Went through all the relevant threads and videos to fit a replacement BAS top. Everything seems to have gone in place correctly. All rivets and retainers lined up correctly. However the top fabric is so tight you can hardly close the latches (Takes 2 people) and it picks the rear bow and weatherstripping off the deck lid leaving a gap.
I thought it would stretch out and self adjust potentially after cycling a few times, but not the case.
Has anyone experienced a top that is too tight from BAS?
Have a message into them, but wanted to ask here as well.

 

My BAS top was very tight to close initially after installing
This is common although it wasn't so tight that it lifted the rear bow
After several uses opening and closing it became easier as the fabric stretched over a few weeks time

 

Could you have pulled it too tight in the front?

 

You either got it wrong or they made the top slightly too small.

What ? The rear bow latches tight, are you saying it BENDS THE BOW at each end? Or are you saying the bow is not even latching.

In all the years we've been buying BAS tops, I have NOT ONCE heard of this happening.

 

It’s been awhile since we changed the top on the limited but I recall it being hard to pull the front down to get it latched but I can’t imagine the rear bow coming up. It should be latched down before latching the front. I’m sure the top parts are either cut from templates or by some computerized cutting machine.

 

We recently replaced mine with the help of an awesome forum member here in Florida. It was VERY tight at first. I was worried about the fit and perhaps quality control is lacking or perhaps it's normal.
We loosened all screws of the front header bow (the large piece with the handle) just enough to pull out some of the material as much as possible so it would have just a little more material.
Then tightened up while pulling out as much material as possible..

The rear end always matches but whe sitting inside of the car, I could see sunlight shining through the bottom where the vinyl strip meets the fabric.
3 days in the Florida sun did the trick. At first I was barely able to close the top without someone pushing down on the left and right front side while latching. So I didn't even touch or cycle it for three days. The pressure distributed evenly and a few days later the rear had dropped and the front was no problem to close.
I am not sure if these tops are designed this way, if it's normal or if it's bad fitment but it did resolve itself by leaving up the top and letting it sit in the sun.
It is a little unfortunate though as from what I hear the Ez-Top doesn't have that problem. It fits perfect from the get go and you would think BAS would give our tops a little bit more fabric as obviously I wasn't the only one having issue.

Maybe take some pictures and show us where your concern is but I am positive it will still settle if it was anything like mine.
​​​​​​


​​​​
​

 

Zombie thread

For anyone else having this issue, I just finished putting the new top on mine and now its undrivable until the stupid top "settles". Everything lines up, went in fine, and now this. Bow is locked into the tonneau and you can't push it down without it looking like it's going to rip out. Find another top maker, I can't recommend BAS, and I really wanted to. I'm leaving it for the night and going to try and steam it tomorrow. .

 

Odd, the guys changed my top in a condo parking lot during the 2020 Eureka event and I drove away just fine.
And BAS is the only top I'd buy.

 

Brand new top, just opened the box today. Wife and I got the old one off easily, put the new one on with little effort and now you can see how big the gap is. I'm hoping steaming it will work before I have to go anywhere. Fingers crossed.

 

Tried the steamer thing today and no luck. I also tried just pushing down on it, but its so tight it won't even seat into the locking area. I guess I'll set it outside for a few days and hope the sun does some work to it. After that, I guess I'm going to have to take it off and figure something out.

 

How tight did you pull it attaching it to the front bow above the windshield?

 

Just enough for the plastic lip sewn in to catch on the retaining plate. I even loosened the hex bolts as I pushed the top down to give it as much slack as possible.

 

When I replaced my top last year, it was tight. I locked down the rear bow and was able to shut down the front. It as loosen over time but still tight. I would reach out to BAS tops and ask for their advice.

 

I asked them and they responded that this is normal and they use a ratchet strap to pull the frame forward to lock it and hold it in place until the fabric stretches. There's a good half, to 3/4 or an inch before the pins are aligned vertically and then about 2-3 inches of drop needed to put the hooks into the receiver. I worry this will either damage the bow locking mechanism or cause damage to the tonneu cover itself by putting that much tension on it. The top I removed wasn't the original, and looking at it, the shop that made it made the fabric longer in the front and cut it back to fit, I can't understand why this wouldn't be standard. I'm looking at it and I might take the top off, cut some fabric from the old top and sew on an extension and the plastic retainer strip. I just need to figure something out before the snows come, this rolling travesty (we call her Trouble since that's all she's been since I got her) is my daily driver.

 

I have an EZ On top on mine. It was installed before I bought my car. The only thing that I have noticed, is that there are slight wrinkles in the fabric on the sides above the rear window. (see picture)
I like the sewn in window, I don't know if they offer any color choices though. If I ever have to replace it, I'll probably replace it with the same.

 

I'll keep that in mind. I was just hoping the hype would true lol

 

Well what happen, do you have a working top?

 

My wife and I pushed it down last night since it started raining and I have some traveling to do, there is a gap now on the rear deck of about half an inch where you can see through so it looks like I'll be keeping a small towel with me for the foreseeable future. So, working? No. Closed, sort of.

 

Well this is very discouraging. When I did my top, it went on nicely and it did take it about a day to stretch out. It might be time to send pictures to BAS and see if they will send you a new one. I doubt that taking the front clip and repositing it will work with any success. Time for a Game of Thrones Quote: "Winter is coming"

 

I've already been talking with them, their answer: "this is normal" and "it will stretch, eventually". Live and learn I suppose.