Are you a soft top or a hardtop kind of person? It’s something you’ve probably never pondered until you purchased a Jeep Wrangler. For us, we’ve always enjoyed the lightweight and ease-of-removal of the soft top, but never cared for the zippers and easy-to-damage windows. The hardtop, on the other hand, offers greater security, lower wind noise and increased practicality when loading cargo in the back. The major downfall of the hardtop is the weight and repair expense associated for if and when it happens to get damaged off-road.
Like many of you, we wanted something in-between. Thankfully, Bestop knew we were not the only ones looking for a best-of-both-worlds top and created the Trektop Pro Hybrid. As the name implies, it’s a hybrid top that combines the convenience of a hardtop with the freedom of a lightweight soft top.
With our stock soft top on our 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited starting to show age, we decided to invest in the Trektop Pro Hybrid. We’ve broken down our review in the video above, and highlighted some of standout features in the article below.
In order to support the back glass and unique side windows, Bestop uses a support structure that attaches to the Jeeps tub and factory rollbar. While you can run the soft top as a Safari Bikini top, you’ll keep the shown supports in place with the windows removed.
Bestop uses its premium twill series fabric for the Trektop Pro Hybrid, which is one of its most durable and wrinkle-resistant. We found the fabric has been easy to clean after ‘wheeling and comparable to the OE top in terms of wind noise on the highway.
The absolute biggest draw to this top for us was the back glass. We’re constantly in and out of our cargo area, and the gas-strut supported back glass makes it easy and convenient to use. There are even appointments for mounting a rear wiper and hooking up the built-in defroster if you feel so inclined.
Bestop built in its Sun Rider feature to the top, which allows you to quickly fold back the front half of the top. The crossbar you see is designed to ensure water doesn’t puddle overhead.
The biggest complaint we ever hear from people about their top is that it leaks. Bestop did a great job with the seals throughout the Trektop Pro Hybrid. This Jeep is stationed in southeastern North Carolina, which gets plenty of rainfall. To date, we haven’t experienced any leaks.
If you like to haul your pets in the back, or just want a little extra air flow, you’ll appreciate the screen mesh behind the tinted glass on the side windows. For those looking for a tidy way to store the rear windows, you can order Bestop’s optional storage system.
Currently, the Trektop Pro Hybrid is available for the 2007 to 2017 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. Without question, it makes working and living out of the Jeep far superior to a standard soft top. For those looking for an ideal compromise between a hardtop and soft top, it’s hard to beat this option.
