Bestop for the commando

When I bought my commando it came with the Best Top soft top. The P.O. had done all the install work before so I just had to deal with the putting back together.

I do like and recommend this top. It takes a bit of time to put up or down but once you get a system down it goes quick.

Anyone have any setup pictures or documents for installing a half top. I have all the parts just not sure where and how things bolt up.


Hard top
Soft top-up
Soft top-dwn

There are more photos here including a few setup pictures and one of my dad getting involved

 

Re: Best top for the commando

My error it's the Bestop.
I tried to fixed the subject line with no luck.

 

I have a soft top for my commando, but no hardware to hold it up....I would fab mine, but I don't know the measurements etc. Do you have specs so that I can make one? I don't even know where to get started. I have tried in vain to find the parts. It's getting really old having to pull a tarp over my rig when it looks like rain.

 

Oh, and the PO installed a half top on mine, but I have a roll bar to pull it over. He used a CJ 7 (?) bikini, and it snaps to the winshield. I will be happy to take some pics to show you. Will post them later on,

 

Do you need the specs for all the parts? (bows and brackets)

this is a paste from bestops's web site about parts.

"Can I get replacement parts for my Bestop soft top?

Yes. A majority of parts are available and can be purchased directly from Bestop or our distributors. You may call toll-free in the U.S.A. and Canada at 1-800-845-3567 (International Customers please call U.S.A. 303-465-1755) or email Bestop Customer Service for more information or contact any of our Where to Buy distributors."


here are the instructions for the commando tiger top install, it shows all the parts and gives a few (not enough) measurements.

The bows should be easy to make. but the front channel, vertical and horizontal rods might be rather tough.
http://www.bestop.com/installation_guides/51311.pdf

I can try to get some #'s tonight on the bow length and width.


of course this is all assuming you have the bestop and not the kayline (which I know nothing about other than I like how it keeps the slant look in the back)

 

Thanks. What I am looking for is the setup for the factory half top (metal one). Need to figure out how the baffle and side fillers all bolt into the jeep.

 

Oh ok- gotcha. Here's photos for kicks if anyone wants to try it. Thanks for the info from bestop- I have never seen that! I hope I can get the parts...

EDIT! Ha! Just ordered ALLL the parts (!!!!) from Bestop- total with shipping=128 bucks ! Yippee!

 

Yeah, the PO included the top, and it was still in the original box (!!!!) ....Lady at Bestop told me that those tops go for $700+...

 

Yes they do.
I do wish they made the windows replacable, mine are scratched to hell

 

I thought this whole time that I had a Bestop- come to find out that it's a Specialty Top from Denver Co. It has the slanted look like the Kayline. Looks like I'm going to have to fab the Bestop bows that I bought though. Everything else matches up.

 

Well, finished the job yesterday, and ended up having to modify the bestop bow kit that I ordered. Bestop "squares" their top off at the rear. This top is a Specialty Top Company top, and it incorporates the slant back- which I like better. I heard on another forum that Specialty Top is out of business, but I still see an addy for them on the web.

ANYWAY...I had ordered the bestop kit thinking that was what I had- Everything in the Bestop kit fit the Specialty kit, except the bows. First, I installed the front channel rail, and the front bow and door hardware surrounds. Front bow was too tight- I took 1/2 inch off to drop it down a little.

 

Then I started working on the rear bow- it was going to take a lot of fab work, as the angle of the bow is supposed to be about 45 degrees. As it was, I couldn't get the top over the bow at all. Started by chopping off three inches on each side and redrilling the holes for the shear pins. It wasn't enough, so I took off 2 more inches, then another inch before it finally fit "right". I do still have to redrill the snap holes on the underside of the bow, as Bestop had a different pattern on the snaps than Specialty did. Also, all the snap holes line up on the body- I think PO may have tried to install this top, but he didn't have the bows, so that's probably the reason that he never used this top- it didn't have the correct support.

 

I like the way this top looks. Rained last night, and not a drop inside- what a concept!

 

Thanks Sparky! Rest of the photos are here:

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg29/grouperboy/commando/

Since the company is definitely out of business- I guess I'm lucky to have a "brand new" Kayline/Specialty top! I definitely like the lines of this top, although it took quite a bit of guesswork and cutting to get the fit right on the bows. Wish Bestop or someone else would make this style! But I guess we're lucky to even have the option of buying one anyway, since our commandos are so "rare"...