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Jeep Tops, Why Do I Need a Windshield Channel?
Since 1997, Jeep Wrangler soft tops have used a header bar system. The front edge of the soft top fabric is permanently attached to the header bar. Once the soft top is fully raised, latches secure the header bar to the windshield frame.
With the introduction of the 1997 model, Jeep greatly improved the fit, seal and durability of the Wrangler soft top and its hardware. One major change was in the way the soft top connected and sealed to the top of the windshield frame. In prior years, the front edge of the soft top simply “tucked” into a channel which was permanently joined to the peak of the windshield frame. Once tucked in, the seal was generally satisfactory . Getting it tucked in nevertheless , was not on all occasions easy and sometimes took two people.
For 1997-2002 Jeep Wranglers, Bestop does tender a strapless Bikini Top which uses a drill-in kind windshield channel. If the factory soft top, hard top, or even a Supertop is to be later used, the windshield channel will require to be removed from the windshield frame leaving holes where it was connected . This setup is only recommended for vehicles which will not be replacing the Bikini Top with another top, at least not too frequently .
Jeep Bikini tops do not employ hardware; they simply fasten to the windshield frame and roll bars. Since there is not a “channel” on the windshield frame, one ought to be installed in order to employ a Jeep Bikini top. On 1997+ Jeep Wranglers, a Header kind Bikini with the no-drill windshield channel is the finest combination. The no-drill windshield channel simply bolts in where the factory soft top latches in above the visors. It is easily removed and the factory soft top (or hard top) can go back on without any other modifications. This is the very windshield channel that Bestop uses in their Supertop.
On older (up to 1995) Jeep Wranglers and CJ’s, both factory and aftermarket soft tops employ the drill-in variety windshield channels. A new windshield channel is only required when installing a Jeep Bikini Top on a Jeep that was equipped with a hard top, or if the original was missing or destroyed.