trail cover

[ljvsnyder]

Well, we are finally having nice weather and only having a hardtop and not wanting to stick in on every night since I don't have a garage or carport I have decided to buy a trail cover. I have looked at Bestop ($159.00), Rugged Ridge ($54.99), Smittybilt ($109.00), Rampage ($124.99) and Rain Gear ($139.99). Bestop, Rampage and Rain Gear all say they are rain proof, but are they worth the extra money over the Rugged Ridge. With Smittybilt right in the middle of the pricing it is less desirable since it isn't advertised as waterproof and should be priced more along the lines of the RR. No if I were to buy the rugged ridge I understand that it is only water resistant, but would a covering of Rostoleum Never Wet, make it waterproof? So looking for some advise and experience with the different brands. Bestop and Rain Gear seem to have a lot of reviews out there, but the Rampage product has none.

[JeepLab]

I have a besttop trail cover, but i dont know if its the best,

It wont work with mirrors on the doors. So the truck is mostly covered, but not sealed.

[ljvsnyder]

So the bestop won't work with the mirrors on the door. Anyone information on the others?

[ljvsnyder]

Well after a lot of debate on my part and an awesome deal on Amazon with available Amazon credit I purchased a Rampage cab cover for $65.00 out of pocket. It looks like the bestop and feels think enough to be waterproof. Which is sort of interesting Rampage marketing list it as waterproof, box it arrived in said water resistant. Well I guess I will find out if it doesn't rain all weekend I will get the top off and do some test fitting and then some water test with the garden hose. Better safe than sorry. My coworker got a smoking deal from Morris 4x4 on the bestop trail cover. We are going to do some comparisons on the two tops for those interested in the products.

[JeepLab]

Well after a lot of debate on my part and an awesome deal on Amazon with available Amazon credit I purchased a Rampage cab cover for $65.00 out of pocket. It looks like the bestop and feels think enough to be waterproof. Which is sort of interesting Rampage marketing list it as waterproof, box it arrived in said water resistant. Well I guess I will find out if it doesn't rain all weekend I will get the top off and do some test fitting and then some water test with the garden hose. Better safe than sorry. My coworker got a smoking deal from Morris 4x4 on the bestop trail cover. We are going to do some comparisons on the two tops for those interested in the products.

put it on and hit it with the hose.

test your gear people! LOL

[Rexx19]

x2 on the hose, if its gonna leak, you want to find out with rain you can stop.

[ljvsnyder]

Here are some close up pictures of the material. The carry bag and the cover are made from the same material.

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125124_zpsenrlewlv.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125124_zpsenrlewlv.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125130_zpszevccykd.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125130_zpszevccykd.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125205_zpsggshhbvo.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125205_zpsggshhbvo.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125210_zps3mo3bklv.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140904_125210_zps3mo3bklv.jpg.html)

The material feels very durable, and a lot like the tent part of a pop up tent. I suspect I will need some seem sealer it appears to be a single stitch setup, but if I need it I have some never wet that can be sprayed along the seems.

[JeepLab]

i have the bestop cover. Id does not accommodate mirrors. Pain in the neck.

It also will not accommodate a hard top

[ljvsnyder]

Don't need it if the hard top is on, Rampage in a series of email said that you have to fold the mirrors in when the doors are on. I guess I will find out this weekend, fingers crossed.

[ljvsnyder]

Tested the rampage trail cover today. First off the product fails as advertised, it is not waterproof, I the fabric is, but the seams are single stitched and leaked when water pooled. The fabric does have some hydrophobic qualities to it, but should have been added at the seam. The fit was good even with the doors on. You do need to fold the mirrors in for it to fit. I think it would have held water out better with the door off as the corner seams would have been over the windshield. I wouldn't recommend this product as a rain cover.
Pictures tomorrow app won't let me post pics.

[ljvsnyder]

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181814_zps1s9mmee8.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181814_zps1s9mmee8.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181820_zpsz2of3vw5.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181820_zpsz2of3vw5.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181840_zpsui5yudzp.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181840_zpsui5yudzp.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181845_zps07m1n3bc.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181845_zps07m1n3bc.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181853_zpsvvjhpcq2.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_181853_zpsvvjhpcq2.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_183306_zpszqjvf87x.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_183306_zpszqjvf87x.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_183404_zps3rffz5cg.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_183404_zps3rffz5cg.jpg.html)
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q546/ljvsnyder/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_183022_zps5dwkzbwk.jpg (http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/ljvsnyder/media/Jeep%20Wrangler/20140907_183022_zps5dwkzbwk.jpg.html)

[ljvsnyder]

Sorry for the pics with description, don't know if it is the forum or photobucket but kept giving me the same photo, so had to result to multiple picture options.

Anyway as stated above this product did not meet my expectations. My coworker received his best top version this weekend and is getting me some photos. Something that was shocking was that the package said made in China, and the product looks identical.1145

[JeepLab]

Sorry for the pics with description, don't know if it is the forum or photobucket but kept giving me the same photo, so had to result to multiple picture options.

Anyway as stated above this product did not meet my expectations. My coworker received his best top version this weekend and is getting me some photos. Something that was shocking was that the package said made in China, and the product looks identical.1145

enjoy that thing wrapped up in is bag. It will never look like that again.

Mine is close, but sticks out a little. Its exhausting putting that thing back.

[ljvsnyder]

yeah after I took off my dew covered one this morning, it is semi folded up in the storage shed.

[ljvsnyder]

Took the doors off last night to see if tje fit was better. Well guess what it fits much better. I am in discussion with rampagr concerning the issue and they are looking into it and I will experiment tonight with no doors on to see if I get any leaks. My coworker tested his bestop cover and had his doors off and he had no leaks.

[JeepLab]

Took the doors off last night to see if tje fit was better. Well guess what it fits much better. I am in discussion with rampagr concerning the issue and they are looking into it and I will experiment tonight with no doors on to see if I get any leaks. My coworker tested his bestop cover and had his doors off and he had no leaks.

That thing hates mirrors. LOL

[FLIPmeOVER]

So the first option failed with the hose?

[ljvsnyder]

yes it failed with the doors on as it allowed water to pool right at the corner seams. with the doors off it should hold better but have not had a chance to test that option.