Viking Fastback Softop

[dirtgrip]

Viking Fast Back Softop
http://vikingoffroad.com/viking_fastback.html
This is softop that can be made into a safari top by removing windows & putting them in the storage compartment on the top & then covering them.It comes with tinted windows & only in black at the present.No frame/brackets needed it uses your rollbar for the frame.You need the stock rear rollcage or something that matches the same profile for it to fit right.You must supply your own:windsheild header bar,door surrounds,doors,& tailgate bar.It's quiet at highway speeds-no flapping etc & has 2 mesh netting pockets above the windsheild & large windows.It was tough to put on but it was cold & I have never owned a full softop so it was a new experience for me.Fit was good once I figured it out.This could be a good top for someone who swaps from a fulltop to a safari/bikini top when it gets hot out. It took me 15 min to swap it around the 1st time but I could change it faster now-especially if it was raining.:D
Quality- 4+
Ease of install-2.5
Customer Service-4
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/dirtgrip/IMG_0444.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/dirtgrip/IMG_0448.jpg

[Allen]

Let me know what you think of it in 6 months!!

[GypsyM]

Allen.

I am thinking about going with this top and I am looking for opinions. I am going to assume you don't exactly like this one?
Any experience you could share?
What top do you prefer?

Thanks

SGT GypsyM

[desertdawg]

I love that top. When my existing top gets trashed thats the one I'm getting.

[lancetkenyon]

Cost? Suppliers?

[desertdawg]

They're around $600, I know 4X4Rockshop sells them.

[dirtgrip]

For a list of 10 different vendors go here:
http://vikingoffroad.com/viking_fastback.html
This top has only been out since early Dec 2006

[Allen]

Allen.

I am thinking about going with this top and I am looking for opinions. I am going to assume you don't exactly like this one?
Any experience you could share?
What top do you prefer?

Thanks

SGT GypsyM

Actually I was looking for someone who had one for a while to let me know what they thought of it. Looks isnt everything! I want to know its going to zip up when I put it back together after the first summer!

[Lonnie]

Check the Rubicon Owners Forum there are quite a few of those guys that use that top, both the new version and the older one. The design has been around for 3 or 4 years.

[dirtgrip]

The original was by Rockgear.They may have gone out of business for the 2nd time-website down & domain name for sale?? Viking is now making this style of top.Quality is very good IMO.Here's another link: http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?p=635549

[michale r varne]

Here you go Bob. Hope this helps.

[dirtgrip]

Mine is the same.Funny I never even noticed that.Mine doesn't make any noise-yours?
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/dirtgrip/IMG_0494.jpg

[michale r varne]

Not no more:D It turns out my windshield header was not all the way seated:eek: Fixed, now its 100% better. Thanks for your help

[AzTrailrunner]

pm sent

[amalgamas]

Thanks for the info on this, I'm actually looking to get one in the near future. Hopefully they're just as easy to install on an LJ.

[AzTrailrunner]

anybody here in the phoenix area have one?

[GypsyM]

Any word on the LJ model of this top?

SGT GypsyM

[Stu Olson]

Viking is currently working on an updated version that should hopefully be out in 6 months or there about. I'm holding off until it is ready. I think I can squeeze a few more months out of mine albeit it got some kind of vinyl fungus this weekend at Lake Havasu....it didn't look as good going home as it did getting there. :D

[SavageSun4x4]

Good friend of mine bought one and wishes he hadn't.

[desertdawg]

Good friend of mine bought one and wishes he hadn't.

Did he say why?

[SavageSun4x4]

Did he say why?

YUP! In fact I met up with him in Moab while back and told him how much I liked the new look. Quality, it just wasn't there at all. Lots of $$$ for a product that is only $ in quality.

Don't get me wrong, I like its looks and wanted to get one until I saw it...I will pass.

[TheRedlines]

YUP! In fact I met up with him in Moab while back and told him how much I liked the new look. Quality, it just wasn't there at all. Lots of $$$ for a product that is only $ in quality.

Don't get me wrong, I like its looks and wanted to get one until I saw it...I will pass.

Are you sure it was the "Viking" brand Fastback and not a competitor's top? The reason I ask is that the Viking top is far from lacking in quality imho. From the OEM fabric to the welded seams and windows, this top is pretty cutting edge. Every tiny detail has been gone over and over. To say it isn't a quality top is a complete misrepresentation in my opinion and doesn't reflect my experience with the top or any of the other Viking tops that I've seen for that matter. I'm sorry if I seem to have come off harsh. I'm just kind of, well, shocked to say the least.
-Duke

[AzTrailrunner]

YUP! In fact I met up with him in Moab while back and told him how much I liked the new look. Quality, it just wasn't there at all. Lots of $$$ for a product that is only $ in quality.

Don't get me wrong, I like its looks and wanted to get one until I saw it...I will pass.

But what about your friend? Your statement reflects your impression.

[dirtgrip]

I couldn't be happier with mine. :D 4+months now.

[RokNRich]

YUP! In fact I met up with him in Moab while back and told him how much I liked the new look. Quality, it just wasn't there at all. Lots of $$$ for a product that is only $ in quality.

Don't get me wrong, I like its looks and wanted to get one until I saw it...I will pass.


Are you sure it was the "Viking" brand Fastback and not a competitor's top? The reason I ask is that the Viking top is far from lacking in quality imho. From the OEM fabric to the welded seams and windows, this top is pretty cutting edge. Every tiny detail has been gone over and over. To say it isn't a quality top is a complete misrepresentation in my opinion and doesn't reflect my experience with the top or any of the other Viking tops that I've seen for that matter. I'm sorry if I seem to have come off harsh. I'm just kind of, well, shocked to say the least.
-Duke

X2
This top has only been out for a short I believe.

See this post from page 1:
For a list of 10 different vendors go here:
http://vikingoffroad.com/viking_fastback.html
This top has only been out since early Dec 2006

Dirtgrip has one, has posted pictures, and says he loves it.

I couldn't be happier with mine. 4+months now.

[SavageSun4x4]

X2
This top has only been out for a short I believe.

See this post from page 1:


Dirtgrip has one, has posted pictures, and says he loves it.

In spite of those that were not there and are making accusations that I had an imaginary friend and are also attempting to speak for me it was indeed a Viking.

I do know it was an early release of the top. The fitment and overall quality of the top just wasn't there ['05 TJ]. Looked good from a short distance, but was quite loud in hwy travel.

Does that mean that they haven't worked out the "bugs"? Far from it, I am sure they have and will continue to do so.

[azrubyman]

I was on the ROF Moab run last year in May (http://www.macs4x4products.com/ ) and that was a Viking that Macs jeep was sporting. He was also taking orders.
I thought it looked great and considered ordering one from him, but I had other financial stuff come up. anyways, I know they were available back then.
Ken

[TheRedlines]

There was a very short time that they shipped tops last year until Bestop started fouling up things due to a patent infringment or something. The top has since gone through a complete redesign and wasn't made available until December. Mac's top was a part of that short run.

[RokNRich]

Don if you really think it's fair to slam a product that a) wasn't a production model b) you don't have

and then not get some negative comments you are off base. As a SuperModerator, I would think that you would only post comments regarding products that you have actually used or with some real data.

Is it any wonder this board is losing business sponsors ?

[SavageSun4x4]

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showpost.php?p=162929&postcount=25

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

If that was inflammatory, you probably ought to go back and read your posts more closely.

Don if you really think it's fair to slam a product that a) wasn't a production model b) you don't have

and then not get some negative comments you are off base. As a SuperModerator, I would think that you would only post comments regarding products that you have actually used or with some real data.

Is it any wonder this board is losing business sponsors ?
I didn't say it wasn't a production model, just an early model.

If the requirement to discuss a product was to own and use it, the the boards would almost be devoid of posts.

Real data: Spent a week with him in Moab, rode in it and saw up close the poor fitment. In fact he bought it for his Jeep and with the possibility of become a dealer, which he did not do. It was only when I asked about ordering one for my Jeep did he point out some critical flaws.

Products, all products are or at least should be in a constant state of improvement. Rare anything comes out the chute ready to go with no interim updates needing to be made.

Far as I know this board is not losing any business sponsors except the ones that are no longer in business. We do however lose good people due to the attitudes of a handful of people on here. Joe and I know who they are and we are trying to clean up this board.

[dirtgrip]

Here you go Bob. Hope this helps.

I just got some info on how to tighten up the fit on this top.Roll the plastic edge one time onto the fabric before putting it into the door surrounds.You will need to let it set in the sun for a while to help it stretch.It also helps if you pull the 3 straps tight that run across the top from side to side after warming it up.My top fits MUCH tighter then in the original pics I posted.Newbie softop owner-DOH.

[jeeper05]

Don would you care to elaborate on the critical flaws that were pointed out to you all I see is poor fitment in your report what are the other issues stoped you from picking one up for yourself..wanted one myself so now Im wondering

[SavageSun4x4]

Don would you care to elaborate on the critical flaws that were pointed out to you all I see is poor fitment in your report what are the other issues stoped you from picking one up for yourself..wanted one myself so now Im wondering
It was at that time poor fitment, and wind noise when we drove at highway speeds. I have been told that this has all been sorted out and and good company would do so. Fact is in today's internet driven society it much harder to pass off poor for good and good for great.

On a personal note I think it is a good looking top and as best I can see offers a lot of features for the money. I would be the first to say that my Bestop "Safari" top has the poorest fitment of anything soft top I have ever seen and its my second one. I did speak with Bestop on this issue and they are well aware of it, but the excuse is that is fits YJs and TJs and each has it differences.:confused: :confused:

I would like to see a Viking top and unless I am way off base, I expect fitment issues and wind noise to be resolved by now.

[unorthodoxx]

Okay, dirtgrip anyone and rdelling if you are on this forum. Do you have a soundbar installed? I do, and I understand the first install could be freakishly difficult. (coming from a guy who installed a simple 2 in lift). I think it is not made for a TJ with the soundbar installed because I can't get the rear window to zip down. I can get one side zipped but the other side ends up about three inches from its attachment point. Tugging and pulling to no avail. My only other choice is to let is sit in the sun longer. Any ideas?

[AzTrailrunner]

pm sent

[dirtgrip]

Okay, dirtgrip anyone and rdelling if you are on this forum. Do you have a soundbar installed? I do, and I understand the first install could be freakishly difficult. (coming from a guy who installed a simple 2 in lift). I think it is not made for a TJ with the soundbar installed because I can't get the rear window to zip down. I can get one side zipped but the other side ends up about three inches from its attachment point. Tugging and pulling to no avail. My only other choice is to let is sit in the sun longer. Any ideas?
I have no soundbar(anymore) in my jeep-but I don't see why it wouldn't fit with or without.1st install is tough-definately get out into the hot sun for a few hrs.Try unzipping the 1 side you did & zipping a little on each side evenly bringing them down together-this should help stretch.You are probably not going to be able to zip all the way to the bottom in 1 attempt-another reason to let it set in the sun & come back & keep working on it a little at a time.

[dirtgrip]

Let me know what you think of it in 6 months!!
7 months and counting.Still love it and would buy another.