MESH Bikini Top Recommendations?

[KungFu392]

@KungFu392 what is your experience with installing the Alien Shade? I’ve read quite a few reviews with pretty difficult installations and even some people hurting themselves.

Well, maybe I'm not a good person to ask because I find those reviews comical. I picture the Three Stooges trying to install the things when I read stuff like that. It was incredibly easy. I did NOT have to loosen the windshield or any of that nonsense and I did not hurt myself. But then again... I'm not a moron and I know how to work on vehicles.

That said... I am not a "novice" by any stretch of the imagination. I am a former GM engineer (Service Engineer, not "vehicle designer/Engineer") and I owned a Custom/Speed shop for 5 years after I retired from GM... So, take that for what it is. That said, I do know what is "dificult" even for a layperson and this installation is NOT it.

My thought is this: If you can't handle installing the Alien Sunshade, you probably should sell your Jeep and just Uber everywhere from this day forward.

Harsh? Maybe. True? Definitely.

 

[dog]

Yo @bigfishbobby - check out this thread from when I was looking at alllll the different shade options!

Spoiler - I went with the JTops and it's super rad. Highly recommend for the pure engineering behind it, including paint protection, headroom, and quality of materials. Second place in my eyes was Spiderwebshade, which was the original bungee shade brand, and they've made some pretty neat improvements over the years, stay active in the community, and have great stuff. Everyone else is a straight up knockoff of Spiderwebshade, and personally I wouldn't support any of the knockoff brands who blatantly stole their idea.

JTops on the other hand, is a really innovative product - truly a ground-up redesign of the shade concept. Extra credit for adding a crossmember to the top, ZERO flutter even fully topless and doorless/halfdoors. I take my hardtop off every other week, and run topless for weeks at a time, and it's seamless and easy. Really, really can't recommend it enough. I posted a bunch of before/after pics in that thread I linked above, and would be happy to take more pics if you're looking for specific shots!

 

[Viking Jeeper]

Yo @bigfishbobby - check out this thread from when I was looking at alllll the different shade options!

Spoiler - I went with the JTops and it's super rad. Highly recommend for the pure engineering behind it, including paint protection, headroom, and quality of materials. Second place in my eyes was Spiderwebshade, which was the original bungee shade brand, and they've made some pretty neat improvements over the years, stay active in the community, and have great stuff. Everyone else is a straight up knockoff of Spiderwebshade, and personally I wouldn't support any of the knockoff brands who blatantly stole their idea.

JTops on the other hand, is a really innovative product - truly a ground-up redesign of the shade concept. Extra credit for adding a crossmember to the top, ZERO flutter even fully topless and doorless/halfdoors. I take my hardtop off every other week, and run topless for weeks at a time, and it's seamless and easy. Really, really can't recommend it enough. I posted a bunch of before/after pics in that thread I linked above, and would be happy to take more pics if you're looking for specific shots!

I will have to take a closer look. I have the bestop bikini but it flaps like crazy.

 

[bigfishbobby]

Yo @bigfishbobby - check out this thread from when I was looking at alllll the different shade options!

Spoiler - I went with the JTops and it's super rad. Highly recommend for the pure engineering behind it, including paint protection, headroom, and quality of materials. Second place in my eyes was Spiderwebshade, which was the original bungee shade brand, and they've made some pretty neat improvements over the years, stay active in the community, and have great stuff. Everyone else is a straight up knockoff of Spiderwebshade, and personally I wouldn't support any of the knockoff brands who blatantly stole their idea.

JTops on the other hand, is a really innovative product - truly a ground-up redesign of the shade concept. Extra credit for adding a crossmember to the top, ZERO flutter even fully topless and doorless/halfdoors. I take my hardtop off every other week, and run topless for weeks at a time, and it's seamless and easy. Really, really can't recommend it enough. I posted a bunch of before/after pics in that thread I linked above, and would be happy to take more pics if you're looking for specific shots!

@dog fabulous write up that is highly appreciated. My only reservation is the fact that I really prefer the look of a 2 piece and it seems JTOP has avoided that set up. It may sound ridiculous, but I think if I look up with a one piece attached, it will feel like I just put a tarp over my Jeep that lacks custom fit, particularly with how it will drape over the center.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

@dog fabulous write up that is highly appreciated. My only reservation is the fact that I really prefer the look of a 2 piece and it seems JTOP has avoided that set up. It may sound ridiculous, but I think if I look up with a one piece attached, it will feel like I just put a tarp over my Jeep that lacks custom fit, particularly with how it will drape over the center.

To me the only style in the JL that gives enough headroom is the one piece. The two piece design will ride at the center vertically of the roll bar.

 

[dog]

Totally hear you on the 2-piece @bigfishbobby - the three additional things that sold me on the one-piece are as follows:

1. Like @Viking Jeeper mentioned, the one piece sits over the top of the bar, giving the best interior volume and headspace.
2. Since it's over the bar, there are zero gaps around the edges and between the center bar - something that did bother me when I had the bungee style shade on my JK (sun sliced in through gaps onto my bald head )
3. The JTops protects the paint and plastic exposed on the center bar and roll cage edges.

One last thing to note, is regarding the tarp-over-the-jeep effect: 99% of the time when anyone is looking at the jeep it's from another vehicle or from standing height, and the shade is pretty much invisible when viewed from edge-on. I have people get in the jeep when it's topless and say "whoa it has shade!"... they didn't even see it until they get inside, haha.

End of the day you can achieve most of what you're looking for with any of the options!

 

[TRMFAM]

Will the Jtops work with the Sky One Touch top?

I was looking at the hotheads mesh...I do not plan to ever take the top off but opening the sot would like some shade.

Edit, I emailed them and they do NOT work with SOT. Carry on...

 

[Mooserat]

@KungFu392 what is your experience with installing the Alien Shade? I’ve read quite a few reviews with pretty difficult installations and even some people hurting themselves.

The Spiderweb JL4D was easy

 

[Jeepherz]

For future reference if anyone finds this thread- I've used both Alien and Spidey on my JK. I found that the Alien faded much faster. I ordered the Spidey for my 392 and love it. They don't use the "spider" balls anymore. It's a little more difficult to install but its very clean. No flutter- not that I've ever had any. They also have "paint" protection which is basically a clear 3M label. LOL
Someone asked about what the purpose is A) No sunburns if you are on the trail. The UV protection does work. B) The flesh on your forearm will not be burned off every time you make contact with the center console. It gets very hot in SoCal so that's a big improvement.
I bought the Bestop Sunrider which I LOVE. And the Spidey. They do work together. I think I will actually forgo my planned soft top purchase now that I have them both. I've found the 4 door to be so much windier that I don't think I'd like it. Never thought I'd be a hard top Jeep owner......

 

[@WhiteBronze392]

I ordered the hotheads before I stumbled on this thread and didn’t see it mentioned. Anyone use it?

Edit: I kind of regret not going with one of the two piece options as its really for the kids so I could just leave the back seat covered.

Edit the Edit: Maybe not it looks like both of the two pice options will not work with SOT