Bronco since July 29, and at this point it feels like they’ve always been there — partly because I’ve apparently repressed the memory of dealing with the OEM windows.
The biggest difference: I use my soft top more.
That’s probably the best endorsement I can give them. Since installing the X-Rack windows, I’ve been putting the top completely down every chance I get.
Before, there was always a decision involved: Is the weather going to hold? Do I want to take the windows out? Where am I going to put them? Should I bring them with me in case it rains?
Now there isn’t.
If the weather is good, the top goes down. If the weather changes, 55 seconds later it’s closed again. Everything I need to close the Bronco is always attached to the Bronco.
Value — this one’s complicated.
I paid $799 as an early adopter. At that price, knowing what I know now, I’d buy them again without hesitation.
At the current $999 introductory price, I probably would have thought about the purchase a little harder before pulling the trigger. At the $1,199 regular price, I honestly don’t know that I would have originally bought them.
Here’s the weird part:
Now that I have them, I wouldn’t sell mine for $1,199.
They’ve changed how often I use the soft top enough that I wouldn’t want to go back to the OEM-window routine.
If mine disappeared tomorrow, I’d probably send X-Rack this review and ask nicely if they’d let me buy my replacement set for $799 again.
My ratings after the first month:
Installation: 9/10
Fit & Finish: 10/10
Ease of Use: 10/10
Build Quality / Weather Protection: 10/10 so far
Appearance & Visibility: 9/10
Overall Convenience: 10/10
Long-term durability: TBD
I’ll update this after I’ve had them installed longer. I’m also putting together a short video showing the actual opening and closing process with a timer — 45 seconds down and 55 seconds back up. (If anyone knows how to add an on-screen timer to a video, hit me up)
For anyone with a Bronco soft top who likes having the top completely down but hates dealing with the OEM windows, these solve exactly the problem they’re supposed to solve.
First, some background. My Bronco is a Raptor, so it didn’t come with a soft top. I specifically wanted one, so I found an OEM Bronco soft-top take-off and then tracked down the mounting hardware that the seller didn’t have. At the time, I didn’t think removing the OEM windows would be a big deal. I was mostly excited about finally being able to drive the Raptor around with the top down.
It didn’t take long to realize that removing the OEM windows isn’t difficult — it’s just a hassle. You remove all three windows, then either find somewhere in the Bronco to safely store them or leave them at home. Leave them home and you’re committed if the weather changes. Bring them along and they’re taking up cargo space and you have to protect them. Then, when you want to close everything back up, you’re lining up and reinstalling all three pieces again. Anyone who’s owned a Bronco soft top already knows the routine.
I’d been following X-Rack’s posts about their Easy-Fold windows here on Bronco6G for months, starting back when they were still teasing them as a product that was coming soon. When they posted the $799 early-adopter offer, I jumped on it immediately. I purchased these myself — X-Rack didn’t give them to me or ask me to write this review. I ordered July 22, received them July 28, and installed them July 29.
Installation — 9/10
Installation was very straightforward and took me roughly 15–20 minutes. Difficulty was probably a 2 or 3 out of 10. Everything lined up correctly with the factory tracks, Velcro and clips, and I had no fitment issues. You do need to measure your window clip location before ordering because apparently Ford used more than one configuration. Mine matched up fine.
My only installation advice: watch X-Rack’s installation video first. I spent more time than necessary reading through the written instructions before realizing there was a video. The instructions were fine, but watching the video would have gotten me through the installation considerably faster.
Fit & Finish — 10/10
This was probably my biggest surprise. They really don’t look aftermarket. The fit is pretty much the same as the OEM windows, and I haven’t noticed any more wrinkles, sagging or gaps than I had with the factory pieces. The material feels excellent.
In fact, my brother came over after I installed them and didn’t even notice that I’d changed the windows until I pointed it out.
The biggest visual difference is that the X-Rack side panels are blackout rather than transparent. I thought that might take some getting used to, but it hasn’t. From the driver’s seat I couldn’t really see through the OEM rear-quarter windows anyway. As an accidental test of that, I drove about 7,100 miles on my Memento Mori Run earlier this year with event/sponsor graphics completely covering those OEM quarter windows and never missed the visibility.
Rear visibility isn’t really a factor for me either. The Bronco Raptor’s 37” spare already blocks a significant portion of the rear window, and with the soft top completely folded down, rear visibility through the factory mirror disappears anyway. I solved that separately, before I even got the soft top and soft windows, with a WolfBox G900 TriPro digital rearview mirror. (Maybe I'll do a separate review on that too)
Ease of Use / Convenience — 10/10
This is where these completely changed the soft top for me.
With the X-Rack windows installed, I unlatch the front and fold it back, release two clips on each side while leaving the rearmost attachment in place, roll/fold the flexible material down diagonally, and finish lowering the top. Nothing comes off the Bronco. Nothing has to be put in the cargo area. Nothing gets left in the garage.
I finally filmed and timed it today instead of guessing:
Completely closed to completely open: 45 seconds.
Completely open to completely closed and latched: 55 seconds.
And those weren’t attempts to set some kind of soft-top pit-stop record. That’s just me operating it normally.
I actually considered reinstalling my OEM windows just so I could time the factory process for comparison. Then I realized I didn’t want to go through the hassle of removing the X-Rack windows, digging the OEM windows out of storage, installing them, removing them again, storing them again and reinstalling the X-Racks.
Which, come to think of it, pretty much proves the entire point of this review.
Build Quality / Weather Protection — 10/10 so far
I’ve only had them installed for about a month, so I’m not going to pretend I can give anyone a meaningful long-term durability report yet.
What I can say is that I’ve driven them at 80+ mph on highway sections going to and from my cabin, driven through pouring rain, and taken the Bronco through automated car washes several times. No leaks. No issues at highway speeds. No concerns so far with the material, stitching, clips or Velcro.
They’ve basically stayed on the Bronco since July 29, and at this point it feels like they’ve always been there — partly because I’ve apparently repressed the memory of dealing with the OEM windows.
The biggest difference: I use my soft top more.
That’s probably the best endorsement I can give them. Since installing the X-Rack windows, I’ve been putting the top completely down every chance I get.
Before, there was always a decision involved: Is the weather going to hold? Do I want to take the windows out? Where am I going to put them? Should I bring them with me in case it rains?
Now there isn’t.
If the weather is good, the top goes down. If the weather changes, 55 seconds later it’s closed again. Everything I need to close the Bronco is always attached to the Bronco.
Value — this one’s complicated.
I paid $799 as an early adopter. At that price, knowing what I know now, I’d buy them again without hesitation.
At the current $999 introductory price, I probably would have thought about the purchase a little harder before pulling the trigger. At the $1,199 regular price, I honestly don’t know that I would have originally bought them.
Here’s the weird part:
Now that I have them, I wouldn’t sell mine for $1,199.
They’ve changed how often I use the soft top enough that I wouldn’t want to go back to the OEM-window routine.
If mine disappeared tomorrow, I’d probably send X-Rack this review and ask nicely if they’d let me buy my replacement set for $799 again.
My ratings after the first month:
Installation: 9/10
Fit & Finish: 10/10
Ease of Use: 10/10
Build Quality / Weather Protection: 10/10 so far
Appearance & Visibility: 9/10
Overall Convenience: 10/10
Long-term durability: TBD
I’ll update this after I’ve had them installed longer. I’m also putting together a short video showing the actual opening and closing process with a timer — 45 seconds down and 55 seconds back up. (If anyone knows how to add an on-screen timer to a video, hit me up)
For anyone with a Bronco soft top who likes having the top completely down but hates dealing with the OEM windows, these solve exactly the problem they’re supposed to solve.
Sponsored
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