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[Jake]

Hey guys thanks for sharing your concerns. And not to worry. I don’t plan to ever take the main section of the roof off, will only take off the front two freedom panels on bright sun shiney days. Will not take the doors off either. Will not take the freedom panels off when it looks cloudy. The good thing is that the hard top comes with a bag for 2 freedom panels and I would just stow them in that bag in the bed of the truck under a hard trifold tonneau cover. So if it looks like it may rain I will be able to quickly pull them out and put them back on them truck to keep things dry. And I’ll probably smile and think about the time you two reminded me to keep my stereo system dry. Muchas gracias.

Is this water resistant? I'd be open to aftermarket head units, but I worry about how they'd hold up if caught in the rain with the top down.

If you plan to remove the top on your Jeep I suggest against an aftermarket system unless you plan to speed big bucks on a water resistant head unit. I found out the hard way with a 5 min rain shower that destroyed a 2k headunit.

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[Jeepers!]

I wonder if you can store the freedom panels behind the back seats. Probably not.

 

[steffen707]

But will you be able to get the front view camera with the small or medium screen?

crap, your comment made me think the bumpers that i'm drooling over might hinder the front camera.

 

[JTRUBI]

Hey guys thanks for sharing your concerns. And not to worry. I don’t plan to ever take the main section of the roof off, will only take off the front two freedom panels on bright sun shiney days. Will not take the doors off either. Will not take the freedom panels off when it looks cloudy. The good thing is that the hard top comes with a bag for 2 freedom panels and I would just stow them in that bag in the bed of the truck under a hard trifold tonneau cover. So if it looks like it may rain I will be able to quickly pull them out and put them back on them truck to keep things dry. And I’ll probably smile and think about the time you two reminded me to keep my stereo system dry. Muchas gracias.

I had my soft top open, it was bright and sunny and I was sitting on a patio and could see my jeep. It started pouring rain out of nowhere, in the time I got off the patio to my jeep and flipped the top up the stereo was toast.

 

[RedTRex]

I saw on the JL build they have Trailer Tow group combined with the Aux Switches but the JT they are two separate packages. JL has them combined cost at $795, Only difference is the trailer hitch (Class II vs IV) and "heavy duty cooling", any guesses what the two packages split would cost vs the single?

Also premium Alpine is defaulted with the 8.4" display. JL has the 9 speaker for $1,295 stand alone or $1,595 with the 8.4" display, JT doesn't have a speaker count yet--does the JL have speakers in the cargo area or all doors forward?

Odd that they have separated them, unless it has to do with regualr tow vs max tow pkg

 

[Jake]

I wonder if you can store the freedom panels behind the back seats. Probably not.

Not nearly enough room I suspect. The child seat teathers get in the way as do the two things that hold the seats in place. I have never seen this truck in person so it’s pure speculation on my part. I think the only way it “might” be possible is to have no speakers behind the back seats and then have the seats flipped flat and then you might be able to get one panel back there, both if you are super lucky. But then no room for any back seat passengers. And that’s a big IF that would give you enough room. So I suggest put em in da bag in da bed. My 2 cents opinion.

 

[Lou3.6]

Not nearly enough room I suspect. The child seat teathers get in the way as do the two things that hold the seats in place. I have never seen this truck in person so it’s pure speculation on my part. I think the only way it “might” be possible is to have no speakers behind the back seats and then have the seats flipped flat and then you might be able to get one panel back there, both if you are super lucky. But then no room for any back seat passengers. And that’s a big IF that would give you enough room. So I suggest put em in da bag in da bed. My 2 cents opinion.

I've had a revelation on this for awhile but hesitated to suggest . . . fear the purists would tie me to a stake and tear the flesh from my bones (for you Vikings fans, not football) . . . again kidding .
My Idea ? Sure . On the lines of the Renegade . . . have the 2 panels become ONE . . . make it soundproofed (similar to a double pain window and not as "thick" as is) . . . allow it to mechanically slide (crank?) back to the outside (similar to some sliding glass roof) ! It wouldn't be a "traditional glass slider," it should be designed to perfectly blend with the rest of the hardtop. I prefer Mechanical vs. Electrical - simplicity ! Look how complex the full soft top slider is ($$$$). Sorry BestTop, wouldn't have a need for yours . . . although the BugScreen forward-slide is a good additional option for you, or the other 3rd parties with their sunscreen covers ! ? No need to find storage ! You might be able to fit one 3/8" sheet of scrap plywood behind the rear seats, ha ! Did that just for you STEFF .

 

[bangolia]

I had my soft top open, it was bright and sunny and I was sitting on a patio and could see my jeep. It started pouring rain out of nowhere, in the time I got off the patio to my jeep and flipped the top up the stereo was toast.

Whats the deepest anyone has drained water out of their jeep? Mine is 8".

 

[JTRUBI]

Whats the deepest anyone has drained water out of their jeep? Mine is 8".

Mine was only like 4”. Not much.

 

[eddybarba]

Whats the deepest anyone has drained water out of their jeep? Mine is 8".

I spilled a super sized coke, does that count?

 

[Jeepers!]

Whats the deepest anyone has drained water out of their jeep? Mine is 8".

Around 6" for me. Left it in the airport parking lot when I went out of town for a week.

 

[Jake]

I had my soft top open, it was bright and sunny and I was sitting on a patio and could see my jeep. It started pouring rain out of nowhere, in the time I got off the patio to my jeep and flipped the top up the stereo was toast.

FYI I plan to consider getting a Sunrider from Bestop. This is a quick and easy solution to the storage problem of the freedom panels. Just close it whenever it starts to rain or whenever you park your truck. For certain in the winter time I would want to take the Sunrider off and put the freedom panels back on. Just don’t know how time consuming that could be nor do I know what a pain in the rear end that could be. And of course I wonder how water tight it could be. Had seen a couple of videos of this on a regular Wrangler and some folks had leaking problems. Hopefully Bestop addresses that matter. Love to hear from Wrangler owners here who have this Sunrider on their Wranglers.

 

[bangolia]

FYI I plan to consider getting a Sunrider from Bestop. This is a quick and easy solution to the storage problem of the freedom panels. Just close it whenever it starts to rain or whenever you park your truck. For certain in the winter time I would want to take the Sunrider off and put the freedom panels back on. Just don’t know how time consuming that could be nor do I know what a pain in the rear end that could be. And of course I wonder how water tight it could be. Had seen a couple of videos of this on a regular Wrangler and some folks had leaking problems. Hopefully Bestop addresses that matter. Love to hear from Wrangler owners here who have this Sunrider on their Wranglers.

All tops on jeeps leak no matter what material. Hard, Soft, OEm and aftermarket. They all leak!

 

[Jeepers!]

All tops on jeeps leak no matter what material. Hard, Soft, OEm and aftermarket. They all leak!

My YJ hard top never leaked

 

[Slacksuperstar]

All tops on jeeps leak no matter what material. Hard, Soft, OEm and aftermarket. They all leak!

The top on my tj doesn’t leak and its13 years old

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