How to Install the Bestop NX Glide soft top for Jeep JK's

[@fwschnaar3179]

Watched this over a year ago when I bought my Best Top... Going to try and finally install this weekend... First Video I went to look up was this one... I remembered it was the best one that I have seen out there ... Thanks again 😃👍

[@s2knott]

Big thank you, just picked up a used NX top with no instructions, this makes it easy!!!

[@MarkDiSciullo]

This video was very helpful and accurate. Great tips! Just installed mine today! Very psyched!

[@dumluk1984]

Great install vid. At 5:20 you mention pressing the top bows into place. Those items look like they will spoil the view out the roof when the canvas is pushed back. Can they be popped out of their spots and stored in the back for topless driving? if you put the top back up without those bows in place, will the top flap a bunch and be super noisy at road speeds? Thx, asking for a friend.

[@BruceHartleys]

THANK YOU! I would have been lost using ONLY the instruction manual. Your video was invaluable.

[@JP2-s1y]

Thanks for this video! I used it to install my Bestop and you were spot on!

[@jesse77wilson]

A PSA for those in the northern states right now, if you're going to install one of these, do it on a hot day. Soft tops are easier to install and get set up when they're warm.

[@kal7457]

Well done. I am on the fence about the Glide and specifically the install but this really helps. It seems more complex than it should be but looks doable.

[@Spiinken]

good video, great angles and description of whats being done. keep up the good work.

[@bleepinjeep]

Thanks!

[@PurgeGT]

Great job getting the top installed - didn't waste time in the video. You should probably show it up, down, and all the different options once installed. Those quick-release knuckles allow you to pop the entire assembly off. I would have also liked to see how it rides without the bows in it.

[@PurgeGT]

(not that it matters to me now - I got mine delivered yesterday and am about to find out ;) )

[@Mark-yy2py]

Just finished installing my Nx glide. The only hard part about it was installing those little tiny screws and nuts by the tension spring!🤨 ready for Summer!

[@KeepOnJeepinOn]

BleepinJeep, are you a psychic? I was just looking at the NX Glide yesterday

[@bleepinjeep]

It was an old jedi mind trick

[@BillyTpower]

Good video, I'm just ready to pull the trigger but want to see them in the rain, if possible can you head over to your buddies place with a camera and garden hose (no word play intended) and film the wet spots (again no word play intended) from inside around the vulnerable areas?

[@jdsaltz]

Great video. I'll have mine in this weekend and I'll be sure to follow this video for the install

[@jujin918]

Awesome video. I'm going to use it when I buy the bestop soft top

[@thecrowd182]

Great video! If I wanted to remove and reinstall my hardtop for the winter months, can the best top be removed without completely disassembling it?

[@brianmurphy5313]

Thanks for the video. I'm on the fence about ordering this top. Below are questions I have for Bestop about it. Maybe you could answer some of them? -are all issues resolved regarding: -window glides popping out of channel? -leaking? -exposed metal scraping paint off Jeep around tail gate corners (I read this in forums) -does it balloon any more than the factory soft top? -is it easy to remove the arch support in front once its installed? -if I want to put on a hardtop, what needs to be removed? -I drive on highway a lot with top on, but all windows off (bikini style). Will this top be sturdy or in any way flap around, or create a “parachute” effect? -if I have it fully open as convertible, does the folded top make a lot of noise in the back or shake a lot on highway?

[@chrishill5086]

Outstanding instructional video! Well done.

[@PurgeGT]

Followup to this top - I found the bows aren't required (maybe if you're running the top in the winter). you still get rain pouring down at the front of the door (as the "trough" ends on the inside of the door). Some serious dislikes: The back window doesn't roll well, so stowing it on a hot day is a pain. The mechanical issue I had with this top is that the unit doesn't sit well enough for that back bar (that goes into the clips above the tailgate) so it never sits right. Bestop sent me a new fabric to replace that (plus mine had low points where water pools on the top) but I hadn't gotten around to replacing the top (which is why I'm here - refresher on the install process to replace the fabric). We'll see if the situation gets better.

[@joserosario6081]

Thank you for this video just finished my soft top I have the same one. The video was perfect love it

[@russelljowett7258]

Great video Tyler. Well done.

[@bleepinjeep]

Thanks Russell!

[@shiloguthmiller1610]

You guys almost nailed it. The install portion was great but why not take another five minutes to demonstrate laying the whole thing down.

[@vgullotta]

Man, that is the top of my dreams for my 2 door.

[@bleepinjeep]

An interesting side point- my buddy reports about 1 mpg improvement in his fuel economy since switching to the fastback soft top.

[@neilrazdan1457]

This was a nice video. But here is my problem. I have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler JKU Unlimited Sport 4-door. Last week some SOB tried to breakin and destroyed the zipper of back softwindow panel, the insertion pin at the left bottom of the window, barely hanging from the ripped tape and on top middle the zip was bent.. So, I tried to get it repared by local upholsterer who does vehicles, boats, etc. My bad luck, that the day he was supposed to do it, the guy who sews zippers, fell, and broke his ancle. Now, he is out of commission till February 2024. So, I thought, fine, I'll bite the bullet, purchase a new soft top and have them install it for me. But here came Thanksgiving, and nobody wanted to do it. They were booked till end of the year. So, I thought, I'd do it myself. I watched a few youtube videos and I ordered a : Replace-A-Top for OEM hardware" for my jeep from Bestop. First, they sent a wrong soft top. Some Khaki top with built in rubber weather seal. Absolutely no way it was going to fit on my jeep hardware. So, I called and explained. After couple of days, another box showed up which seems to look same as mine, however, there ws a spring dangling with one side of the top and a steel plate on another cable. I had neither of these on my original soft top. I have not taken it out yet, because they say, if I open the box, returning it for exchange will cost me a percentage. And in the meantime, it rained over the weekend. I am so pulling my whatevere hair I''ve left on my head !! Why can things not be simple with Jeeps !!! Your video at least showed me what that cable spring was about, which according to instructions is supposed to connect to a bracket on second bow, but I am still wondering if I have any place on this "bracket", which to me seems the bracket which locks and holds the folding part of the top when you flip it to back. Any ideas???

[@onetruebob_tj]

Great video!

[@karka24]

Great video Tyler

[@bleepinjeep]

Thank you!

[@Garth2011]

A few decades back, Whitco was a good brand soft top for CJ's. Can't recall the other brand during that era but it was not as good as the Whitco. Is Whitco still around and keeping their product a quality item?

[@stevensoderlund8512]

This is only if you don’t have a soft top previously and are going from a hard top right? What if you have a soft top already? What do you need to purchase?

[@stevevets]

Hi, I've experienced leaks down the rear door surrounds. I believe it's from the rain flowing down the roof channels above the door surrounds into the area with the rubber weather stripping at the top of the rear windows. Have you or anyone else experienced this?

[@tammyellsworth292]

Are there any videos out here that show removal of one of these Bestops to put the hardtop back on for winter?

[@vincemargiotta3014]

im looking for the same thing. trying to decide what all i would have to detach because i don t want to take the whole thing back apart

[@vincemargiotta3014]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnvSqGaYnblrjZo just found one. its soo much easier than i thought it would be. granted you will have to take off the door surrounds and such too

[@GiraffeGreens]

Thanks!

[@bleepinjeep]

You bet! Thanks for the love!

[@aidannina494]

Mall rated! Edit: as handi corn would say.... BOOM MALL RATED

[@brianmurphy5313]

So I bought this top a month ago. I had to have it replaced now twice so far in the past month. I'm waiting now for Bestop to send me yet another (third) top which is supposed to be "from the new batch" (I was assured this about the previous 2 tops as well). I wish I didn't sell my factory soft top and frame, as this thing has been terrible. Most all of the troubles I had read about and had expressed to Bestop before buying it, all came true. Even after everyone at Bestop told told me these problems had been fixed etc etc. I'm afraid I'm gonna be stuck with this poorly designed and cheaply made top now, and it....really sucks. I had the original factory top which was tight fitting, didn't leak, zippers all worked fine, everything was solid. However the top was in the sailcloth fabric and I wanted to upgrade to the twill fabric. Rather than spending $2000 with Mopar/Jeep for a whole new top and frame combo, I was going to just buy the Bestop 'replace-a-top' twill for the factory frame. This is easy to do, and because Bestop's twill fabric is of good quality, this would be hard for Bestop to foul up, as they would be only supplying the fabric, and I would be using the original factory frame. When I called Bestop to order the fabric, one of their employees talked me into buying the (cool looking and cool seemingly* well designed) Trektop NX Glide top instead, assuring me all the problems which I had heard about and read about had been remedied; the problems which I had already read about in all the reviews and comments on youtube vids, the Jeep forums, Amazon reviews etc. Still, before purchasing, I then talked with several Bestop employees regarding all these issues (chiefly the windows popping out of the channels, but also the other complaints which I had read about at length), and I went over all concerns in detail with each employee. They knew of these issues, but all assured me the top is great now, all problems fixed. So I trusted them, and purchased it. The first 2 tops they sent me had the same problems, but each with its own unique 'quirks' on top of the windows popping out. Bestop will tell you the differences which occur from top to top is because they are all hand-stitched. I prefer handmade products generally, but not for a Jeep top, a Jeep which I drive nearly 40k miles in a year, and one which I often take the windows off/on, top up/down. While the glide system sounds great, and in the new JLs the glide system is great, the Bestop design and quality overall just is not even close to 'there'. I would like to support them because they have been around for so long, and they are the better of the aftermarket choices for tops, but the quality is not close to the factory. And no, Bestop's tops are not made in the same factories as Jeep/Mopar's, and while Bestop supplies them, the Mopar tops are much better quality. Get up close to one of Bestop's 'Supertop NX' and compare it to the factory tops. It's the same design, but look closer. Play around with the 2 and see the difference in quality. (digression: I wish Mopar would make the new JL design soft tops for JKs, or that Bestop would duplicate the JL design tops in both design and quality. People would buy them off the shelves. I saw and tried a JL soft top, and it was far superior all around, and the glide channels are far better made than Bestop's). Anyway, does anyone out there still have the Bestop NX Glide top, and find it ok after using it for more than 6 months to a year? Honest answers are appreciated. Thanks

[@MarkDiSciullo]

Hey Brian -- I've been following your comments on other Bestop NX Glide videos. Great feedback -- Thanks! - Have you been getting anything properly resolved by Bestop yet? - What general part of the country do you live in? Do you think any of your issues are due to cold weather? - Did they actually let you return a soft top after you fully assembled and installed? (Did you buy directly from Bestop? Quadratec?) I'm about to pull the trigger on either this NX Glide(twill) or the Supertop NX(twill). Every time I watch one of these video, I say to myself "ok I'm buying the NX Glide"...then I see one of your comments, and I hesitate. :)

[@brianmurphy5313]

Hey Mark. I am in Charleston SC now, so no the troubles aren't because of the cold. Bestop's service is good, especially if you get a supervisor on the phone. Bestop is so crazy busy trying to get the Jl tops all done now that I think maybe they haven't put their all into resolving these problems in the NX Glide. They are letting me return it, of course, because these defects are of the product and nothing to do with the installation. In addition to the stuff I mentioned above, the clip channel on driver's side for the rear window is about to break due to the tension of the rear window. This has been another common problem with these. There's a recent review on youtube by a guy who got one as a 'tester', and he documents many of these same problems with the top. If you want a glide top with better structure for the side window channels, the NX Pro is a good option except that you need tools to take the rear window off of that one. And also it doesn't go back into a convertible, but only 'bikini' mode. And in bikini mode, the thick plastic molding is there on rear corners with that one. If you decide to go with the Supertop, then I suggest paying a bit more for the Mopar/factory model. It's the same design, but the quality is just better all around.

[@MarkDiSciullo]

Thanks for your reply Brian. It's really helpful. I just really want that NX Glide to work, but the feedback is definitely giving me pause.

[@brianmurphy5313]

Me too. I'm still waiting for the third top to get here from Bestop. Right now both my side windows are popping out of the channels. If they would just refine the product the way they have for the JL soft top, it would be great.

[@MarkDiSciullo]

Holy crap...the windows are popping out? Did the whole top have to go back or do they just need to replace the side windows? (i.e. are the problems you are having contained to just the side/back windows?) I hear ya about them just fixing the freakin' issues. I know it's a hassle, but definitely keep taking advantage of the lifetime warrantee. Nothing get's a companies attention more then having their product being returned over and over again. ugh...I really want this top to work. It looks really cool and has the right options I want for a summertime top.

[@08grampa]

I just had mine installed by a Jeep dealer. They charged me for 3.5 hours!

[@seansmithjr7497]

I think I have the same top I just got the top and the Jeep from my uncle I think I’m missing parts

[@jasunto]

I really want this top. I have the Trektop NX currently and want the full open capability. I hate that it adds the bumpy bows to the top. My current one sits pretty flat and smooth from front to back. Do you have any side shots from various heights to see the roofline?

[@bleepinjeep]

I had some photos of it, but there's no way really to post them. Try doing an internet search for images and I'll bet somebody out there has what you're looking for.

[@FairlyHonest]

Early bird gets the worm 🐛

[@tomd1939]

Fairly Honest Off-Road ...but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese, lol

[@marcmontgomery2113]

Have you had any leaking issues? I installed mine a few months back, and during a good rain, get leaks behind both rear doors, with water channeling in from the rear door surrounds. Not terrible, but enough to piss you off.

[@bleepinjeep]

hmmm...no leaking reported from my buddy as of yet. He's had it in a couple rain storms and through the car wash a couple times with no leaking. Have you called Bestop and talked with their tech support guys? Maybe they have a fix? If you figure it out, come back and comment and let us know how it went!

[@marcmontgomery2113]

Haven't called as of yet. Just put some weather stripping in the channels on both sides to see if that helps. hand washed and sprayed it pretty good this afternoon, and so far so good, but do plan on calling just to see if its a common issue or maybe, just maybe I installed incorrectly? Thanks for the reply.

[@KevinHeiderKJ]

Anyone else having trouble with the sides of the roof above the rear doors going down all the way? mine have a gap right where it says bestop

[@MWoods-rs4wp]

Having issues with side windows coming out!!!!

[@MWoods-rs4wp]

Took me five hours non stop to assemble

[@frankpryor8308]

KEWL..👍. and Thx

[@vaioskaliakoudas6388]

...instead if we're livin' in the UK!!! ;-)

[@nac4965]

everything was the same until the brackets- mine dont.look like yours. says bestop 2015 SO: 911701 11/04/15 100012915

[@Tiktalkrandom]

Bleeping jeep, cheap jeep XJ!

[@SamSam-ke9zy]

You use to buy a Jeep with less parts than that box has. o.o

[@bleepinjeep]

This was certainly a lot more complicated than my old YJ top used to be.

[@Borderline113]

Sometimes I wish I had a newer Jeep to take advantage of these tops. All the zipper fuss he's talking about is way too real. Looking at you YJ....

[@aidannina494]

J B old jeeps will out last all carb is best off all I love yjs

[@bleepinjeep]

I got so sick of fighting the zippers on my old YJ, I bought a used hardtop and threw my soft top in the garbage.

[@PurgeGT]

Even a 2012 JKU soft top (diamond black) can be a pain in the ass. Wash the zippers twice a season, and use wax (even lip balm ;) ) to keep it moving well.

[@redxj4968]

Real jeeps tops stay on

[@flow2tech]

Red XJ bs!

[@larryalexander4833]

Lote of plastic for what stuff costes is not to my like in.

[@gdazey1]

Where the fuck is the Tj guy. I don't want to see mini vans get soft tops.

[@Khorsathedark]

Great vid Tyler.

[@bleepinjeep]

Thanks!