Hard Top/Soft Top Seasonal Swap

Grumbly23

Jan 26, 2025

Anyone regularly swap between a hard top for winter and soft top for summer? I have a two door and can't decide. If I bought a soft top, would I use it once and not want to continualy go back and forth because it is too tedious and time consuming? Anyone have experience to share. If so, Best Top or Havoc? Thanks

Bschurr

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Jan 26, 2025

Yeah, we do a Bestop switch for spring/summer/early fall. Sun's so strong at our Colorado mtn elevations, we have their mesh bimini top too.

Cheers

Chief Ron, Sven

Jan 27, 2025

Yes. My 23 Big Bend came with the dual top option. The hard top was factory installed with the soft top stuffed in the back. No instructions from Ford on how to do the initial install. All the Ford videos started with taking the top off and putting it back on. Once I figure that out, and did the several minor adjustments with the factory installed brackets, it worked!

However, I don't always have a friend around to help with the removal and install. So I searched and figure out what works for me. To remove the hard top I bought the J-Barr system and then added an electric hoist/winch to remove and then I just leave it hanging for the summer. Once I solve that I needed to do the same thing with the soft top. The soft top is heavier then the rear half of the hard top. It's about 101 lbs. It is awkward to pick up and safely install without another person to help insure you don't damage the sides. Well, another hoist purchased and then I figure out a sling bar and some straps. Because it is awkward, after removal I put the top on a cart and roll it out of the way.

When do I do this? Well, it's Florida so anytime after March, I remove the hard top and install the soft top. Then sometime in September or October I retire the soft top.

It is easy to remove the hard top, three panels and then the rear portion. Installing the soft top is also "easy" with only one large piece and then three window panels.

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Bob N - Capt., USAF-Retired
2023 Bronco Big Bend, 1942 Ford GPW (jeep)

Chief Ron, Deano Bronc

Jan 27, 2025

Grumbly23
Anyone regularly swap between a hard top for winter and soft top for summer? I have a two door and can't decide. If I bought a soft top, would I use it once and not want to continualy go back and forth because it is too tedious and time consuming? Anyone have experience to share. If so, Best Top or Havoc? Thanks

Like Kenneth, I swap among 3 tops. Hard top for the New England winter, Bestop soft top for spring and fall, and a JTops Bimini top (and no doors!) for the summer. Takes about 30-45 min to do the swap each time, and you need either a helper or a hoist to put the tops on or off. There are also services that will do the swap for you and store the off-season top.
I bought the hard and soft tops as an option from the factory, and was upset when my dealer refused to do the initial soft top assembly and installation (it takes ~ 5 hours the first time because you have to assemble the soft top from huge box of parts). After all, they charge you for a Dealer Installed Option when you buy it with the car. But in the end I think I'm happier I did it myself because I understand how it is built, which makes it easier to do the swap. But I shouldn't have had to pay the dealer...

Bschurr

Jan 27, 2025

dvnorton
Like Kenneth, I swap among 3 tops. Hard top for the New England winter, Bestop soft top for spring and fall, and a JTops Bimini top (and no doors!) for the summer. Takes about 30-45 min to do the swap each time, and you need either a helper or a hoist to put the tops on or off. There are also services that will do the swap for you and store the off-season top.
I bought the hard and soft tops as an option from the factory, and was upset when my dealer refused to do the initial soft top assembly and installation (it takes ~ 5 hours the first time because you have to assemble the soft top from huge box of parts). After all, they charge you for a Dealer Installed Option when you buy it with the car. But in the end I think I'm happier I did it myself because I understand how it is built, which makes it easier to do the swap. But I shouldn't have had to pay the dealer...

5 hours for an initial soft top install?!? WOW!!!

I added a soft top to my Raptor in about an hour (and this is a vehicle that had no installed parts for a soft top. In fact, Ford states that the soft top is incompatible with the Raptor). Sure, the soft top install requires 2 people and can be a little fiddly the first time getting all the bracketry aligned but 5 hours seems exorbitant.

- 2023 Raptor / Shadow Black / MGV (DOB 8/30/23)
- 2023 Heritage Limited Edition / Robin’s Egg Blue / 4dr / (stolen from my dealer 11/15/23)

Jan 30, 2025

Grumbly23
Anyone regularly swap between a hard top for winter and soft top for summer? I have a two door and can't decide. If I bought a soft top, would I use it once and not want to continualy go back and forth because it is too tedious and time consuming? Anyone have experience to share. If so, Best Top or Havoc? Thanks

Submit, personal preference and resources. Purchased SmarterHome hoist and BESTOP. Had BESTOP installed (by BESTEK) within month of purchase of Bronco. Never rolled Softop back when on vehicle (7 months). Had individual from 4Wheel shop (locally/franchise) remove and install hardtop for $200 in Fall. Believe “t-tops” and “porthole” (in back) is sufficient.
Storing BESTOP for child that inherits when I expire. (I personally determined that I used “it once and (did) not want to continually go back and forth because it is too tedious and time consuming”.)

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Feb 13, 2025

Thanks for everyones contributions.

Feb 13, 2025

Kenneth
Yeah, we do a Bestop switch for spring/summer/early fall. Sun's so strong at our Colorado mtn elevations, we have their mesh bimini top too.

Are there parts of the soft top hardware attachments that have to be removed every time you put the hard top back on?
Cheers

Feb 13, 2025

Are there parts of the soft top attachment hardware that have to be removed every time the hard top is put back on? For example, there are pieces added to the pillars behind the windows and along the top of the "bed" rails. I wish there was a You Tube video on switching back. Does anyone know if one exists?

Feb 14, 2025

Grumbly23
Are there parts of the soft top attachment hardware that have to be removed every time the hard top is put back on? For example, there are pieces added to the pillars behind the windows and along the top of the "bed" rails. I wish there was a You Tube video on switching back. Does anyone know if one exists?

Hey yeah, haven't seen a video, but it's not a difficult task. The Bestop has door top rails with couple screws each and a center rear bracket with 2 + 2 screws. Takes about 30 minutes.

Cheers

Feb 14, 2025

#10

Grumbly23
Are there parts of the soft top attachment hardware that have to be removed every time the hard top is put back on? For example, there are pieces added to the pillars behind the windows and along the top of the "bed" rails. I wish there was a You Tube video on switching back. Does anyone know if one exists?

Yes, the pillar covers that are slotted for the window panels are supposed to be removed and replaced with the non-slotted panels for the hard top. It's like three bolts per side so only takes a couple of minutes to do that part. The bolts that actually hold the base of the top to the Bronco are removed and either stowed are reinstalled after the top is removed. There's really not much to the soft top removal other than awkwardness and 101 pounds of fun.

Bob N - Capt., USAF-Retired
2023 Bronco Big Bend, 1942 Ford GPW (jeep)

Bschurr

Mar 05, 2025

#11

My plan is to remove the hard top in late Spring and leave it off through early Fall. I've not yet done that since I had to drive the Bronco my office at least once a week. In preparation, I bought a Broncover for the Bronco when its parked. Now that I work from home, the top is coming off in May. I have other cars to drive if necessary, in inclement weather.

https://www.broncover.com/shop/p/broncover2d

No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...

Bschurr

Mar 05, 2025

#12

I have the Bestop softie and I ran it for 2 straight years. I love, love it. This Fall, I decided to put the HT back on. It took an hour or so to get all the hardware off and the soft top off the truck. Putting the HT back on is a breeze. Now that Spring is soon upon us, I'm thinking about putting the softie back on. I might see how I like running the HT for a while longer.

It has been nice having the HT during the winter with the rear wiper and the flip-up window to get in and out of the back. Having to duck under the soft top window is kind of a PITA. It does take a helper or a winch/lift to get the tops off your rig.

Also, putting the Bestop on the Bronco for the first time took me and a buddy about 5 hours. It arrives in a box and is COMPLETELY disassembled. Anyone doing it under that is an amazing person and I'd like to buy them a beer.

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Bschurr

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