How Do I Determine Which Upper Door Skins Match the Soft Top of My Jeep

Question:

Wanted to know which soft top this is compatible to. Will the sunrider work with this window? Will pavement ends work as well?

asked by: Richard

Expert Reply:

The Bestop Element Upper Doors for 1976-1995 Jeep # B5179515 is a universal fit with all aftermarket Jeep tops, so it will work with both the Bestop Sunrider tops and Pavement Ends soft tops. The real key is determining if you have the original soft top hardware or if you've got an aftermarket setup. I've attached one of our help articles, as well as a photo, to help show some of the differences of the soft tops.

You've maybe noticed that some CJs and YJs with soft tops will have the squared off corners on the upper doors, where others will have the rounded corners on the upper door (like the upper door skin you're looking at). The factory original and OEM replace-a-top hardware have a panel that the top attaches up and down right along the door jam area of the Jeep and needs a flat, squared off upper door skin to keep a good seal from the weather. Aftermarket systems like the Supertop have a curved/rounded door area and panel that is matched by the round doors.

In the attached picture I circled the different looks of the hardware to help show you the difference. As long as you've got one, or will be adding an aftermarket top like a Sunrider or Pavement Ends top, the Bestop Element Upper Doors # B5179515 will for for you. If your current upper doors have a squared off end at the back of the door panel, you've got a factory style top and you'll instead want to use something like the Bestop # B5178201.

If you can let me know which hardware system you've got on your 1982 CJ-7, I can recommend a specific soft top that will work for you, or a completely new top with hardware.

expert reply by: Erik B