Back Seat and soft top

[airforestry]

New Scrambler owner here! Bought a 1984 that was restored in 2005 from a good family friend. The configuration is currently with a
hard top and no back seat. I would like to be able to take my family of 4 with me when I drive and trying to figure out the best configuration.
I was considering doing a rear facing back seat in order to keep from adding roll cage so I could possible go back to hard top at some point. It would
appear bestop and b d company are the two manufactures of softops. Does anybody prefer one over the other considering the expense? Best rear
seat and seat belt setup? Thanks!

 

[bigwalton]

Bestop quality has been questionable since they moved production to Mexico. I have a set of their two-piece soft doors that I managed to pound together with a hammer and can't separate without a crowbar (I don't bother and use them as one-piece doors). They sent me three sets before I got tops and bottoms that would even align enough to do that.

The top I got at the same time had a bad zipper from the factory and the right side window top zipper doesn't close the last 6". They sent me a second window to try and that's what proved it was the top-side zipper.

Others have had better experiences, but that is mine.

On the seat, you're going to be all custom to mount one rear-facing and add seat belts. I think you really want to go with a standard rear seat and full family cage with a family of four. You're going to find that the half top is awkward enough to put on that it will sit. I got a CJ-10 half hardtop and bulkhead for mine thinking the exact way you did after we had our daughter and I never once bothered to put it on. I now have a standard rear seat and full cage that we've enjoyed immensely. Just my

 

[airforestry]

bigwalton, thanks for the feedback!

 

[Azbball11]

I just added a forward facing fold and tumble seat and full soft top on my 8. So far so good. To second bigwalton, I don't see myself putting the bulkhead/half top back on. So far, very pleased with the seat and top from Bestop, but have very little time with it. Many others on here will probably have more to say.
As far as the cage, I am lucky enough to run a metal fab/tube bending shop so I will be making my own cage this winter. Photo shows the seat and soft top with windows removed.

 

[bigwalton]

So far, very pleased with the seat and top from Bestop, but have very little time with it.

I am guessing that, if it went on ok and works initially, it will be fine for you

 

[Chamba]

I have the Rock Hard family cage with two rear seats; one for each kid. We love it. I'm waiting to pick my kids up now.

I'm too tall to drive with the bulkhead in place so it was an easy decision for me.