I finally got around to completing the Diabolical Slipstream install on my 4xe Rubi. My long winded assessment:
First of all, Alan from Diabolical was terrific to deal with handling questions over the phone on a Saturday; that was unexpected but greatly appreciated. FedEx botched the delivery window so I got it a few days later than expected, but the shipment packaging was superb. There was no damage at all despite the signs of it being tossed about like a football. A+ on packaging.
Unpacking took me, no lie, 30min to unwrap each piece and assess I had everything; without written diagram instructions I had to go back and forth from an install video on my laptop. Diabolical has an install video for a 4xe done in real time (~2hrs edited). It felt like it was about a 60lb package but I didn’t scale it.
That said, watching the various install videos is a MUST; this is a modular kit and as such it requires a bit of adjustment/readjustment during the install. The hardest part for me was pulling the paper backing off the squishy tape; the second hardest was alignment of the side-frames to allow smooth folding of the top panels. I bought extra 2”wide x 1/8”thick squishy tape from Grainger.com as I knew I’d be ripping that stuff and adding extra to various areas, which I did. Buy extra tape!
It took me 4hrs of actual work. Everything is bolts/washers/nyloc nuts and some places are hard to reach for adjustment later on. After getting it together, the folding top sections wouldn’t fit. So, I perused the 4xe video again and, yep, there is some adjusting to be done and I finally got it set the way I want. The one thing bugging me are the modular corners that are removable for soft top users; the corner pieces tend to rise up a little, showing a small gap but easily press down when the hard top goes on. I’ll have to figure some two-sided squishy tape to rectify that.
A concern I’d seen voiced was how this affects the hard top seal. I added some extra squishy tape to the body rail that wasn’t covered by the Slipstream to eliminate potential gaps. When I set the hard top on the Jeep, it fit perfectly. After completely reinstalling the top I did a road test and found no new air gap noises. It’s not been water tested, but I see no reason for any leaks. There is no discernable gap above the back seat doors either and looks totally stock as if the Slipstream wasn’t there.
There are some minor rattles from the locking pins but I’ll use some shrink wrap on the pins and/or some more squishy tape by the holes used by the pins. Buy extra roll(s) of squishy tape. I used some for areas where the Slipstream frame/panels touch or could potentially touch the interior panels to prevent scratches and further seal up the cargo area for when the hard top is off.
Diabolical Slipstream Score: A
After fussing with the install and comparing it to installing a Tuffy unit years ago in like 20min, I really do like the Slipstream. It maximizes the usable space and doubles as a tonneau cover when the hard top comes off and seems more secure. I think it’s priced a bit high, but the fit, part quality (including the hardware and powdercoating) and function, are excellent. I have no doubt the Slipstream can handle 200+ lbs evenly distributed. I’ll probably bolster the underside for even more rigidity for peace of mind and add more pics later. Quick pics for now (Please ignore the floor mat that isn't trimmed yet):
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