Hard top or Soft top

[Firsttruck]

in the process for buying a gladiator. any arguments for either the hard top of soft top? in my younger days I could move the hard top around but now that i'm older i'm wondering if the soft top is a better option. i'm in the northeast so good or bad weather can pop up quickly so i was leaning towards the soft top. the soft top seems to have a more bubble look to it. i have a one car garage and storing the hard top might be difficult. help!

Sponsored

 

[Koolcarguy]

in the process for buying a gladiator. any arguments for either the hard top of soft top? in my younger days I could move the hard top around but now that i'm older i'm wondering if the soft top is a better option. i'm in the northeast so good or bad weather can pop up quickly so i was leaning towards the soft top. the soft top seems to have a more bubble look to it. i have a one car garage and storing the hard top might be difficult. help!

So congratulations on making the decision to get a Gladiator I absolutely love both of mine. I have hard tops but also have soft tops. But honestly the hard top for me is the one I prefer with the freedom tops I can easily pull them off and about 90% of the time that's enough open air for me and still have the warmth of hard in a few minutes if needed

 

[Charles 236]

Best of both worlds: Sunrider. Get a hardtop and replace the Freedom Panels with a Sunrider, you can have instant open top and be ready for sudden weather changes.

 

[firemedic2714]

I've always had both on all the Jeeps I've owned and I strongly encourage everyone to do the same. If I had to pick only one, I'd go hardtop, too. Like others have said, it's pretty easy to pop the freedom panels in and out. A manual top hoist is pretty cheap to buy (especially if you find a used one on Ebay, CL, or FB Marketplace) and easy to install on a garage ceiling. They make going completely topless quick to do and VERY easy when it's just you doing it.

 

[Cripton805]

I've had a soft top Wrangler and Hard Top Gladiator. I preferred the soft top because the entire roof pulls back with just two clips. I absolutely hated the plastic windows though. They scratch stupid easy. The Gladiator only has the rear window, so it might not be a huge issue to replace once it gets cloudy. You also don't have to worry about something smashing into the glass rear window if you have something in the bed.

The Hard Top was also pretty nice, but it's not the same experience if you only remove the freedom panels, but at least you have a glass rear window with a little slide window too. There was a lot of reports of that rear window leaking due to bad seals. Idk if Jeep ever fixed it or how many were affected. The glass rear window also can "defrost".

 

[Marob419]

I have both and both are great. This is how I store my stuff build the hard top rack my self way cheaper.

 

[redfish]

Soft top for me, almost gets pulled back every day, wouldn’t have it any other way

Wife has a JL hard top with a sun rider and I am constantly tryin to buy her a softop

 

[Empty Pockets]

I agree with Charles 236. I struggled with the decision, but in the end went with the hard top/sunrider combo. 100% satisfied with the decision.

 

[Gusman2424]

I have both for my wife's JT.... the truck was picked up with the black soft top installed and I picked up the color match Gobi hard top in my Tundra.

The hard top has not been installed yet! And this is in New England and even winters are fine. Remote starters are your friend!

I had a 2009 Wrangler 2door with the freedom top... really didn't like it... panels were cumbersome to take off and especially store on vehicle.

What I really would like is a base half door/canvas top option... at least the doors could be removed easily by one (old!) fat guy without too much trouble. The dual door option would obviously work but why pay for full doors with power windows/locks/full glass that cost a fortune and weigh a ton?

Oh, and just to show how much of an old fart I am... bring back water resistant vinyl seats and snap out carpet with drain plugs!

Now... get off my lawn!

Cheers...

Gusman

 

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

in the process for buying a gladiator. any arguments for either the hard top of soft top? in my younger days I could move the hard top around but now that i'm older i'm wondering if the soft top is a better option. i'm in the northeast so good or bad weather can pop up quickly so i was leaning towards the soft top. the soft top seems to have a more bubble look to it. i have a one car garage and storing the hard top might be difficult. help!

I've had both on a previous Jeep. For my Gladiator, I went with just the soft top because the #1 reason I got the JT is the fun with the top down (and doors off). These new soft tops are way better than the old days and, although louder than the hard top, are quite resistant to weather and the Jeep heater is great. Admittedly, I do have a second car I drive in the winter but that is mostly so I can just keep my doors and top off and never have to put them on.

 

[gunsnrods]

I guess the fur will fly. I bought the soft top. After two Wranglers with soft tops, side curtains, rear window is was real frustrating to cover up. Not so with the Glad. I am not a serious off-roader, I have a convertible pickup, Dodge had one years ago with the Dakota.

 

[redriderjf87]

If I could've done it over, I would've saved the money & hassle and just bought the premium soft top. I think it's really good as far as sound and heat insulation -the only concern for winter would be if you're somewhere that's going to have a bunch of wet snow sitting on it.

Sunrider with the hard top is a nice option, but definitely isn't equivalent to a full convertible, being able to open the full top, and/or the back in any combination. Just depends on what you want.

In regards to having both tops, attached is how I hang my hard top with my Amazon boat winch - for reference, as others mentioned.

 

[MF Comics]

Soft top

I had a factory hard top with my Bronco and spent my Christmas bonus asap to get a soft top

When I get a gladiator, definitely doing what I couldnt with my girl and going soft from the getgo

 

[Gvsukids]

in the process for buying a gladiator. any arguments for either the hard top of soft top? in my younger days I could move the hard top around but now that i'm older i'm wondering if the soft top is a better option. i'm in the northeast so good or bad weather can pop up quickly so i was leaning towards the soft top. the soft top seems to have a more bubble look to it. i have a one car garage and storing the hard top might be difficult. help!

More reading...

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/hard-top-or-soft-top.16936/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/hard-top-or-soft.31459/

 

[Trippin01]

I only speak from experience, so don't get mad all you hard top lovers. The gladiator/Jeep hard top is an over priced hunk of junk. If you like more noise, leaks, pain in the rear to remove and store with less headroom, then the hardtop is for you. IMO, buying a convertable and defeating its main appeal in the mid-size truck market is/was a huge mistake, I mean really, its one of the iconic super cool features that no other truck comes with. Would you buy a corvette and drop a briggs & stratton in it? nope, because the engine is what sets it apart in sports cars just like the ragtop JT. I saw it mentioned earlier in this post, I to bought a hardtop Dodge Dakota and regretted not getting the ragtop even to this day, what was I thinking. I do have the premium soft top and I don't miss the "Non-sense" of the goofy 3-piece hardtop at all. Now, the newer Front convertable Best-Top is also pretty cool, but the full ragtop is the bomb. I hauled my nasty 3-piece HT to the dump I was so dissappointed in its design & durability. Now?, no more leaks, no more water sloshing in the roof panels (if you don't believe me, the threads are on this site, search them) and I can go topless in a split second without having to worry about a place to store that silly plastic hard top. Never again will I make that dissapointing decission on a jeep. Remember this is only from 1st hand experience and my better judgement. I have had my JT 4 years now. anyone that tells them self "Its more secure" , "Its Safer" or "I live where its so cold, it would never heat up" Or "its hot where I live, it would never cool down" lies I tell you! Popping the top on date night is too cool. Premium Soft top all the way.

Sponsored