Convertible Soft Top Options

[portalgun]

Just give it a little push up while sitting in the drivers seat and driving 5mph and the wind catches it and softly pushes it all the way back. It's as simple as a miata's honestly.

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[BAT]

It opens easily but not from the driver's seat. I have to be out on the step rail to fold it all the way back. Same with closing it. The lift assist shocks are what causes it to have to be outside to open it all the way.

I am happy with my decision though and will be putting it back on come springtime.

I like being able to pull the rear window and rear corners easily and the rear window stays tight.

Ah your doing it wrong. Just flip the latches while at red light, push up and then go about 5 mph it will fold back nice and easy without ever having to get out of the truck. Have done this many, many times.

 

[MPMB]

Just give it a little push up while sitting in the drivers seat and driving 5mph and the wind catches it and softly pushes it all the way back. It's as simple as a miata's honestly.

I prefer the 25mph instant-open method. lol.

 

[mfm76]

I went with a Suntop. Super easy to roll up for full open air driving with the option to take rear window out. Framework install does take a little time, but you're only putting it on and off in the spring & fall. It's honestly a bigger hassle to store the hard top than it is to install the Suntop. I got lucky and found mine on marketplace for a great price.

 

[sharpsicle]

What's people's experience with various soft tops? Looking for something to easily swap out the hard top seasonally that allows a quick shift to full open air (no Freedom Panels or hardtop).

You've literally just described the factory soft top.

 

[LordEnzo]

Those with premium top, is it easy to clean mud off, or will it stain? Prefer premium for lil added thickness, but I think regular may be more durable with how I like to have fun.

 

[SeanD]

Not much out there. Have the Suntop personally and I like it. Install isnt just throw the frame up there and ready to go but doesnt seem the factory one really is either. There is one other i have seen by rugged ridge which is a neat design that folds in the middle instead of flopping to the back.

Only thing I really dont care for is the suntop is a little loose and floppy in the middle at higher speeds with a poor designed removable support bar. I do like its half the price of the factory one and came in tan.

yep, saw that one and thought it would be better than some of the other options that don't fold away as nicely. There's really cool one that is in production but you have to go on a waitlist...oh, and its> $5K. It's pretty BA though: https://mytop.us/products/gladiator-jeep-top

 

[SeanD]

You've literally just described the factory soft top.

I get ya...that's why I was asking for "various" options. Not thrilled with the way that one sits when opened.

 

[SeanD]

Gladiator myTop

yep, very cool.

 

[sharpsicle]

yep, saw that one and thought it would be better than some of the other options that don't fold away as nicely. There's really cool one that is in production but you have to go on a waitlist...oh, and its> $5K. It's pretty BA though: https://mytop.us/products/gladiator-jeep-top

I don't think you can swap this out for the hard top each season like you want. It's a one-time install deal that needs to be installed by a certified participating shop (hopefully that changes if/when they ever leave the prototype phase). Doesn't look designed to be easily removed after install. Heck, the install itself takes the better part of a day.

Not that you couldn't do it I suppose, but it's not meant to be rotated in and out. In fact, in their FAQ they even answer that question by saying "why would you want to?", which is admitting it's not meant to do that without saying it.

 

[geneinhouston]

Exactly. You can do it by yourself. I literally did it at a red light this morning. Popped the parking brake, undid latches, tossed the top back.

I love my soft top - was honestly the #1 "must have" for my Gladiator. That, and the manual transmission.

Also, I don't get the hate for the "man bun" look, by the way. Looks exactly the same as the Sunrider position IMO!

same...in fact i think it looks cool

 

[Lush]

I go back and forth on this one. Currently I just take the freedom panels off, but that does get old and there are days where it starts out not favorable to taking the top off, but ends up that way. Or, the inverse happens.

But I would like to be able to drive down to the beach and flip the top off partway through, and be able to flip it back on as we head home. Only having the hard top currently, I wouldn't want to make the entire trip down and back without the back half in case weather didn't cooperate, and just taking the freedom panels off wouldn't really work since I pack the bed FULL of stuff to go.

So I have been torn between soft top, or sunrider. I worry if I get a full soft top, where would I store my hard top and would I ever want to put the hard top back on!

 

[YJGUY]

I have the sunrider for my JL. Its one of the best things I've bought for the Jeep. We have the hard panels on for the winter but as soon as the weather looks like it will stay above freezing it will go back on. The first time you install it, it might take 20 minutes or so, you have to get a little Z shaped hook in place. After that, I can swap in on or off in 10 minutes if we are going somewhere and want the extra security of the hard panels. I honestly don't think I'll ever put the full soft top on again.

I'm sure they will be on sale as spring approaches. I think I got mine for $200 off MSRP.

 

[Ogre_FL]

I have the sunrider for my JL. Its one of the best things I've bought for the Jeep. We have the hard panels on for the winter but as soon as the weather looks like it will stay above freezing it will go back on. The first time you install it, it might take 20 minutes or so, you have to get a little Z shaped hook in place. After that, I can swap in on or off in 10 minutes if we are going somewhere and want the extra security of the hard panels. I honestly don't think I'll ever put the full soft top on again.

I'm sure they will be on sale as spring approaches. I think I got mine for $200 off MSRP.

I think the Sunrider & hardtop on the JL/Wrangler makes sense as the hard top still has a few benefits on the JL/Wrangler platform.
Like less noise, the rear hatch feature and the rear wiper/washer.
It also does offer a bit more security as the slash & grab is typically through the back.
I like the Sunrider/hard top on ours (do wish it was more open though) and considered a full soft top, but the benefits of the hard top are too great.

On the JT/Gladiator, not so much.
The noise is not that different, the back window stays remarkably clean (unlike the JL where we use the wiper/washer often) and access is the same.
There may be a bit more security, but the JT does not allow for the slash and grab like on a Wrangler.
Particularly if you have some kind of a cover that limits access to the bed.
I have the soft top and would not consider a hard top/sunrider on it.
Maybe if I lived somewhere cold/snowy.....but I dont.

 

[Rhayez32]

I go back and forth on this one. Currently I just take the freedom panels off, but that does get old and there are days where it starts out not favorable to taking the top off, but ends up that way. Or, the inverse happens.

But I would like to be able to drive down to the beach and flip the top off partway through, and be able to flip it back on as we head home. Only having the hard top currently, I wouldn't want to make the entire trip down and back without the back half in case weather didn't cooperate, and just taking the freedom panels off wouldn't really work since I pack the bed FULL of stuff to go.

So I have been torn between soft top, or sunrider. I worry if I get a full soft top, where would I store my hard top and would I ever want to put the hard top back on!

I specifically ordered a Sport with the hardtop. After driving it for a while, I thought I might like a Sunrider but I ended up finding a local guy with a Dual Top option Mojave that wasn’t planning on using his soft top. So I wound up buying a Premium soft top still in the box for the same price as a Sunrider. The hardtop has been hanging in the ceiling of my garage ever since. I’ve got two little girls that sure do love when the soft top is down. The Sunrider wouldn’t have gave them as much of an open air feel in the back seat. I still think the Sunrider is a great option, especially if there’s no “bosses” in the back seat.

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