Is soft top warm enough?

[Carlton]

I had 4 JKs with hard tops. I decided to go soft top this time. FCA did a great job designing this top. It is just as quiet as the hard top and just as warm.

It isn't anything like the old trash bag tops that flapped in the wind and blew up like a balloon on the TJ.

I live in Chicago and drove it all winter in weather as cold as -50 degrees.

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[steffen707]

I had 4 JKs with hard tops. I decided to go soft top this time. FCA did a great job designing this top. It is just as quiet as the hard top and just as warm.

It isn't anything like the old trash bag tops that flapped in the wind and blew up like a balloon on the TJ.

I live in Chicago and drove it all winter in weather as cold as -50 degrees.

you had a soft top in chicago with what vehicle, jk, jl?

 

[FunWagon]

I have a JK with only the soft top and half doors (the upper door halves are fabric like the soft top... you zipper your plastic windows to open and close) for 10 years now...

In NJ with below freezing and snow... no problem!

- With half doors the only glass window is the front windshield. All other plastic windows don’t get ice buildup in winter!!! In the morning only need to clear ice from front windshield.
- Once engine warm, heater is strong and never felt cold or that heat leaks. I have to lower the heat as it gets too hot in the Jeep.
- Never had water leak in from the outside for 10 years
- I like how the engine stays warm even after getting back to the Jeep after sitting in a restaurant for an hour in the winter. Heater ready to go right away.
- Cloth seats don’t become freezing cold like leather seats when you get in, in the morning.
- The cloth seats have some sort of water resistant treatment, even after 10 years, that really works very well to protect from rain or spills. Of course if it pours they get soaking wet, but after a day in the sun with Jeep open they dry up. And any rain that accumulates in the floor can be drained via the floor plugs. If you leave Jeep open in rain of course.

 

[steffen707]

I have a JK with only the soft top and half doors (the upper door halves are fabric like the soft top... you zipper your plastic windows to open and close) for 10 years now...

In NJ with below freezing and snow... no problem!

- With half doors the only glass window is the front windshield. All other plastic windows don’t get ice buildup in winter!!! In the morning only need to clear ice from front windshield.
- Once engine warm, heater is strong and never felt cold or that heat leaks. I have to lower the heat as it gets too hot in the Jeep.
- Never had water leak in from the outside for 10 years
- I like how the engine stays warm even after getting back to the Jeep after sitting in a restaurant for an hour in the winter. Heater ready to go right away.
- Cloth seats don’t become freezing cold like leather seats when you get in, in the morning.
- The cloth seats have some sort of water resistant treatment, even after 10 years, that really works very well to protect from rain or spills. Of course if it pours they get soaking wet, but after a day in the sun with Jeep open they dry up. And any rain that accumulates in the floor can be drained via the floor plugs. If you leave Jeep open in rain of course.

and the new cold weather group has heated seats and heated steering wheel. I've got a 3.6L chrysler motor in my MINIVAN, it heats up in like 4-5 minutes from 0-10 degree temps. Amazing! I'll have to test drive a rubicon JT in winter after they're out before I decide on soft top or hard top or both.

Say, @FunWagon did you park your softop JK outside in winter? Any problems with snow/ice buildup on the softtop?

 

[jeepguy225]

and the new cold weather group has heated seats and heated steering wheel. I've got a 3.6L chrysler motor in my MINIVAN, it heats up in like 4-5 minutes from 0-10 degree temps. Amazing! I'll have to test drive a rubicon JT in winter after they're out before I decide on soft top or hard top or both.

Say, @FunWagon did you park your softop JK outside in winter? Any problems with snow/ice buildup on the softtop?

there is that damn minivan talk again.

 

[steffen707]

there is that damn minivan talk again.

i'm just going to start letting you know every post I comment about my minivan. =)

 

[jeepguy225]

i'm just going to start letting you know every post I comment about my minivan. =)

good, that will make it easier for me to troll your minivan. lol

 

[Carlton]

you had a soft top in chicago with what vehicle, jk, jl?

JLUR.

 

[steffen707]

JLUR.

did you have to park outside? How did it do with snow/ice on the roof?

 

[Carlton]

did you have to park outside? How did it do with snow/ice on the roof?

It was parked outside all winter due to not fitting in my garages. The Jeep lifted on 40s was too tall.

There is a design flaw. The soft top rails that run the length of the roof end/line up perfectly with the front door gaps. Water runs from these rails straight into the door gaps and collects in the door limiters. Once the jeep cools down, or the temperature drops, the water freezes. This prevents you from being able to open your front doors. Multiple times this winter, I came out to the jeep to find I couldn't open the doors, which resulted in me taking another vehicle...

 

[steffen707]

It was parked outside all winter due to not fitting in my garages. The Jeep lifted on 40s was too tall.

There is a design flaw. The soft top rails that run the length of the roof end/line up perfectly with the front door gaps. Water runs from these rails straight into the door gaps and collects in the door limiters. Once the jeep cools down, or the temperature drops, the water freezes. This prevents you from being able to open your front doors. Multiple times this winter, I came out to the jeep to find I couldn't open the doors, which resulted in me taking another vehicle...

That's a significant design flaw.

 

[drogers]

That's a significant design flaw.

Sounds like the real flaw is living somewhere that it freezes regularly.

 

[steffen707]

Sounds like the real flaw is living somewhere that it freezes regularly.

Ain't that the truth, or the flaw is not having a heated garage spot to park it in.

 

[DenverGladiator]

I had a factory soft top and half doors for 14yrs on my TJ, never had an issue with it too cold or leaks. Lived in northern Indiana (with no garage) and Colorado. That heater was a beast ... drove cold Colorado mornings to work with the top down and mid 40s, heat on floor only, kept me warm with a jacket on. During ice storms in Indiana, I would tap the plastic windows with my hand and the ice shattered off. Got lazy once, tapped the window with my ice scraper ... went all the way through and I had to order a new rear window.

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