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Kayline VS. Bestop

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by JohnyJeep, Sep 26, 2005.

  1. Sep 26, 2005
    JohnyJeep

    JohnyJeep BLOWING A XING NEAR U@2AM

    Beautiful Cody WY
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    513
    Does anyone have any experience/comments on the Kayline soft tops, that Herm sells?
    I am not all that happy with the quality of the Bestop (Tigertop), and was wondering if anyone has tried the Kaylines. Since they are $200 cheaper, that is also a big plus. I also like the paddle style door handles on the Kayline. I always seem to catch my pants or shirt on the Bestop strikers. :mad:
    Sorry if this is in the wrong section. It didn't seem technical.
     
  2. Sep 26, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Moved to tech. I'm sure others will have the same question or be interested as well.

    FWIW. Worth has an STC top on 615 and likes it.

    [cupping hands to mouth]Worth!!![/cupping hands to mouth]

    MOP and I just had that discussion yesterday about the elbow biters. The fact that the Whitco on the orange Jeep is like a STC top is appealing to me. :D
     
  3. Sep 26, 2005
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Sep 21, 2002
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    I used to hit my elbow on the Bestop catches. Ouch! Don't know about the Kayline tops other than the fact I liked the old ones when they were Kayline brand.
     
  4. Sep 26, 2005
    JohnyJeep

    JohnyJeep BLOWING A XING NEAR U@2AM

    Beautiful Cody WY
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    That's another one. Does Whitco still make tops? I couldn't find them anywhere.
     
  5. Sep 26, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    No outta business in the mid-late 80's.
     
  6. Sep 26, 2005
    Project71-5

    Project71-5 BACON

    Gypsum, CO
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    Sep 24, 2002
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    I have scars on both my elbow from hitting the strikers on my Supertop. The top is nice but there were some features that I really liked on the Kayline that was on my Jeep when I bought it. I really liked the lower windows on the doors and the way the doors latched.
     
  7. Sep 26, 2005
    JohnyJeep

    JohnyJeep BLOWING A XING NEAR U@2AM

    Beautiful Cody WY
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    Sounds like the Kayline might be the better and cheaper choice. Thanks for the input.
     
  8. Sep 29, 2005
    JohnyJeep

    JohnyJeep BLOWING A XING NEAR U@2AM

    Beautiful Cody WY
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  9. Sep 29, 2005
    Gump

    Gump Old Timer

    Bethel, CT
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    Not a CJ, but I had a "Sailcloth" Bestop on the YJ. Really nice and I could hear the radio at 65 MPH! I think it was actually warmer on those below "0" days too. Too bad they don't offer it for CJs
     
  10. Sep 29, 2005
    michigan_pinstripes

    michigan_pinstripes I'm not lost, I'm wandering

    Clarkston MI...
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    I have one of each. On the 2a's at least, the Kayline (now Specialty Top) has a nice old school look where the Best Top looks more modern. Jerry bought one from Herm about 6 months ago --still in the box :rofl:
     
  11. Sep 29, 2005
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
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    The best feature about the Kayline/STC top is the piece of aluminum channel for the front of the top. You slide the frontb edge of the top into the channel... then the channel has another side that fits EASILY into place in the windshield steel channel. No feeding/squeezing the top edge into the windshield channel every time(that's usually a 15 minute ordeal for me with mt TT :mad: )

    I helped my buddy BroncoJohnny install a brand new STC soft top on his '69 EB last weekend. It had the same nice aluminum channel piece that my old Kayline top had. His EB top also had a rail system, not snaps, looked great. I'll get some pics of it at the Tioga run. Not sure if STC is offering the rail system for Jeep tops. If so, it would be worthwhile, it gave the EB top a nice snug fit, clean lines.
     
  12. Sep 29, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    From what I gathered looking at STC's page they offer the rail system but for later Jeeps. I couldn't see that it was offered for the Early Jeeps. Perhaps I just missed it?
     
  13. Sep 29, 2005
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Right Sparky - not offered on the early jeeps. Though when I talked to them a few months ago (when I bought my top) they were thinkin about it.
     
  14. Sep 29, 2005
    Gump

    Gump Old Timer

    Bethel, CT
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    Jun 1, 2004
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    You can buy just the channel separate ($15.) but then you would need the top tailored. It's held onto the windshield top with sheet metal screws. I thought about it for a bikini for the 2A.
     
  15. Sep 29, 2005
    JohnyJeep

    JohnyJeep BLOWING A XING NEAR U@2AM

    Beautiful Cody WY
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    Argh Now I'm more cornfused than ever. R)R)

    I like the paddle door hadles on the Kayline, but I prefer the rail mount system, and the 2 piece doors of the Supertop. Plus I like the fact that the windows zip out on the Supertop. Seems like rollup windows get all scratched up when you wheel with them rolled up, or at least they did on the Tigertop I had. Plus its a PITA to open and close the doors with the windows rolled down, because the widows hit the door strikers.
    Are the Kaylines rollup windows or do they zip out?
    I figure with the Zip out windows, I could store them in enclosed round cylinders (my bumper tubes) to keep the dirt off of them when wheeling.
     
  16. Sep 29, 2005
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    I tell ya...if they wanted to put a bit of $$ into updating their ECJ offering to include the rail-type mounting and removeable windows, they could kill the Supertop. The ST is nice and all, but has it's drawbacks. It's just that theres no competitive product.

    Johnny - on the ST if you have the door windows down the lower edge of the window hangs lower than the door, so you still have to reach in and flip up the window to close the door.

    I was never able to get the doors to close by just flicking them - I had to tweak them so bad to close all the gaps I always had to push on it to close.

    I also wouldn't recommend rolling up the windows and sticking them in your bumper - if you want to take them with, slip them flat under the back seat with big soft rags in between. It's the rolling that kills them - if they aren't totally clean they will scratch.
     
  17. Sep 29, 2005
    JohnyJeep

    JohnyJeep BLOWING A XING NEAR U@2AM

    Beautiful Cody WY
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    I agree totally. It seems that no one wants to bother with that though. To us it seems like there is a huge market, but I guess to the bean counters, there's not.

    I understand that part. More than likely though, I would run without the top part of the door most of the time. Especially on the trail. On the TT or the Kayline, I wouldn't have that option, except removing the door completly which is a PITA to slide in and out of those little windshield brackets. My old TT was starting to get torn up little from doing that so often.

    I would imagine they all fit like that, even the STC's. I know my TT was like that as well.

    Thats a good idea. I figure when wheeling though, I will most likely leave the top half of the doors/windows at camp, or remove doors completely, depending on weather.
    Plus in the end, I like the looks of the ST better than the TT. Personal preference I guess.
    It just wasn't till I stumbled across the ST on ebay for $590 that I realized maybe I could have my cake and eat it too. Everywhere else I looked for ST's they were closer to $700, and I just didn't want to pay that much. But for 590 I will reconsider it. :D
     
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