Hard Top and Sunrider, one for winter and one for summer

[Jwarrenod]

How reasonable is it to run the Sunrider or similar tops in the summer here in WI and switch back to the hard top panels for winter?

JW

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[Loud Lyle]

Tagged for replies. I’m interested in this as well

 

[jcarbs]

Installing and removing the Sunrider top probably is a 30 minute at max procedure, once you have it assembled. The only issue would be storage, otherwise it should be something that you seriously consider. It's possibly one of my most favorite mods that I have done to my Gladitor. For me in the Houston area, I put my Freedom panels in their bag and they are now sitting in a closet. Not sure if they will ever go back on.

 

[Ogre_FL]

Swapping twice a year, no brainer.
I bitch a bit having to pull the Sunrider off to get the hard top off my JL, but its really not that much more time/effort than pulling the freedom panels, maybe 10 mins more.
Yup storing it would be the bigger challenge. I just throw it up on to the hard top before I lift it, but that wont work for your summer/winter use.

 

[Jwarrenod]

Thanks, that’s what I was looking for. Didn’t want it to be a “forever install”.

Winter here in WI can be hard on soft tops of all kinds!

JW

 

[jav_eee]

Ridiculously easy to swap back and forth.

 

[azmojave]

Opposite for me in the SW. Coming off for summer and on for winter. It’s six bolts to remove the sunrider. 5-10 min tops. Totally worth it. Even better if you can find a used one like I did.

 

[Gvsukids]

Tagged for replies. I’m interested in this as well

You can watch the thread without telling us.

 

[ducatijosh]

Thanks, that’s what I was looking for. Didn’t want it to be a “forever install”.

Winter here in WI can be hard on soft tops of all kinds!

JW

I do it all the time on my wrangler and gladiator, super quick and easy to swap back and forth.

 

[Nitroexpress]

I had the same idea that I would take off the Sunrider depending on the season. I installed Sunrider immediately after purchasing the Gladiator in January of ‘20 and have never found a reason to take it off. Granted, I don’t have the winters that you experience but I’ve had it in cold and snow and never once thought I needed the hard panels.

 

[Jwarrenod]

Yeah, it’s the snow and ice that I don’t want to exposer a $900 option to if I can avoid it on a regular basis.
JW

 

[redfish]

It is a 15 minute job, do it for my wife anytime she drives north from South Carolina on her JL during the winter, and VA is a far north as she drives

 

[FreedomWV]

I've only had mine installed for about two weeks now, agree with others that it is one of the best upgrades that you can do. I open mine up almost every time I get in now (pending weather) and I would not have done so with the freedom tops. I plan to do the same thing, remove for winter as winters here are rough sometimes. As others have mentioned 6 bolts and it is off.

 

[MJRSC]

Installing and removing the Sunrider top probably is a 30 minute at max procedure, once you have it assembled. The only issue would be storage, otherwise it should be something that you seriously consider. It's possibly one of my most favorite mods that I have done to my Gladitor. For me in the Houston area, I put my Freedom panels in their bag and they are now sitting in a closet. Not sure if they will ever go back on.

30mins... max. The best thing you can do as a Jeep owner is get a cordless ratchet, not necessarily an impact, but the cheaper/less powerful Milwaukee. 6 torx bolts and the sunrider is off.

I remove my Sunrider for longer trips thinking the had top is a smidge quieter.

 

[Labswine]

That's my standard operating procedure. Freedom panels from mid-late October to mid May then the Bestop SunRunner top the rest of the time.

Store the soft top hanging on a couple of rubber coated bicycle hooks (using the frame of it) in the winter and the Freedom panels in the factory supplied bag (hangs on one of the hooks) for the summer.

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