I
was sitting here thinking about how I was going to test a new top.
after all it’s just another bikini top right? Then
I started wondering about the most "hardcore" way I could
make my evaluation and it hit me - on the street!
Oh
the street? You ask! How dare you! We don’t want no stinking
street Jeep here. But wait. Let me explain.
I,
like many others, drive my trail toy to work every day. I have
a twenty mile, one-way commute. Amittedly, I am exceedingly
lucky that I don’t have to run on any freeways, nor do I really
hit any traffic in the morning, and only get a little on the way
home. But I am always perplexed about which top to run; no top,
hard top or my Safari Bikini.
Right
now, the mornings are great; 70 degrees, slight breeze and I always
want to run without a top. On the way home, though, it’s more
like 98 degrees with 60% humidity and the ground is baking.
Oh yeah, and traffic; which means I have to sit in my open Jeep
and broil in the sunlight.
Yes,
I could just put on my bikini top to protect my balding head from
the sun, but then the fumes from the exhaust get trapped inside
and with the heat from the pavement you have to end up running the
A/C just to “clear” the air - so I may as well run the hard top..
Now
I have my solution... Since I really don’t like running the hard
top or the safari top, the new Breezer top from Direct
Effect Enterprises (makers of ComboGrip,
which we reviewed earlier this year) offers the solution for me.
In the mornings it allows the wind and the cool weather to blow
thru my Jeep, while in the afternoon it allows the hot fumes and
the pavement heat to escape thru the top while at the same time
shading my head and eyes from the direct sunlight.
The "grand view" looking up from the driver's
seat, through the top.
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It's easy to see the shade the "Breezer" provides.
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The
top uses a standard header channel like one would use for a BesTop
top (I have the BesTop No-Drill Header Channel) and then attaches
with 5 straps that have metal clasps (yes, metal - not that cheap
plastic stuff that some other manufacturers use) to the center roll
bar. It is easy to install and doesn’t flap or make any other
noises.
Notice the 5 strap locations compared to some manufacture's
3 straps.
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The
top is made of a very heavy webbing and the quality of the stitching
seems very good, as all of the edges are finished off with a wide
piece of heavy cloth. Even with the full cage that is installed
in my Jeep, I have had no problems with the fit. In fact,
I like the way it fits on the sides. It is left loose enough
that when rubbing against rocks or trees it simply folds itself
over the roll bar so it does not get damaged.
The side blends nicely into the rollcage.
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This will definitely
be one of the tops that I will use on a regular basis – at least
until DEE comes out with their “Maxi Breezer” model (covers the
rear seats and should be in production by next summer) so I can
take the heat off of my daughter’s head too!
Currently
the “Breezer Top is available for '76-'83 CJ-5, '76-'86 CJ-7,
'87-'96 YJ, '97-'02 TJ. Suggested retails
pricing is $49.95* up to '91 and $59.95* for
92 and up models. '66-'77 Bronco is currently in prototype
(using Kayline-style hardware). 10 additional applications
including Samurai and “Maxi Breezer” for '92 and later model
Jeeps will be in production be next season.
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"Breezer"
installed on an earlier model Jeep.
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Shawn
Pagan is a staff writer for ROCKCRAWLER.com as well as Our
Land Use Editor. Shawn resides north of Houston, TX.
Contact
Shawn at thepagan@rockcrawler.com
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*
Prices accurate at time of writing
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