Best Ford Bronco Tops

Bronco Top Styles

Nothing makes as significant of an impact on your Bronco’s drivability and overall energy as a top. At RealTruck, we offer a wide selection of tops in varying styles, ranging from quiet, well-insulated hard tops to skimpy, UV-resistant safari-style tops! No matter your desired experience, budget, or aesthetic preferences, we offer a top to suit your needs.

Hard Tops

Regarding security, insulation, and overall driving comfort, you can’t beat a high-quality hard top. Hard tops feature durable ABS or fiberglass constructions; when paired with hard, full doors, hard tops help to make your Bronco feel more like a civilized vehicle rather than a glorified convertible! Unlike break-in-prone soft tops, hard tops are theft-resistant, featuring solid constructions and glass windows.

Expert’s Choice: Putco Element Sky View

Unfortunately, RealTruck doesn’t currently carry full hard tops for the Ford Bronco; however, we offer the next best thing! The Putco Element Sky View is an innovative replacement for your Bronco’s factory front roof panels, ditching the opaque panels for transparent polycarbonate replacements. These panels allow you and your passengers a clear view of the sky above, similar to a sunroof or moonroof! 

The Putco Element Sky View is constructed from impact-resistant polycarbonate, resisting cracks and chips from rocks, tree branches, or anything you throw its way. These panels receive I35 dark gray tinting for superior UV protection, blocking damaging rays. 

Features: 

• Replaces factory removable hard top panels for Bronco

• Made from high-quality Tuffak® polycarbonate

• Clear panels with I35 Dark Gray Tinting to block out harmful UV rays

• Comes pre-assembled with seals and latches

• Installs in just minutes

• Full installation guide included

• Limited 3-year warranty

Soft Tops

While not as theft-resistant as hard tops, soft tops are popular for their value and easy installation/removal. These tops feature rugged canvas or vinyl constructions with zippered vinyl windows. Most soft tops offer full coverage designs and, though not necessarily waterproof, exceptional weather protection capable of withstanding heavy rain and car washes. 

Soft tops come in standard replacement and retractable varieties, with the latter allowing you to retract the top over the passenger compartment, similar to a convertible coupe! This design is ideal for trail use or cruising on a pleasant day.

Expert’s Choice: Rampage TrailView Soft Top

For the ultimate driving experience, consider ditching your Bronco’s conventional hard or soft top for the Rampage TrailView Soft Top! This fastback-style soft top offers a sporty aesthetic, separating your Bronco from other examples on the road. The black sailcloth construction and tinted vinyl windows make for a sleek, stealthy appearance; they’re also highly durable, withstanding even the harshest weather conditions and coldest temperatures. 

Though the Rampage TrailView’s rugged construction and sporty styling are enough for most consumers, this top has another trick up its sleeve. With one hand, you can easily unlatch the top and retract it over the driver and passenger seats, exposing the sky above for an open-air experience. When the raindrops begin to fall, closing the top is just as easy! 

Features: 

• Retractable, fastback soft top

• Includes retractable sunroof

• Easy one-hand sunroof operation

• Removable tinted rear and side windows

• Easily converts into an open safari top

• Integrated window storage

• Heavy-duty 30 oz. sailcloth fabric construction

• UV and mildew-resistant

• Utilizes heavy-duty molded zippers

• Anti-puddle support poles improve water runoff

• Sleek aerodynamic design

• 3-year limited warranty

Sun Shades

If you prefer an open-air experience but would like a bit more UV and wind resistance, consider a sunshade! Sun shades are essentially mesh bikini/bimini tops, covering only the top of your Bronco’s passenger cabin with a thin, UV-resistant mesh. These tops leave the sides and rear of your Bronco’s cab open, allowing fresh air to flow through the passenger compartment.

Expert’s Choice: Havoc Offroad Mesh Shade Top

The Havoc Offroad Mesh Shade Top is a durable sun shade engineered exclusively for the 6th-generation Ford Bronco. This lightweight, cost-effective top features a durable reinforced vinyl mesh construction, resisting rips, tears, and UV exposure for a long service life.

This top features a quick and easy installation using the integrated loop-and-strap system, affixing directly to the factory sport bar. When it’s time for removal, just pack the top away in its convenient storage bag until the warm weather returns!  

Features: 

• Mesh shade top reduces heat and wind

• UV-resistant reinforced vinyl mesh

• Heavy-duty loops and strap connection system

• Works with both soft and hard top Bronco models

• Includes storage bag

• Easy installation, mounts to OE sport bar

• 5-year warranty

Bikini/Bimini

Just as sun shades are mesh bikini/bimini tops, bikini/bimini tops are essentially vinyl or canvas sun shades! These tops feature soft fabric construction, similar to a traditional soft top. Bikini/bimini tops affix to the factory sport bar using integrated straps, leaving the sides and rear of your Bronco’s cargo area open. 

These tops offer considerably less protection than full-coverage soft tops; however, they’re far more protective than a mesh sun shade! The weather-resistant vinyl or canvas construction helps to prevent interior damage due to light rains, as one may encounter in tropical areas. They’re also highly wind and UV-resistant, preventing sun damage on hot, clear days.

Expert’s Choice: Rampage California Brief Top

The Rampage California Brief Top is the ultimate addition for cruising your Bronco in the Golden State, offering the perfect blend of protection and open-air drivability. This top covers only your Bronco’s sport bar, leaving the sides and top open for airflow. The top’s rugged canvas construction offers exceptional UV and wind protection, keeping you and your passengers comfortable no matter the weather. 

This top features a sleek, strapless design for a uniform fit and finish. Rampage offers the California Brief Top in four colors to match most interiors, including black, gray, denim black, and spice. 

Features: 

• Durable canvas construction

• UV-resistant 

• Sleek, strapless design

• Reinforced edges for superior rigidity

• Offered in Black, Grey, Denim Black, and Spice colors

• Limited 1-year warranty

Maintaining Your Bronco’s Top

Removable tops often get a bad wrap due to poor longevity; however, most issues have nothing to do with the top's quality! Instead, the root issue is poor maintenance and neglect. To make your Bronco’s top last as long as the rest of it, follow these basic tips.

Hard Tops

Maintaining a hard top is simple. Considering the choice of materials, typically auto-grade fiberglass, ABS, and glass, cleaning your Bronco’s hard top is no different than cleaning the rest of the body! 

We recommend using a quality wash mitt and auto-grade soap for cleaning, just as you would with the body panels, bumpers, and wheels. Feel free to use soft-bristled detail brushes on hard-to-reach areas, like seals and joints, but avoid glossy painted surfaces to prevent swirl marks! Once clean, apply a quality paint protectant to keep water spots, dirt, and pollen at bay.

Soft Tops (Vinyl and Canvas)

Soft tops are far more labor-intensive to maintain than similar hard tops; however, with the proper know-how, you can maintain and protect your Bronco’s soft top for years of reliable service!

Soft tops feature various materials that are more susceptible to scratches, scuffs, and damage than a hard top’s paint and glass. As such, soft tops require proper chemical and tool selections for effective results. Follow along for our cleaning and maintenance suggestions for a soft top’s outer shell, windows, and zippers.

Outer Shell (Vinyl or Canvas)

Soft tops, or any top manufactured from vinyl or canvas fabrics (bikini, bimini, sunshades), require special care when cleaning, preventing unsightly staining and damage to the top. We recommend using a mild soap and wash mitt or a 3:1 mixture of water and vinegar. Feel free to use a soft-bristled brush on stubborn stains, but avoid the top’s vinyl windows to prevent swirl marks and fine scratches.

Windows

Soft top windows are manufactured from transparent vinyl that, while sturdy, is far more susceptible to scratches than glass. For this reason, we recommend avoiding harsh chemicals or brushes. Instead, utilize the same soap/water or vinegar/water solution and a clean wash mitt. When drying the windows, we recommend using a high-powered air blower or a clean, edgeless microfiber towel to prevent haziness, swirl marks, and micro-abrasions.

Zippers

Zippers are often overlooked, though they’re one of the most failure-prone areas of your Bronco’s soft top! Failure to periodically clean and lubricate zippers can result in jamming and even breakage, rendering your soft top’s windows useless! We recommend using a soft detail brush and mild soap to scrub dirt and debris from the zipper’s teeth, preparing them for lubrication. Once sufficiently dry, spray the teeth with a zipper-specific lubricant (or WD40) to reduce friction and teeth wear.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Your Top

Selecting a top that best suits your needs is no simple task; there are several considerations to ensure the best fit for your Bronco, including the climate you live in, your Bronco’s storage conditions, your desired comfort and driving experience, and your preferred style. 

For instance, if you live in a climate that sees extreme temperatures, you’ll likely benefit from a well-insulated hard top rather than a mesh sunshade! Alternatively, you may prefer the convertible design of a retractable soft top in a tropical climate, allowing you to quickly alternate between an open and closed cabin! 

Regarding storage, this factor centers primarily around security. If you live in an apartment or home with exclusively street parking, we’d recommend a hardtop or traditional soft top, reducing break-ins and thefts. However, if your Bronco rarely spends the night outside a locked garage, you may be more comfortable with an open-air bikini or sunshade. 

If comfort is your primary concern, you’ll likely prefer a hard top's quiet, well-insulated driving experience, especially if you regularly commute on the highway! Soft tops are ideal for weekend warriors and cruisers.

Lastly, consider your stylistic preferences. If your choice is still up in the air, even after considering all of the above-listed factors, your selection ultimately comes down to whichever top you prefer to look at. 

If you like the safari-inspired styling of a mesh sunshade, run it! Or if you enjoy the refined aesthetics of a hard top, stick to what you know. As always, contact us seven days a week for any questions or product inquiries!