CJ5 Soft tops

Fellas (and ladies),

I am picking up a 74 CJ5 and need to purchase a soft top for it. I would love to find a Whitco but the only I found was $1500 and Whitco or not I am not a sucker. I have used a Kayline on a previous 74 CJ5 and it was ok. I am thinking Bestop Tigertop for this rig but have never used a TT before and was looking for some opinions on it. If someone can suggest a better top let me know. Also if you have a whitco top in good shape (LOL) and are willing to sell it I AM interested.

 

Why do you want a Whitco? They really weren't quality tops, they were inexpensive-made-for-the-masses stuff. The "best" top available nowadays is arguably the Bestop Supertop. They can be found for $600-700 if you look hard enough.

I lived in Colo. Springs when Whitco was in business on Garden of the Gods road. They had a special on their "RoughRider" tops for about $249.00 if I remember right - all my buddies and myself rushed right over and bought one directly from their facility to save on shipping. That top lasted most of us about 5 years or so before the zippers and stitching started going out.

 

Does anybody have any experience with the "new" Kayline tops made by Specialty Top Co.? Are they any good? As good as the original Kaylines? I think my original top was a Kayline, and it was still in pretty good shape after 30 years of storage, it was just too dirty to clean up good enough to use on a fresh restoration and the windows were funky, but not cracked up. See avatar photo.

When the time comes, I was planning on getting one of those, mainly because they're made here in Denver, not far from my office, and I could just waddle in and get one from the factory.

 

The reason I want a Whitco is because I reside in the camp of make it as original as possible. If Whitco is the top that it came with then thats what I want on it. I am sure they probably were not the best top but whatever. I guess the consesus is go with the Supertop? What is the difference between the TT and the ST. Also how long has Kayline been made by Specialty Top? I had one around 8 or 9 years ago, it was kind of shotty I thought, but not terrible.

 

Supertop - just installed one. I had a few problems with it: the vertical extrusion that clips on at the door hardware catch was different lengths each side.. one side about 27.25", the other 26.25". I called their tech support and the guy said it definitely should be the longer one. Well, I cut the longer one to match the shorter one and it fits now.

Also, the doors don't fit my stock body door opening contours. The doors are too big and it keeps them from closing tightly. One side fits better than other. But they are an improvement over the TT.

But I'm coming from a tiger top which had rotted out. The supertop is much better. Doors are better.. looks like windows are replaceble, them dang snaps are gone (except for tailgate).

 

I always liked the look of the Whitco top that came on my 80 CJ-5 and spent quite some time browsing the net looking for one but no luck. My original frame work was still good so the closest thing was the Bestop Replace-A Top. Not the best but close. I think they could improve on the doors.

 

supertop works for me. fitted just fine... about the only thing on the Jeep that did...

 

Does anyone like the Kayline tops?

 

I believe Whitco did make the best top during the years of 1976-1986. Their top fit the best, their denim colors were consistent, and they were a quantam leap ahead of Bestop at that time; Bestop was always in the rear view mirror IMO.
Kayline tops didn't fit that well during the early 80's, and due to other problems with their line, we stopped selling their product for 76 and later models.
Funny, Bestop seems to be the one that has survived thru the years.

 

This place says they have Whitco tops, pricey as hell though.
http://www.austinjeeps.com/tops.html

 

I had a Levis tan Whitco top on my '73 CJ. Very nice top; considered the best available at that time. Long ago though (ca '76).

 

Specialty Top Co.
http://www.specialtytopco.com/
What they show for '55-'75 CJ5...in several colors...

 

Removable side curtains are nice. I have them on the TJ and it's nice to take them off out of harm's way.

I got a new in the box Tiger Top with the parts Jeep I bought that I just put on recently. The top fits pretty nice, but the doors don't fit well at all. They windows have to be rolled up, which I'm sure will scratch them in no time. The doors have to be lifted when opening, otherwise the pivot bar hits the body and will wobble out the hole real quickly because of it. They don't seal well and are too short. Looking at the Specialty Top above, it looks like the doors are short too. Here are a few pics of mine.




Jim

 

The STC top on the yellow Jeep above has a white bead around the door, that makes it look like a gap.