I leave my top off all the time and park it under a tree. You end up having to vacuum out stuff falling from the tree of course, but I haven't noticed my interior getting damaged at all. I've had the freak summer rain storm hit once or twice and the interior help up just fine. I personally have removed all the carpet and the interior has seen better days thanks to drunk friends but leaving it out should not be a problem. 3 years topless and the seats looked just like the day I got the truck.....excepts for damage from drunk buddies.

 

No, I don't think you are being to careful. Yes, your interior would be exposed to the elements. So what do you think the elements would do to your interior?
Some people have it off all year, maybe those people don't care bout dusty, dirty damp/wet, bird pooped interiors.
My interior is pristine and the top is never coming off. Although the top is "removable" I really don't think Ford wanted you to remove it or they wouldn't have made it such a pain in the ass to do or integrated the seat belts into the top, 92-96.
Its pretty much a use your common sense type of thing

 

Tend to agree with these sentiments.

 

You can always use a car/truck cover just to be safe.

 

All it takes is one rain storm. Then you will be on here asking how to get some of the electronic things working again. Make sure to spray the fuse box with the electrical connector protection stuff

 

buy a soft top if you want to leave it off.. :thumbup

 

My top stays off from March until October. I park it in the garage, and pretty much only drive it when the weather is nice during that season. During hunting season (Oct to March) the top stays on. Now I swapped my carpet for a rubber floor, and my back seat is vinyl. If I do get caught in a pop up rain storm, I just fold my backseat up to minimize the amount of rain it catches and roll on. I have noticed that on the highway the back seat pretty much stays dry as long as I am moving, but once I stop it gets wet. Haha. It's been rained in plenty of times with no electrical issues at all up to this point BTW.

 

I run adhesive weatherstripping along the bed rail to cover the exposed holes for top bolts. I run it all the way around including up the cab as there are three bolt holes there as well. Also, rain does puddle in the bed sometimes. Especially in the receiver cup where the back seat catch is. I sprayed the backseat with 303 and fold it forward when I know rain is coming. I take the top off for roughly 7 months

 

Once I get to that point, mine probably will run without a top, in the summer, most of the time. I won't have any carpet to worry about, as that is all coming out. I plan on using Lizard Skin, then a truck bed coating, to the floor of mine.

 

Hey, enjoy the feeling.

Now that the top is off, is a good time to assess the need to restore or replace the hard top rubber gaskets. I replaced mine, and it took a couple of hours to remove the old rubber from the hard top. Store the hard top inside if possible and treat the rubber gaskets with something to keep them flexible if you plan to reuse them next fall.

If also suggest treating the seats very often with a product of your choice to keep them from fading. It would also be a good idea to install some cheap seat covers to lessen the impact.

 

All good advice here... The level of extra protection you provide the interior is in direct relation to how much you care about the interior of the truck. Sun will fade/damage fabrics (seats, carpet), plastics and press board panels (interior rear quarter). Rain will do the same, but will also soak into your carpet and insulation and mildew and or cause rust. Seat covers and rust protecting your tub are good starts. Carry a large tarp with plenty of bungees so you can cover it quickly if needed...

 

I accidentally left my windows down over night and it rained like hell. The one electrical thing I have (radio) worked just as bad as it always did. I have seat covers, vinyl and rubber floors too though. All now very clean.:thumbup

 

Congrats on taking the roof off! I took my roof off a few weeks ago and so far nothing bad has gotten into it. As long as you stay on top of the weather it's no different than riding a motorcycle.

Also, welcome to FSB! Now that the roof is off you must be happier with the truck. Got any photos of it?

Here's mine:

 

N.E. WA here and I just took my top off! :rockon

Can't even imagine not taking advantage of one of the coolest features of a Bronco.
Morning dew can be a little problematic and sun damage can be easily underestimated.
Nothing that a little extra care and keeping an eye on the weather report can't deal with though.

temp top... for those "surprise" rain storms... (old Bronco, not my current one)

 

As long as it doesnt get rained on you should be ok. A tarp works wonders

 

I run all summer long without the hard top. This bikini top and tonneau I made works well to deal with any rain that comes my way. The most I'll do is flip all the seat foreward so I have someplace dry to sit.

 

I like that bikini top. Did you have to make the fabric part also, or repurpose from a jeep or something?

 

I plan on leaving mine off in the warm months, but it'll stay in the garage if any chance of rain

 

I generally leave my trucks out in a tractor shed, as my show car and race car take up my two main shop spots most of the year. How do the interiors stand up to top off but at least under a roof most of the time?

 

I like the top off on my 96 because I've got that cargo cover thing that rolls out over the bed area

Western WA has been gorgeous the past few days. I'm on FT Lewis right now and was supposed to be going back to CA July 11 but now I'm staying until Aug 20 or something. Pretty sure I'll have my top off at some point. Anyone know if I can put a hard top over a soft top? I want a soft top but my hard tops in great shape too.

 

no, a hard top won't go over a soft top.

 

I leave it off, when it rains I just put the car cover on.

 

My top stays off from spring to fall. I've never had any electrical problems. Now if it's going to be a down poor I put my little rain blocker in. We just had the wettest May in Oklahoma history and the wettest mouth here ever and everything is still working just fine.

 

Any suggestions for sturdy inexpensive seat covers. I don't mind something that looks industrial or strapped on, but it has to tighten ok. I looked at the smittybilt and carhartt covers, but was deterred because I don't know how they would fit. No reviews. Any suggestions?

 

In my experience sturdy and inexpensive don't go together..you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to seat covers..I went through a set of cheapo mossy oak covers that didn't fit well before I dropped the coin on a set of superhides..

these have been on my rig for over 5 years, you can't get a better fit, and other than a little fading they still look great..

 

Had two tops for my Jeep, soft summer, hard winter. Either way keep it covered if you like to keep your interior from being trashed. Plus people in parking lots hate other people with nice vehicles, had my seats slashed and stuff stolen out of my Jeeps a few times.

 

I watch the weather reports, if its sunny for days, top off. when rains forecast, top on. I upgraded the torx bolts to hex heads to help speed changeover time.

 

Leaving topless Bronco outside during the summer........... is not a wise thing to do.


its not just the rain. Its mostly about the squirrels, birds, rats, mice, bugs. they love to get into parked cars and eat wiring, insulation, headliners, carpet.

 

YUP been there.