Snap Top vs. Fast Track

[bouncytruck]

I need to get a soft top for my '72. I have an old Kayline snap top on my '69 that I have been pleased with. What are the pros of a Fast Track vs. the Snap top. What are the con's? I'm in a quandary as to which way to go... Please, help me make a decision before the summer is gone!

[bouncytruck]

Someone's gotta have some input on thier soft tops...

[NuBomb]

I'm watching this one too. I'm planning on a fastrac for mine when the time comes. Hope someone can answer. The bikini top Yukon was helping with will work with the fastrac-not sure about snap top.

[71jimmy]

When you order your bikini top from YJ/TonyP you specify if you have snaps or the fastrac system.

[NuBomb]

you are right. That is my problem though. I don't have a fastrac now, but I plan to get one. I want to get he bikini for the fastrac, but I don't have the $ for the fastrac. Does anyone know if they sell the front piece for the fastrac without the top? like a replacement. That way I could mount the bikini without having to buy the top yet.

[michigank5]

I have the Specialty Top/Kayline Fasttrac top and love it. I really like the ability to just drive with the windows off on the sides and back and it still does a good job of keeping the rain out without any windows zipped on. Seals great everywhere and easy to put up or take down quickly. I also like the look of the aluminum tracks on the sides and back, plus there's much less holes to drill than the snap top. Installation is basically the same for both tops, but then you have to drill an additional 20+ holes for all the snaps and I've had friends with snap tonneau covers for their trucks and they say the snaps usually end up tearing off the fabric after a while since they have to be so tight, but the Fasttrac just locks into place after you install it loosely.

Nubomb, call Specialty Top Co (1-866-487-9944) and see if they can just sell you the windshield track, I'm pretty sure there was a parts order list that came with my top in case something ever broke, so you should be able to just order that part.

[Yukon Jack]

Good idea, just tell them the track got bent and you need another.

[2wdBlazer]

I have the Old School Best Top. Snaps. Works pretty good. Roll up safari style side windows. I actually keep the rear rolled up all the time because I did not want to put snaps in the tail-gate.

[Grim Reaper]

two differences between the two tops. Instead of snaps you have a track so it gets rid of that pucker around the snaps and makes it a smooth even tensions down the whole side.

The Fast track mimics the shape of the hard top more where the snap top has a little bit more slope on the rear. The side windows also zip out so instead of rolling up the windows and they getting all scratched up you remove them and leave them home or put them in a storage bag. If you put them in a storage bag go get some beach towels and keep the windows from rubbing each other causeing scratches.

I run most of the summer with the windows out just in safari mode on my top. It nice. Carpet is out of my truck so when it rains it runs right back out. As long as your moving nobody gets wet. Stopped and it blowing sideways....back seat passangers might get a little damp.
Product review I did on the Fastrac
http://www.coloradok5.com/stcreview.shtml

[bouncytruck]

Thanks everyone, this is exactly the info I was looking for. I like the roll up sides on my Kayline, but the windows are extremely scratched up. I was thinking more along the lines of the snap top, but with this info, I might go with the Fast Track. From the write up on CK5, it looks like you still have to drill a lot of holes but rather than putting snaps in there, you bolt down a metal strip. Are there less holes than the snap top?

[michigank5]

You do still have to drill about 5 or 7 holes accross the front lip of the window frame to screw down the aluminum track (perfect for the bikini top) and 3 up on each corner to snap it down, then about 5 or 7 accross the tailgate for the tailgate track. But you'd have to do the same, if not more in the same areas for the snap top, plus another 10 or so along the outside of the bed for all the side snaps. The strips that you bolt down on the sides of the bed use the existing hard top holes, no additional holes necessary.

[bouncytruck]

The snaps along the bed side on my '69 are on a metal rail bolted down to the top of the bed rail. Only one snap hole in the bed side at the far back corner, everything else is in the windshield frame and tailgate. There is probably about 8 accross the tailgate and 10-15 on the windshield frame. There are two special brackets bolted to the top back corners of the windshield frame that hold the top up over the doors.

Thanks again. Yukon Jack suggested I download the instructions to see what needs to be done to install. I'm now leaning towards the Fasttrack.