Peter Boyer
Various colours are available to colour coordinate your rig.
Words and Photos by Peter Boyer
When the time comes to take the top off your Jeep why would you then install a sunshade to cover it up? It seems counterintuitive but given the high UV indexes that are reported across the country during the summer, many Canadians are conscious about exposure to the sun, while at the same time enjoying some of it. That is the purpose of a sunshade.
Widely available as an aftermarket upgrade, a sunshade is a heavy-duty mesh screen that’s designed to shield partial UV rays. It not only protects drivers and passengers but interior components, gear and upholstery in your rig.
Peter Boyer
We were impressed with the heavy-duty materials, sturdy buckles, and tough see-through screen.
If you have ever tried to ‘tarp down’ items on a cargo rack or in a truck bed, you know that wind is relentless. It’s also no small feat to effectively attach something to your vehicle that is secure so it doesn’t flap or create distracting wind noises.
When I was looking at some sunshades for my Jeep JK, I found a variety of different designs with types of attachment points. I learned that most sunshades are secured using a bungee-cord-type design, which attaches inside of a Jeep’s sport bar system.
One manufacturer, California-based JTopsUSA, offers its Sun Shade that fastens directly to the sport bar with self-locking buckles and heavy-duty straps. Most are simple in design and the one I tested - the Jeep Wrangler JK 2 Door Sun Shade - was said to have an installation time of three minutes. It took me ten, but it was pretty easy to attach and can be completed by almost anyone.
Peter Boyer
The JtopsUSA shade can fit on a variety of Jeeps.
What’s convenient is the sunshade can remain in place all season and a soft top (if you have one) can fit over the top of it – an advantage if you’re caught in a sudden rainstorm. I was impressed with the heavy-duty materials, sturdy buckles, and tough see-through screen. Clearly, this upgrade will last a long time on my JK.
JtopsUSA products can be ordered directly from their website at www.JTopsUSA.com. They even ship internationally. If you’d like to enjoy the summer protected from UV exposure, this product will do the job and provide many years of use.