POLL: Should I Buy A Soft Top ?

[sass JT]

Seems like great mines think a like.
I also started with a hardtop then added a sunrider, felt bad my kids couldn't also enjoy the open top so I picked up a soft top.
Now it's soft top full time till I take my truck up to my place in the mountains, then it's hard top with sunrider.
We also share the same liking in wheels, tires, and winch shackle. ?

absolutely!

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[Jteakus]

You should buy it. Same setup from Bam Wholesale is over $2k. I want one.

 

[MoDean]

I run a sunrider and love it. That said, for that price I'd probably have the soft top. My JK came with both tops, and I always swapped them spring and fall here in NY.

 

[wchevron]

Had the hard top last year. Bought a soft top this winter. Put it on in the spring. I love it. Will keep it on until late fall then switch back to the hard top. Man bun isn't the best looking thing but I've gotten over it. I say get it, you won't regret it.

 

[Dartboy]

Another vote for buying the soft top
#1- as said, its a great price
#2- as crazy at it sounds, even though the extra open part is behind you, I think its a much more open feel than just the sunrider/freedom panels
#3 dont discount the airflow “safari style” top on for shade, rear window out for the breeze

 

[sass JT]

This thread should have a poll! Woot

 

[steveorama]

I say do it!

I can't speak to the JT soft tops, but I drove a soft top/half door TJ for 9 years as a daily in Texas and a few years before that the same thing, but with a YJ. Both were noisy, hot/cold, poor gas mpg, zero security, felt like you were driving a tent down the highway, and 100% awesome! Anywhere you went if you suddenly had the urge to go topless a couple quick unzips, roll up the windows and you're topless in about a minute or two. You didn't have to worry about where to store the top or even have to go back to pick it up on a road trip. The versatility was great and really made Jeep ownership so special. The safari style with all of the windows removed and just the top up was also pretty great cruising around in the desert too. It keeps the sun off you, but feels fully open air if it's not too hot. As this was before the 3 piece freedom tops, a hard top never made much sense to me on a Jeep then. You typically only saw them up north were it got cold it seemed. They were really a two man operation to remove and put back on unless you had a lift system.

That being said I've owned my JT a year now and I've removed the hard top zero times and removed the freedom panels maybe 3 times. I just don't have a place to safely store the top. Which is too bad as topless driving is one of the best feelings when the weather is nice and it's not 100+ like it has been the last 60 days. If I had a soft top I would probably use it whenever I could.

What I don't miss about a soft top though, is 1) it's a lot quieter with a hardtop and the headliners, like night and day quieter. Going 70mph down the highway you would have to crank the volume up pretty high on the stereo and scream back and forth to your passengers. 2) You have basically zero security for anything valuable in your Jeep with a soft top. You might as well have the top off. Since it was cheaper to have crack heads open my door and rummage through my stuff and realize I didn't have anything of value in there other than some loose change rather than slashing my windows or top, I just left the doors unlocked 24/7 for those 9 years. I don't think I used the door locks even once, what was the point? 3) The plastic windows get scratched over time. This is something that just happens overtime and gets worst if you remove them often. Even if you store them properly they will get scratched up. The top also starts to look faded after a while too that can be really bothersome if you're OCD. 4) Putting the windows back on when it gets cold. Shrinkage is real for your windows too when it's cold. It doesn't get discussed much, but you're driving around on a nice day with the top off, then it gets a little colder at night or there's rain headed you're way and you decide to put the windows back on. This is when you get to realize how strong your fingers are. I wrestled with this more than a few times and it was never pleasant. Considering the JT only has a rear window on the soft top this might not be as bad though.

 

[JET_83]

I never went the soft top route because I’d imagine the wind noise to be terrible when times I don’t want the top off.

 

[dcmdon]

To the OP. Have you tried taking your doors off.

I have a hardtop and was ready to buy a soft top for the summer. Until I discovered the joys of Top on - Doors off.

I get shade on my head and an even more airy open feeling.

I've removed the bottom bolts on my hinges and can take the doors off in a bit over 5 minutes. Also, I have a garage so I don't need to put the doors back on at night.

I ran around a lot with the freedom top off in April and May. (I'm in New England). But by June I had taken the doors off. By the middle of June I wanted some shade so I put the top back on.

I found my happy place. Doors off. Top on.

 

[Green_Gladiator]

honestly it’s your decision but $900 is an amazing price. for The soft top.
Good luck

Thanks for the in depth follow up! You touched all points very much appreciated...

This thread should have a poll! Woot

Done ... a little late but why not ?

 

[MCATDT]

My story is similar to many. JT came with hardtop. Added a sun rider which at the time was the best mod I had done to that point because it got used daily. Decided I wanted a full soft top to let everyone enjoy the open air. Got an identical deal on a premium soft top and have never looked back. Soft top is all I have run since I got it over 8 months ago. The hard top and sun rider have been hanging in the garage and I see no need to put them back on. Grab that soft top and don't look back.

 

[Green_Gladiator]

To the OP. Have you tried taking your doors off.

I have a hardtop and was ready to buy a soft top for the summer. Until I discovered the joys of Top on - Doors off.

I get shade on my head and an even more airy open feeling.

I've removed the bottom bolts on my hinges and can take the doors off in a bit over 5 minutes. Also, I have a garage so I don't need to put the doors back on at night.

I ran around a lot with the freedom top off in April and May. (I'm in New England). But by June I had taken the doors off. By the middle of June I wanted some shade so I put the top back on.

I found my happy place. Doors off. Top on.

I have not removed the doors yet .. but will as soon as the rainy season is over and it can't happen soon enough .. I'm garaged as well so no issues there, have to give it a try .. Happy Place - I need a buy a one way ticket their asap... ?

 

[Green_Gladiator]

My story is similar to many. JT came with hardtop. Added a sun rider which at the time was the best mod I had done to that point because it got used daily. Decided I wanted a full soft top to let everyone enjoy the open air. Got an identical deal on a premium soft top and have never looked back. Soft top is all I have run since I got it over 8 months ago. The hard top and sun rider have been hanging in the garage and I see no need to put them back on. Grab that soft top and don't look back.

Thanks bro! One thing for sure is many seem to love the soft top with no regrets! I spent the evening looking up options on YT for hanging the hardtop in the garage ? ..

 

[Green_Gladiator]

I could not find my JT with a soft top, it came with a black hard top. I wanted the soft top because it is the family convertible, all seats get a view, and its easy to open and close. We can cruise at highway speeds and the top does not flop around (open or closed). I found the freedom tops annoying to remove/store/rinse/repeat. If you have a full truck bed there is not much room to store the panels. The kids don't get the open experience with the freedom top.

I was patient and found the same deal, brand new in box premium soft top with tinted window for $900. I bought it right away, installed it, and gave it about a month with my hard top in storage. I then sold my hard top for about $2,000, coming ahead in the deal. (then bought a bed cover and bed rack, so behind again).

There is more noise with the soft top, mostly loud trucks and motorcycles not so much road noise for me. The Alpine system is plenty to drown out any unwanted noise. We can have a family conversation with the top on easily, but can not have a conversation with the top or doors off.

I find the temperature not a problem, from freezing to 100's, I am able to remain comfortable. I really do not understand when people change their top out seasonally. I think these tops are all-year capable. No leaks for us.

We have had some wild critters walk on the roof at campgrounds, but no punctures.

Security wise, it would be easier to break into a soft top but it is not my daily driver and I don't care. For what it is worth, I would love a hybrid top with a hard shell back and glass window, with soft convertible top. I feel like the easy exposure is the plastic window not so much the fabric top.

In safari mode, I don't like the look of the top overhanging the back, without the window or side pieces in. I usually just leave the window in or leave the side pieces in. Manbun look doesn't bother me a bit.

Soft top for us, no regrets.

Either buy it or pass on the lead, that is a great deal and will make someone happy.

Great feedback brother! ... your JT looks great wheel color and paint combo is ? .. Selling the hardtop to recoup and free up funds for other mods is a good way to go. Much appreciated ?

 

[joeym7]

Got my Mojave in feb., put the Mopar Sun-rider on last month. Trust me, as much as I loved MO before I put the SR on, I love her even more. It just kicks up the entire "jeep" experience another BIG-notch. It took me one ride to get use to the looks.

I'm considering leaving it on all year, we get relatively mild winters in South NJ near the great Atlantic Ocean, and I mainly use MO only as a "Pleaseure-Craft", so I am pretty sure I will not freeze in the drivers seat with the SR on in winters...And "fairly" often we get a warmish very sunny winter day and opening up SR will make it all worth it.

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