SOFT-Top ??? Or HARDTOP….WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Tahotrvlr

Mar 23, 2023

What you need to know before taking the Soft-top vs Hartop plunge… Bronco Nation wrote an incredibly astute, well written article… Regrettably, it really isn’t an either/or decision (Soft top or Hardtop). It is much more of a financial one….

The hardtop when ordering on the build and price is $1895.00…. However, currently (if they were available) a Ford OEM hard top costs $16,000.00.
(This is the current order and wait price at my dealership in CA)

That is not cheap…an aftermarket preordered (as in currently unavailable) hardtop is estimated at around $5,250.00 plus shipping.
I spoke with a Ford executive at KOH and he said they don’t have any idea when the “after purchase” hardtops would be available… which also needs to be considered when ordering.

IMO, both tops would be my choice … summer soft-top and winter hardtop…. But that 16k figure kind of makes that out of reach for a current soft top owner….

Regardless… it is important that we are aware of the exorbitant 16k hidden cost of an “after the fact” OEM Hard top when ordering a 50-60K Soft-top Bronco

I realize my input here might not be popular in Ford circles… but the truth is the truth… I love my Bronco and support the BN/Ford community wholeheartedly.

Deano Bronc

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Mar 23, 2023

I really enjoy my softie in the summer but winter cold is not so good.

Rally Tops has this one:

https://www.rallytops.com/shop/ford-bronco-hardtop-4-door/

It looks pretty good and I might order this.
Wonder exactly how difficult it's going to be to take off the soft and install the hard top....

'21 / BB / 4 Dr / 2.3 / Softie / Antimatter Blue

Deano Bronc, Tahotrvlr

Mar 23, 2023

soft top in Colorado winter with weekend mountain drives are not bad. Plus, soft tops don't have to worry so much about hail damage.

recent online posts have eluded to hard tops cracking, including the V2s. It is also a bit more cumbersome to go front-seat-topless. Just a bit, not a lot.

frdfan

Mar 23, 2023

BigBender
I really enjoy my softie in the summer but winter cold is not so good.

Rally Tops has this one:

https://www.rallytops.com/shop/ford-bronco-hardtop-4-door/

It looks pretty good and I might order this.
Wonder exactly how difficult it's going to be to take off the soft and install the hard top....

Checked with Better Business Bureau on Rally Tops … They scored a B- and are not accredited….what red flagged me was the absence of an address on their web site… which probably doesn’t mean anything…

Any way they have mixed reviews as would any company…

Great to know there is a reasonably priced fiberglass top other than the cost prohibitive OEM Ford unit.

Customers have stated they have a 7 week turnaround which they managed to meet.

Thanks for the tip!!!😀😀😀😀

Deano Bronc, BigBender

Mar 23, 2023

nomnom
soft top in Colorado winter with weekend mountain drives are not bad. Plus, soft tops don't have to worry so much about hail damage.

recent online posts have eluded to hard tops cracking, including the V2s. It is also a bit more cumbersome to go front-seat-topless. Just a bit, not a lot.

Good point on the hail damage. I actually prefer the soft top. Before I ordered, I drove both the 2 dr hardtop and 4 dr soft top, I thought the soft top was quieter...it didn't have all the creaks, pops and rattles that the 2dr hardtop had.

22 BB 4dr SAS 2.7 Mid Pkg Hot Pepper Red, Delivered 8/25
Previous 2019 F150 Ruby Red SCrew 3.5 Eco, XLT Sport/FX4 302A

nomnom, Tahotrvlr

Mar 23, 2023

Unless its been constrained you can order BOTH tops when building your Bronco for about $2600… (4 door, of course)

Riding OB1, 23 4- door Outer Banks, SAS, MOD, MIC, Lux, Ordered 10/20/22, delivered 1/13/23

Tahotrvlr

Mar 23, 2023

I believe no one here in BN has an aftermarket hardtop. I'll believe it when I see it!

Tahotrvlr

Mar 24, 2023

Bluestreak57
Unless its been constrained you can order BOTH tops when building your Bronco for about $2600… (4 door, of course)

As stock units have been coming into the dealer that I bought mine from, I'm seeing quite a few 4drs they ordered with the dual top option, so I'm not sure if it's currently a constraint.

22 BB 4dr SAS 2.7 Mid Pkg Hot Pepper Red, Delivered 8/25
Previous 2019 F150 Ruby Red SCrew 3.5 Eco, XLT Sport/FX4 302A

Mar 24, 2023

Dirty dog 4x4 sells a softop liner that better insulates the cabin. My bronco is toasty warm. It also mitigates the road noise a tiny bit at highway speeds (70+ mph).

I highly recommend it for anyone that lives in cold climate and struggle making the rear seats warmer.

I go back and forth about the tops. They both have a lot of problems. If I switched from soft top to hard top, would I get any more piece of mind?

Probably not.

Mar 24, 2023

I have a softee and its honestly fine. Its louder than I would like above 80MPH, but its within tolerable limits below that. I park outside and it warms up quick if I remote start it. I have not had any issues keeping it warm while driving.

We have had a couple of warm days and the ability to flip the top back is pretty nice. I anticipate being in safari mode full time by may and am really looking forward to it. I mean I get it, the hard top has a load of functionality, but life is short. Enjoy those warm days with the top down while you can.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

Mar 24, 2023

#10

TechnicalDisaster
Dirty dog 4x4 sells a softop liner that better insulates the cabin. My bronco is toasty warm. It also mitigates the road noise a tiny bit at highway speeds (70+ mph).

I highly recommend it for anyone that lives in cold climate and struggle making the rear seats warmer.

I go back and forth about the tops. They both have a lot of problems. If I switched from soft top to hard top, would I get any more piece of mind?

Probably not.

Dirty Dog looks looks good. I’ll probably add this to my ST if no aftermarket HT, materializes by the end of the year.

Mar 25, 2023

#11

I would like to find a 2dr softtop that would fold back like the 4dr has. I had an Isuzu Amigo with a softtop that would fold down. So easy to put up if it rains. Really miss that thing!

2022 Bronco Black Diamond 2dr 2.3L manual Hot Pepper Red. Reserved 8/7/20. Ordered 1/23/21. Reordered 10/08/21. Scheduled week of January 24th 2022, delivered 2/24/2022

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