My solution to the above problems:
1) I plasti dipped the pins but still replaced most of the them with nuts and bolts. I'm not hauling anything large enought to warrant folding up the Slipstream. And if I do, I'll be aggravated enough that pulling a few bolts won't matter.
2) I used black...
I am using force. So long as your latches are hitting the retaining bar such that the slope allows for proper latch engagement (i.e. the latch can clip itself over the bar and not bind itself closed), it should be fine.
I have both the IAG soft top assist and the Slipstream. I close my soft top from the outside. One hand on top of the back of the soft top and one hand on the bottom by the crossmember. Once the release latches are properly adjusted, the top closes easy.
I used Gaia this past weekend in Vermont.
It kind of worked on Apple Car play. It gave voice guidance but did not finish the sentence.
Their overland overlay which shows dirt and gravel roads was a nice feature.
I also tried OnX for the trails they had listed. I used that information to plan...