Comparing road noise of soft vs hard top

[Rocksalt]

this video by jeep informant does a decibel test. no real difference hard vs soft top.

Sponsored

 

[TPiz]

I have the soft top. I find it to be decent as far as noise with normal driving. But does it do a decent job of dampening the outside noise of other vehicles, especially trucks? I find myself on the highways and it does seem like I hear a lot more coming in as far as those types of louder noises. I may get a hardtop specifically for the winter life and when it comes to summer, the top is basically off or switch back to the soft-top.

 

[Hockeypilot44]

Jeep never should have offered anything other than half doors and soft tops in my opinion. It's meant to be an open air vehicle. If you live in Florida, soft top should be no-brainer.

Of course my jeep build is a unicorn. Bright white max tow with soft top, tan seats, and 8.4" radio. That combination is apparently extremely rare.

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

I think I have finally made a decision. What helped was asking my wife her opinion (with no obligation to act accordingly!).

I showed her pictures of the hardtop with Freedom Panels removed, and pictures of the soft top in open position. I said the soft top would open above the rear seat, while the Freedom Panels only above the front seat. Fine for me, since most of the time I will be driving. Don't I care about passengers?

She reminded me that when we had our Chrysler Sebring convertible about 20 years ago, riding in the rear seat was not great with top down, because of no shielding by windshield. I know the two situations are not completely comparable, but this was enough for me to decide that I am going to get the body-color HT, and probably the Bestop Sunrider for Hardtop. I will keep the Bestop on normally, then replace it with Freedom Panels when I go on long roadtrips.

Thanks to everyone for weighing in on this.

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

Thanks to everyone for weighing in on this.

I did finally order my Gladiator, with just the body-color hardtop. Did not get the factory headliner, as I intend to get HotHeads.

 

[BAT]

I have yet to see a JT on the road with either the top off or down. Not even the two front freedom panels removed. Everyone so far has had the full top on. The weather has been fantastic for having the top off

 

[eaglerugby04]

I have yet to see a JT on the road with either the top off or down. Not even the two front freedom panels removed. Everyone so far has had the full top on. The weather has been fantastic for having the top off

I have seen probably 14 or so of them on the road. Only one other than mine even had the soft top. I think my JT is the only Jeep I have seen since getting mine in november with the doors off. have seen a few topless drivers, but almost always two doors only.

 

[sirphenergan]

Took delivery in December but decided to throw the soft top on last week since it warmed up a little bit in NC. I’m so happy I did. I had considered selling the soft top since so many people are wanting to buy them, but I’ll be hanging onto it for sure now. The ease of being able to throw back the sunrider top is great. Obviously it’s a little noisier than the hard top but no different than the wrangler, and honestly probably quieter because you don’t have rear windows to flap around. While I agree it looks a little silly with the “top down,” it looks no different than a wrangler when you open the sunrider but leave the back corners in place. I know OP has already ordered, but for anyone else on the fence, I think it’s well worth it. Now I just need to find a hoist to get the hard top out of the way. They always seem so much bigger off the jeep and in the garage!

 

[eaglerugby04]

Took delivery in December but decided to throw the soft top on last week since it warmed up a little bit in NC. I’m so happy I did. I had considered selling the soft top since so many people are wanting to buy them, but I’ll be hanging onto it for sure now. The ease of being able to throw back the sunrider top is great. Obviously it’s a little noisier than the hard top but no different than the wrangler, and honestly probably quieter because you don’t have rear windows to flap around. While I agree it looks a little silly with the “top down,” it looks no different than a wrangler when you open the sunrider but leave the back corners in place. I know OP has already ordered, but for anyone else on the fence, I think it’s well worth it. Now I just need to find a hoist to get the hard top out of the way. They always seem so much bigger off the jeep and in the garage!

Those things are a pain to store, especially in this area do to such a long topless season. Having my dad's JKUR top in my shed for 3 years before he decided to use it again was the main reason I went soft only on mine, lol.

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

I know OP has already ordered, but for anyone else on the fence, I think it’s well worth it. Now I just need to find a hoist to get the hard top out of the way. They always seem so much bigger off the jeep and in the garage!

OP here. Yes, I did order recently. For weeks went back and forth in my thinking between dual top and HT only. Ultimately decided on HT only (body color version). It ultimately boiled down to staying within a certain budget, with the knowledge that I can buy the soft top aftermarket in a couple years if I want to.

By the way, I did not order the factory headliner. Reason being I am ordering the Hotheads headliner, which I believe with the Sound Assassin strips and side panels will be even more effective. And they come in different colors. Did I mention cheaper?

 

[Empty Pockets]

I bought a hard top and opted for the aftermarket Sunrider for Hardtop. I love it. It is, to me, the best of both worlds. The only time I notice the Sunrider being louder in the closed position is when I’m at a light close to a LOUD radio. In the open position can easily use the hands free phone at 70mph. I live in the Atlanta area and we get a lot of rain this time of year. I really like how quick the top opens and closes without even having to pop the seatbelt. And I’ve never had a drop of a leak. Just my 2 cents....

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

I bought a hard top and opted for the aftermarket Sunrider for Hardtop. I love it. It is, to me, the best of both worlds. The only time I notice the Sunrider being louder in the closed position is when I’m at a light close to a LOUD radio. In the open position can easily use the hands free phone at 70mph. I live in the Atlanta area and we get a lot of rain this time of year. I really like how quick the top opens and closes without even having to pop the seatbelt. And I’ve never had a drop of a leak. Just my 2 cents....

Thanks for the info! really appreciate it. I may follow your example, but first got to wait for Jeep to build my Gladiator...

 

[Hockeypilot44]

Now that I have my Gladiator, I can say the premium soft top is way quieter than expected. I was able to talk to my wife while driving 80 MPH. I'm coming from a 2002 Wrangler with the half doors though and a cheap aftermarket top.

I don't regret one bit not getting a hard top. Of course I live in South Florida where it never gets below freezing.

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

Now that I have my Gladiator...

Lucky! Still waiting.

Of course I live in South Florida where it never gets below freezing.

I think it got below freezing (just barely!) twice in my 33 years in Naples. Can't say I mind.

 

[GOT16]

Those things are a pain to store, especially in this area do to such a long topless season. Having my dad's JKUR top in my shed for 3 years before he decided to use it again was the main reason I went soft only on mine, lol.

had both tops on my 2014 before just traded in for my JT, also with both tops.
made a very cheap lift in garage with 6 eyebolts and ratchet straps.
never had an issue, hangs for 6 months of the year, out of the way, simple to do.
7th year of using this method.

Sponsored