Bikini Tops & Sun Shades for Jeep CJ7

Why a CJ7 bikini top starts to sag after a few summers.

A bikini top is the most open way to drive a Jeep CJ7 without giving up shade. It covers only the front seats: it slides into the channel on the windshield frame at the front and is secured at the rear either with straps tied to footman loops on the body or with hook-and-loop straps directly on the roll bar. That airy design is exactly what makes it prone to wear. Summer after summer the material sits unprotected in the sun, UV radiation fades the colour and makes the seams brittle. At higher speeds the fabric works in the airstream, straps stretch and hook-and-loop fasteners lose their grip. A worn-out bikini top flaps, slaps against the roll bar and eventually tears at the seams. Re-tensioning usually buys just one more season, while a new top sits tight and quiet again.

Strapped to the body or strapless on the roll bar.

• Traditional style in denim: The classic bikini top with straps to the body comes in Tan Denim (light brown) and Charcoal Denim (grey). Both are textured, tear-resistant vinyl in the original look, with footman loops and screws included.
• Traditional style in leather look: If you prefer a darker top, choose the Black Crush bikini top with its grained leather-look surface. Like every traditional version, it also fits the CJ8 and the Wrangler YJ with a slanted roll bar.
• Mesh for hot days: The mesh bikini top, made from breathable vinyl netting, provides light shade and lets a fresh breeze into the cabin. It deliberately offers no rain protection.
• Strapless for the CJ7 from 1980: Without straps to the body, the strapless model attaches to the slanted roll bar with hook-and-loop straps, leaving the rear free of straps. Available in Black Denim and Black Crush.

Six variants, one maker: Bestop from the USA.

All six bikini tops in this category come from Bestop. For decades the US manufacturer has specialised in soft tops for Jeep, and its Denim and Crush materials recreate the texture and look of the original top fabrics – American soft-top know-how for an American classic. The traditional models come with footman loops and screws, while the strapless model relies on hook-and-loop straps on the roll bar.

Advice on the windshield channel, footman loops and roll bar on your CJ7.

Whether your CJ7 can take the strapless model depends on the shape of its roll bar, and we're happy to help you check by model year. We can also tell you whether your existing channel on the windshield frame can be reused or a new one (part no. 51209-01) is needed, where the footman loops are best placed and how to tension the straps correctly. Variants in stock leave the warehouse as quickly as possible after your order.