Comparing road noise of soft vs hard top

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

I have a question about tops. I had originally planned to order my Gladiator with the two-top option, but after watching all the videos online, I decided it is too much hassle to take off and re-attach the soft top (as opposed to putting it down and up). So I have decided to get either the three-piece hardtop, or the premium soft top, not both.

Some context: I live year-round in SW Florida, where we have at least 300 days out of the year when you can put the top down. But I want to go on road trips, even up north, especially after I retire (in 4 years, I hope). So it would be wonderfully convenient to be able to put the top down anytime I feel like it, but I also want maximum comfort when on the road.

OK, finally to the question: for those of you who have the premium soft top, is the road noise significant at 70 mph? Ideally someone who has both tops can provide a comparison.

Thanks.

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[furrymurray]

My soft top is not too loud at 70. I love my top and would order it again especially if I live in Florida.

 

[wry_whiskey]

I have both. Since I live in Minnesota used the soft top last summer and now have the hard top on. I don't recall the soft top ever being louder than the hardtop, and cannot wait to get the soft top back on. I would recommend just getting the soft top where you are at. Good luck!

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

I have both. Since I live in Minnesota used the soft top last summer and now have the hard top on. I don't recall the soft top ever being louder than the hardtop, and cannot wait to get the soft top back on. I would recommend just getting the soft top where you are at. Good luck!

Thanks for your thoughts.Believe it or not, I actually want to take some winter road trips in New England and the northern tier states, and I suppose I have been thinking, better get the hard top for snow.

 

[Mikegcny]

Besides the noise difference, the current OEM Soft Top does not fold down to the bed. So it looks like a spoiler hanging off of the back of the cab when its 'down'. Some here are holding out on getting a soft top until there is an aftermarket option that looks decent when folded down.

I actually do not think there are any pics on the Jeep website with the ST down. All the pics have it completely removed.

 

[brancky3]

Besides the noise difference, the current OEM Soft Top does not fold down to the bed. So it looks like a spoiler hanging off of the back of the cab when its 'down'. Some here are holding out on getting a soft top until there is an aftermarket option that looks decent when folded down.

I actually do not think there are any pics on the Jeep website with the ST down. All the pics have it completely removed.

Yes this is true, but the soft top is only held on by 4 bolts and easily comes off altogether. I'll gladly live with the trade off of easily putting the top back and having the 'mullet' when I don't have time to completely remove it.

 

[Mikegcny]

'mullet'

LOL. good way to put it.

 

[e36racer]

I'm in Miami with the premium soft top and love it. Surprisingly quiet and much easier to completely remove than the hard top. Plus it fits in the bed if you remove it all the way and still want take it with you for that surprise pop up south FL rain shower. Yes it looks a little silly in the open position, but I got over that real fast given how quick and easy it is to throw open at a red light. I would't worry about it in the snow either, I grew up in NJ and have seen plenty of soft top Jeeps and convertible cars with well over 12" of snow on them and the roof didn't cave in. Jeep wouldn't be able to sell it with the soft top as standard equipment and the hardtop only as an option, if it could not handle being covered in snow. The NTSB would have a field day with that one.

 

[aj8544]

Dont have a JT yet, but have a JL and live in upstate NY. Originally bought with only hard top, and even installed a hoist for the hardtop in our garage. Took about a month to realize that if you really like top off driving the soft top would be way better. Ended up buying a premium soft top. The hard top has the full hot heads headliner kit with sound assassin strips, and honestly there is no real difference in road noise. The only time I notice any sound difference is when stopped at a traffic light other vehicles sound louder than with the hard top. On the highway the wind noise off the windshield area is the most prominent noise and is no different between tops.

If I could only have 1 top it would be the soft top. Not having to worry about a pop up rain shower allows way more top down driving. The freedom panels are easy enough to remove, but the experience is not the same as removing the whole top imo.

I’ve researched and even started a thread on soft top snow load- no official guidance from Jeep, but i havent heard of any issues, and I see soft tops all winter here in snowy NY.

If I lived in FL theres no way Id consider anything other than premium soft top.

 

[Trauma PA]

I have a question about tops. I had originally planned to order my Gladiator with the two-top option, but after watching all the videos online, I decided it is too much hassle to take off and re-attach the soft top (as opposed to putting it down and up). So I have decided to get either the three-piece hardtop, or the premium soft top, not both.

Some context: I live year-round in SW Florida, where we have at least 300 days out of the year when you can put the top down. But I want to go on road trips, even up north, especially after I retire (in 4 years, I hope). So it would be wonderfully convenient to be able to put the top down anytime I feel like it, but I also want maximum comfort when on the road.

OK, finally to the question: for those of you who have the premium soft top, is the road noise significant at 70 mph? Ideally someone who has both tops can provide a comparison.

Thanks.

I’d order both. Cheapest option. I live in SW Florida and have had JKs and JLs with soft tops. Summer time from around the end of June until mid October is not a good time for running a soft top. The sun really beats down hard on the black canvas and the cab heats up a lot quicker than it would with just the hard top on. Plus it is rainy season during that time frame. From mid October until June it’s soft top time for me or top completely off. I have spoken to Bestop reps and they are not going to be making an aftermarket option for the Gladiator anytime soon. Just not gonna happen. So buy the dual top option and you won’t regret having the best of both worlds.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I only have the hard top - however, if one considers the area that each top covers, I can understand there being little difference in sound. Face it - road noise is mostly from the sides and below - tires, wind going around the vehicle and so on. Once the wind is cut and going over or around the sound is made. I can see little to no real difference. Rain maybe - but that's only part of the time you are driving it in most places, unless you live in the PNW areas.

 

[Godfadr]

I have had numerous Jeeps (both soft and hardtop). I can tell you that this is the best soft top they have ever made in regards to road noise.

Additionally, I did a decibel meter reading between both hardtop and soft top. They were VERY close. - I think that is largely due to the lighter weight hardtops they are starting to use.

 

[aj8544]

I’d order both. Cheapest option. I live in SW Florida and have had JKs and JLs with soft tops. Summer time from around the end of June until mid October is not a good time for running a soft top. The sun really beats down hard on the black canvas and the cab heats up a lot quicker than it would with just the hard top on. Plus it is rainy season during that time frame. From mid October until June it’s soft top time for me or top completely off. I have spoken to Bestop reps and they are not going to be making an aftermarket option for the Gladiator anytime soon. Just not gonna happen. So buy the dual top option and you won’t regret having the best of both worlds.

Gotta love this topic- most opinions I've seen are the opposite- that the soft top breathes better and therefore doesn't get as hot when sitting. Not hot enough long enough here for me to really be able to say- but I can attest that with the hard top on before I did the hotheads headliner you could feel the heat radiating on top of your head if it sat in the sun very long. And if it were me during rainy season is when I'd want the soft top on- so that you can go topless during the limited time of day when it's not raining...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Gotta love this topic- most opinions I've seen are the opposite- that the soft top breathes better and therefore doesn't get as hot when sitting. Not hot enough long enough here for me to really be able to say- but I can attest that with the hard top on before I did the hotheads headliner you could feel the heat radiating on top of your head if it sat in the sun very long. And if it were me during rainy season is when I'd want the soft top on- so that you can go topless during the limited time of day when it's not raining...

It's BLACK, not sure how would it be cooler?
Unless it really lets air flow through, that hot air is still trapped.
Like any good infrared heater, it would radiate that heat inward.
One reason we didn't get a black top with ours, and went body color, having had cars with black roofs - I know how they get.
The black gets hot and the heat is radiated inward in a way similar to how an infrared heater works, heating the air and things around it and below it.

 

[ATLalien]

I actually kind of wish I had gotten a soft top, as it would be easier to get more of it down faster. Needing someplace to put the large rear section and the near constant threat of pop up showers in warm weather here have resulted in me only having removed the freedom tops so far.

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