Sponsored

Soft top vs hard top and why wouldn’t we all prefer to have just a soft top with metal doors?

redriderjf87

Well-Known Member
First Name
Justin
Joined
Jul 19, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
717
Reaction score
852
Location
Grovetown, GA
Website
saltmustflow.com
Vehicle(s)
'21 JT, '81 Z-28, '18 TW200, '72 CT 175
Occupation
Electrical Controls Engineer
If someone makes a stock-ish soft top that could just fold back farther, that would be way more appealing for me at least. Someone make this and take my money
Sponsored

 

BigC1066

Active Member
First Name
Chad
Joined
May 1, 2021
Threads
6
Messages
39
Reaction score
30
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
Occupation
EMS
like my Soft Top but wish I had the hard top instead just mostly for the sound of the air on the top going 70+ mph. I would sell my soft top for a hard or just buy a hard if it wasnt so expensive
 

NachoRuby

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chad
Joined
Apr 28, 2021
Threads
28
Messages
2,985
Reaction score
4,395
Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s)
'21 JTR , '18 JLU, 73 VW Bug, 97 VW Jetta, all MTs
like my Soft Top but wish I had the hard top instead just mostly for the sound of the air on the top going 70+ mph. I would sell my soft top for a hard or just buy a hard if it wasnt so expensive
I'd trade you if you were closer. I take mine off so much that I wish I had a soft top. But I kind of want both.
 
Last edited:

Panthers65

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brent
Joined
Aug 23, 2021
Threads
43
Messages
431
Reaction score
374
Location
Atlanta, GA
Vehicle(s)
NA
Occupation
Account Manager
I ordered the Hard Top just because IF I wanted to switch between the two, it's a lot easier to start with the hard top and move to the soft top than the other way around. If you order with only a factory soft top and want to go hard top, not only do you have to buy the top but none of the hardtop wiring will be in place, and I didn't want to mess with the wiring.

Plus I would bet that as the JT ages, more companies will come out with a softtop, and different types of soft tops. Just seems easier to me.
 

BAT

Well-Known Member
First Name
Blaine
Joined
Nov 11, 2019
Threads
106
Messages
2,295
Reaction score
2,025
Location
Katy, TX
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow Sting Grey
like my Soft Top but wish I had the hardtop instead just mostly for the sound of the air on the top going 70+ mph. I would sell my soft top for a hard or just buy a hard if it wasnt so expensive
You guys must have some screwed-up soft tops. I drive 70+ in mine all the time and it is not much different than when I had my hardtop on driving same speed.
 

Sponsored

DailyMoparGuy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
1,186
Reaction score
2,270
Location
Worcester, MA
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Sport S 3.6L
Occupation
Engineer
Security for me is why I prefer the hard top. Not the type of security you’re thinking about to protect valuables, no…..I have a illegitimate fear of a homeless person (or people) pissing, shitting, or f***ing in my truck. I know it’s ridiculous but the thought of that happening is enough for me 😂

I got nothing against homeless people btw, and I know 99.9% of homeless people wouldn’t even think about doing this. I’m just dumb. Haha
 

ShadowsPapa

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Oct 12, 2019
Threads
178
Messages
29,083
Reaction score
34,567
Location
Runnells, Iowa
Vehicle(s)
'22 JTO, '23 JLU, '82 SX4, '73 P. Cardin Javelin
Occupation
Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
Vehicle Showcase
3
Security for me is why I prefer the hard top. Not the type of security you’re thinking about to protect valuables, no…..I have a illegitimate fear of a homeless person (or people) pissing, shitting, or f***ing in my truck. I know it’s ridiculous but the thought of that happening is enough for me 😂

I got nothing against homeless people btw, and I know 99.9% of homeless people wouldn’t even think about doing this. I’m just dumb. Haha
Go to LA and it's a reality.........


As far as sound level differences - those that say "no difference" maybe don't understand human hearing. Some people can hear different frequencies far better than others. Some are going to be more annoyed by wind noise than others due to many factors - sensitivity to those frequencies and more factors (having dealt with hearing loss, hearing aids and such, I've done my share of research on it)
My wife can hear things most men can't hear.
Also note that those who have quality equalizers will have them set very differently (of course shape and size of the room or vehicle, or the materials or items or fabrics matter - but human hearing experiences vary a lot. If they say it's more noisy, it's more noisy to them.
 

BigC1066

Active Member
First Name
Chad
Joined
May 1, 2021
Threads
6
Messages
39
Reaction score
30
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
Occupation
EMS
You guys must have some screwed-up soft tops. I drive 70+ in mine all the time and it is not much different than when I had my hardtop on driving same speed.
I dont think it screwed-up my kids just like playing with the vibration
 
  • Like
Reactions: BAT

Rockabillyroy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2020
Threads
15
Messages
825
Reaction score
870
Location
CA
Vehicle(s)
JT
I ordered the Hard Top just because IF I wanted to switch between the two, it's a lot easier to start with the hard top and move to the soft top than the other way around. If you order with only a factory soft top and want to go hard top, not only do you have to buy the top but none of the hardtop wiring will be in place, and I didn't want to mess with the wiring.

Plus I would bet that as the JT ages, more companies will come out with a softtop, and different types of soft tops. Just seems easier to me.
Thats how it was with the JK. The JT supposedly has all the wiring regardless of which top it came with.
 

BAT

Well-Known Member
First Name
Blaine
Joined
Nov 11, 2019
Threads
106
Messages
2,295
Reaction score
2,025
Location
Katy, TX
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow Sting Grey
Go to LA and it's a reality.........


As far as sound level differences - those that say "no difference" maybe don't understand human hearing. Some people can hear different frequencies far better than others. Some are going to be more annoyed by wind noise than others due to many factors - sensitivity to those frequencies and more factors (having dealt with hearing loss, hearing aids and such, I've done my share of research on it)
My wife can hear things most men can't hear.
Also note that those who have quality equalizers will have them set very differently (of course shape and size of the room or vehicle, or the materials or items or fabrics matter - but human hearing experiences vary a lot. If they say it's noisier, it's noisier to them.
I can only go by my ears, wife's, and daughters as they have ridden in my truck with both the hardtop on and the soft top. It is general consensus from all 3 that there is not that much difference in the sound level. But the general consensus from all 3 is that the hardtop is slightly quieter. Now that is without any sort of liner or deadening panels, etc. I've got the top down so much though so its always noisey
 

Sponsored

mtudb24

Well-Known Member
First Name
Todd
Joined
Jul 26, 2020
Threads
72
Messages
664
Reaction score
1,071
Location
Michigan
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Sport S Max Tow
Occupation
Engineering Manager
Vehicle Showcase
1
I'll take the ease of the soft top for going convertible all day long over the hard top. I live in Michigan and had no issues in the winter with the soft top. If people don't like the man bun look, its 4 quick bolts that take the whole soft top off and I can store in the bed under the tonneau cover if I am going to have it off for multiple days. Much easier then trying to store a hard top in my opinion. Or I can store it in the garage vertically against the wall and it takes the fraction of space of a hard top
The premium soft top is night and day above the std vinyl soft top as well
 

Uparms

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jay
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Threads
73
Messages
838
Reaction score
640
Location
Delaware
Vehicle(s)
2023 JT, 2020 JT, 72 CJ5,2005 LJ, 2002 TJ, 92 YJ
Vehicle Showcase
1
Get the Premium Sunrider soft top. Damn good heaters and AC. Not a problem. 5th Wrangler in 20 years, never a theft. Carry camera, laptops, shotguns and rifles. Lock it w a chain if yoy are concerned. I would like a ST too but for initial purchase, the the premium ST. I run w the back window out 9 months out of the year. Run the AC closed up July and August. Run the heat with the back window out up till Jan/Feb. It's heaven. Oxygen/ Adrenaline and warm feet too.
 

ShadowsPapa

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Oct 12, 2019
Threads
178
Messages
29,083
Reaction score
34,567
Location
Runnells, Iowa
Vehicle(s)
'22 JTO, '23 JLU, '82 SX4, '73 P. Cardin Javelin
Occupation
Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
Vehicle Showcase
3
I can only go by my ears, wife's, and daughters as they have ridden in my truck with both the hardtop on and the soft top. It is general consensus from all 3 that there is not that much difference in the sound level. But the general consensus from all 3 is that the hardtop is slightly quieter. Now that is without any sort of liner or deadening panels, etc. I've got the top down so much though so its always noisey
I doubt too many people buy a Wrangler or Gladiator expecting the quiet of a Grand Cherokee - regardless of the top. My dealer's sales guy even warned "this will not be as quiet as your other vehicles" and so on.........
One thing I have noticed is that when there's no wind at all (that's about 3 or 4 days out of a year where I live) these can be pretty quiet.
I'm so used to driving my other vehicles windows down, this is no big deal.
Even the hard top is a box, drip rails, square corners, whatever.
People have a choice - buy and use what one likes.
Interesting to see the numbers of people looking to trade for or buy the top they don't already have. So people apparently sometimes change their mind - cool thing about it is that it's a Jeep - you can change your mind, or your circumstances. And as people age, some simply want "easier" and "quieter" - whether it's a lot or a little quieter, I guess!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BAT

unsocbl

Well-Known Member
First Name
James
Joined
Aug 8, 2020
Threads
13
Messages
384
Reaction score
733
Location
Charlotte TN
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Willys Eco-diesel
Thats how it was with the JK. The JT supposedly has all the wiring regardless of which top it came with.
You are correct! I bought a base model Mojave with the soft top only. Purchased a hardtop from a member on here and the wiring plugs in and works perfectly.
What you will need are the center brackets for the freedom top panel latches...the Mopar ones are about $250 but DV8 makes a kit for $98 and that's what I used. A bit of a pain to install the front, but well worth it.
 

Orange01z28

Well-Known Member
First Name
Andrew
Joined
Aug 19, 2020
Threads
63
Messages
1,350
Reaction score
1,693
Location
Queen Creek Arizona
Vehicle(s)
2020 JT Sport S
Open oft top on a JT is hideous unless it's removed fully. At that point, what's the point?

And the hard top being in three pieces means it's doable for me to take off and remove by myself as well as smaller storage space

I think it's perfect

The Sky Power Top on the Wrangler would be the only other thing I'd want, but even then you can't fully remove that like you can the three piece top
Sponsored

 
 



Top