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XT Staff
/ Oct 14 2024
When Ford brought back the Bronco it quickly became one of the most popular off-road vehicles on the market, and how could it not be? With plenty of off-road-focused options like the Wildtrak, which comes with 35-inch tires and a high-performance suspension system, the Ford Bronco is an off-road beast.
While wheels, suspension, and tires are important, the type of top you’re rolling with on your Bronco is also important. We help you compare a hardtop vs a soft top for the Ford Bronco.
The biggest difference between a soft top and a hardtop for your Bronco is what it's made out of. Most soft tops are made with canvas, vinyl, or sailcloth, which are strong enough to handle most situations. That said, these materials will only last around five to ten years, even if you care for them and store them properly.
On the other hand, hardtops for the Ford Bronco are made with stronger materials that tend to last well over a decade. Windows for the hardtops are also stronger, so you don't have to worry about flimsy windows.
Whether you’re off-roading on a hot beach or plan on climbing a mountain in the winter, insulation can be important. While soft tops for the Bronco provide ample insulation for most weather conditions, you won't feel as warm or cold when you’re using the air conditioning or heat. In fact, the last thing you want is to be stuck in the snow with a soft top because the weight may eventually cave the top in – but that's something you should only worry about in extreme cases.
Thankfully, hardtops provide all the insulation you need to feel comfortable on off-road adventures. This insulation also helps you on your commute to work if you don't feel like listening to the wonderful sounds of a flapping soft top in the wind. Plus, you'll experience less overall road noise when you use a hardtop.
Hardtops and soft tops can both be flexible, but soft tops come out on top when you need the most flexibility for your off-roading adventures. While you can remove pieces of a hardtop, soft tops can be opened and closed with zippers, or you can take the entire thing off and leave it in your trunk since it's so small.
The Bestop Trektop Soft Top is a great example of how versatile a soft top can be. While it gives you the fast-back look when it's fully mounted, you can remove sections of the top to give you more of a safari top feel as well.
Plenty of soft tops also allow maximum airflow while protecting you from the shade, like the GearShade Mesh Top. When you need flexibility and you want to make the most out of your off-roading experience, you can't go wrong with a soft top.
When it comes to accessories for your Ford Bronco, hardtops come out on top. Due to the sturdiness of the material, you'll find that hardtops can support things like the RedRock XD1 Aluminum Hardtop Roof Rack, so you can haul more gear with you on your next adventure.
Soft tops can also have accessories or additional pieces, like tinted windows, but you won't be able to put anything on the roof like you can with a hardtop.
We also have the cost of these two tops. Nothing else matters if you can't swing the price of the top you’re looking for, and in most cases hardtops are more expensive than soft tops for the Ford Bronco.
It's for this reason that we recommend getting the hardtop option from the factory if you can because aftermarket options tend to cost a lot more in the long run than the stock factory top. For example, some aftermarket options may run you $3,000 to $4,000 unless you find good deals. Soft tops, on the other hand, will cost as little as $300, especially if you’re only looking for a small mesh top or safari-style top. Still, full soft top replacements can still get up there in price.
Fortunately, when you shop with ExtremeTerrain we have great deals on hardtop and soft top options to make the switch less painful on your wallet. Plus, you can always consider open-box options that are fully restored.
When you need a new top for your Ford Bronco, ExtremeTerrain is the best place to shop. Whether you want a factory replacement, or you want to try something new like a Bestop Mesh Bimini Sunshade, we have everything you need.
Order online today for convenient shipping options and get assistance from our sales techs if you want to dive deeper into the Ford Bronco hardtop vs soft top conversation.