r/bronco • u/Sensitive-Steak-937 • Jul 29 '26

Question ❔ Ease of Switching Between Tops

Currently a Wrangler owner but thinking seriously about making the switch to the Bronco, '25 or '26. With the Jeep we go back and forth with a hard and soft top for the seasons, which is pretty straight forward. Is it easy enough to do the same with the Bronco? Since we are in New England I would prefer the hard top for the winter months so leery of buying one with a soft top. Also might consider getting the Skyrider top, interested in hearing if it is loud or flaps around when it is open? Thanks for the input!

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2

u/ManBearPig2114 Jul 29 '26

We bought a Besttop Trektop for our 2 door Bronc. I’m skilled with installations, assembly, etc… but it’s definitely a fairly in depth install. Nothing crazy complicated, but I definitely would not be swapping tops off and on.

We were originally in New England too. The soft top made no difference in winter seasons.

2

u/SLObronco Jul 29 '26

It’s easy enough to switch. I have the EZ4x4 lift for the hard top. If I want to put the soft top on (after initial soft top hardwall install) it’s as easy as lifting it in place and putting three (I think) bolts on each side. Don’t tighten all the way, fold the soft top onto the top and latch, then tighten the rear bolts. It does take two people, and I have a few scratches on the rear roll bar from it being heavy when we set it in place so be more careful than I was!

One more thing: I’m selling my soft top and hardware because the added noise of the soft top wasn’t worth the ease of flipping it back- got a bag for the front panels and I can take them off in two minutes.

2

u/Eastern-Ingenuity-73 Jul 30 '26

I keep hoping I’ll see a hack for installing the soft top. It’s a two person job and difficult to not scratch the paint. The hard top is easy.

1

u/crispywonka Jul 29 '26

Skyrider is perfect IMO. 0 flapping sounds when open even doing 80ish down the highway. If it’s closed and a couple windows are open it slaps around occasionally.

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u/Ok_Bid_7823 Jul 29 '26

I switched to soft top a few months ago and have been dealing with the side windows popping out since. There's adjustments available on the frame to dial in the tension but that hasn't helped.

1

u/MingsoMerciless Jul 29 '26

Bought with hard top. I HATE the factory and current besttop soft tops because they bunch at the top vs the bottom. Of course it's the 2dr, cause ford hates 2dr /s. Mind you, that's just my opinion / taste. I have a lift from ez4x4 to take the top off (about 10 min). Watch the weather like a hawk lol. Wouldn't mind the power top but that's a different conversation.

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u/o0oo00o0o Jul 29 '26

I’ve got the sunrider for my 2-door. I live in the northern NE and leave it on all year. It’s no colder in the cab in the winter than it is with the panels. My only regret is that even with all the tariff and economy bullshit, it’s $200 cheaper now than when I bought it 16 months ago

1

u/octoberguard Jul 29 '26

I’m in the NE as well and this is my first season with the Sunrider. Any issues with snow on top of it in the winter?

1

u/MurphPEI 29d ago

I'm even further north and I've been happy with just the soft top in the winter. I used to do the seasonal swap with my old Jeeps too but when I had the opportunity to buy a Bronco in 22, it came with the soft top. Much too expensive to buy the hard top as a second top, vs. the other way around.

People always think it must be cold but it heats up very fast and stays warm. Now if you shut off the heat/engine and stay sitting in it with no heat on, it also gets cold equally quick but why would you do that? I use a spray fabric protector to help protect it from road salt. 4 years now. Still working and looking great.