Soft Top Replacement Recommendations?

Does anyone have advice on which soft top is best?
Staying with the original vinyl fabric or going with the stretch type Best Top? I've found both online and they cost the same.

Has anyone tried the Best Top?

I really need the best insulation (to keep the heat out and a/c air in!).

I'm thinking of changing the top from white to black.
hmm... What do you think would look nicer?

Thanks for any imput!!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b290/lbriggs/Tracker-1.jpg

Was at a gas station the other day and a guy pulled up in a 93 Tracker with a brand new Best Top. It wasn't the vinal OEM type and looked GREAT, more of a cordura looking fabric. It was a real smooth, tight fit and he said it was much quieter than the original. Personally, for my 96 Tracker, I still would like to get a hard top to replace the current soft top if there were ever a good used one about. Still looking.

Was at a gas station the other day and a guy pulled up in a 93 Tracker with a brand new Best Top. It wasn't the vinal OEM type and looked GREAT, more of a cordura looking fabric. It was a real smooth, tight fit and he said it was much quieter than the original. Personally, for my 96 Tracker, I still would like to get a hard top to replace the current soft top if there were ever a good used one about. Still looking.
Interesting that the BestTop is quieter. Thanks for the info!

Why do you want to go with a hard top? I love to remove the soft top on nice days.

For nice days, I ride a motorcycle which is a lot less hassle than removing and reinstalling the top on the Tracker:wink:

Regarding the quiteness of the Best Top, would assume that the tighter fit has something to do with it. Probably after its been on for a while it will get noiser simply because it will stretch some. Anyway, it sure looked nice.

Jerry

For nice days, I ride a motorcycle which is a lot less hassle than removing and reinstalling the top on the Tracker:wink:

Regarding the quiteness of the Best Top, would assume that the tighter fit has something to do with it. Probably after its been on for a while it will get noiser simply because it will stretch some. Anyway, it sure looked nice.

Jerry
I have a best top all in all it fits better than the original and it is thicker (read better insulated) Plus the back plastic window hasn't scratched yet and I don't treat it any worse the the OEM top. I couldn't see out the back windows anymore. If you shop around you can find a new one for around $350

I have a best top all in all it fits better than the original and it is thicker (read better insulated) Plus the back plastic window hasn't scratched yet and I don't treat it any worse the the OEM top. I couldn't see out the back windows anymore. If you shop around you can find a new one for around $350

Can I ask how long you've had your Best Top? I noticed they only have a 2yr warranty compared to the site that makes the duplicate OEM tops (they have a 5 yr). I can still see out the windows of my original top ('95) so that's not a concern. I am concerned about the fabric holding up in 110+ degrees heat in the summer.

Can I ask how long you've had your Best Top? I noticed they only have a 2yr warranty compared to the site that makes the duplicate OEM tops (they have a 5 yr). I can still see out the windows of my original top ('95) so that's not a concern. I am concerned about the fabric holding up in 110+ degrees heat in the summer.
honostly I've had my besttop for 1 year and 4 months-ish. It still looks new. I don't know how they do their warranty and I didn't even know mine came with one.. Its constanlty being put on and taken off and the windows are still as clear as the day I bought them.
-Nate

Lynda,
Mine is alot like yours 95, white, w/ac, except it has a black top, and oh it doesn't have a tire cover. But I remember thinking this summer that if I have to replace the top a white one would definitely help keep it cooler inside. That is here in CT, the black would help during winter.

But if I had 110 degree heat there would be NO question about white.

Your call.

Gumby ct, I just recently moved from Dallas to Western Kentucky. I had my 96 Tracker, with a black soft top, for four years before leaving Dallas and in the Texas summer there's no soft top of any color known to man that would have made any difference in the inside temprature of that car. I think it's just the lack of insulation that overwhelms the air conditioner in such extreme heat.:)

I would be interested in feedback from anyone who has converted to a hardtop and the temprature and noise level differences.

Gumby ct, I just recently moved from Dallas to Western Kentucky. I had my 96 Tracker, with a black soft top, for four years before leaving Dallas and in the Texas summer there's no soft top of any color known to man that would have made any difference in the inside temprature of that car. I think it's just the lack of insulation that overwhelms the air conditioner in such extreme heat.:)

I have to respectfully disagree,
dark colors are known to absorb more heat while the lighter colors will reflect more of it. I will agree that the brain is not likely to process the exact temp. esp if it is over 110 degrees outside with a dark color it is likely to get up to 150 or 160 inside. And yea the radiation off the top would be incredible. Could the Trackers A/C have trouble removing THAT heat? Sure.

That is what I liked about my 4Runner, power rear window so you could blow the heat out the back while going down the road & put the window back up when the A/C started to cool.

After buying my Tracker I bought a digital thermometer at Walmart (~$8) so I could tell if the A/C was ON. The kitchen type with a short probe, I just stick in the A/C vent. Boy I was amazed just how HOT it gets inside.

I do respect your ability to ride that horse between Kentucky & Dallas. :wink: Don't mess with Texans. :nono:

ps. My neurosurgeon says the brain does NOT like heat. Guess it does not process well above body temp. My heart goes out to our boys in IRAQ, esp wearing all that gear.

Gumby ct, you hit the nail on the head (my head especially) when you said the brain doesn't like heat. That's one of the main reasons we moved from Dallas to Kentucky, just couldn't take the summers anymore and I was born and lived all my life in Dallas. Grew very weary of walking out the door into a blast furnace.:angryfire

As far as the quality of the air conditioning in the Tracker, mine just doesn't like 105 degree heat in stop and go traffic, another reason we moved to Kentucky.:banghead: I finally discovered just this last June that the electric cooling fan for the condenser or coil, can't remember which part it is, is not turning near as fast as it should and the system doesn't work very effeciently in stop and go situations. Most of my driving these days is at highway speeds and it's no problem for cold air. They wanted $450.00:redface: for a new cooling fan unit so I passed.

Gumby ct, you hit the nail on the head (my head especially) when you said the brain doesn't like heat. That's one of the main reasons we moved from Dallas to Kentucky, just couldn't take the summers anymore and I was born and lived all my life in Dallas. Grew very weary of walking out the door into a blast furnace.:angryfire

As far as the quality of the air conditioning in the Tracker, mine just doesn't like 105 degree heat in stop and go traffic, another reason we moved to Kentucky.:banghead: I finally discovered just this last June that the electric cooling fan for the condenser or coil, can't remember which part it is, is not turning near as fast as it should and the system doesn't work very effeciently in stop and go situations. Most of my driving these days is at highway speeds and it's no problem for cold air. They wanted $450.00:redface: for a new cooling fan unit so I passed.


How bad is the summer is Texas? I have to go there in May to start at the school of SAM in Houston when I am done here in Indiana? (sorry to vear off topic).

Viperh, summers in Texas can be extreme. The worst months to be there are July, August and the first half of September. I lived in Dallas which is about 200 miles North of Huntsville where Sam Houston State is located and although tempratures can reach 105 F in Dallas, they reach that and more in Southeast Texas and it is much more humid there. Not unusual for it to be 100+ degrees with about 85 percent humidity and often the temprature doesn't drop below 90 degrees at night. Hope your airconditioning is working OK. Damn, I'm sweating just talking about it.:angryfire:angryfire