Top off with a kid

[pannelld20]

The wife and I are having our first in April. Fired up about it. I'm curious because I constantly hear "everything has to be on the truck when the baby comes". So my question is this. At what age did you take the freedom panels and the front doors off? At what age did you also take off the back doors. Obviously wouldn't be able to take off the back doors with an infant. I am just curious at about what age could I take front 2 doors and freedom tops out with an infant.

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[JTBurns]

I don't know who's telling you that but it's not true. I have 3 kids now but our youngest was born in Oct so the doors haven't been off but the Sunrider has been flipped back on nicer days. Just dress your baby warm, and they make covers for the infant carrier to protect them from elements. Otherwise I had my 3yo and 1yo in the truck all summer with doors and whole roof off. I did keep they're back doors on because that seemed appropriate, but really may have felt comfortable with trail doors if I had them. Also if you want to take the whole roof off with the baby, maybe get a sunshade? That way you can protect their eyes from the sun, which would bey biggest concern.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I would defer to the mother on that issue, but I think they should remain in a controlled environment for at least the first year.

 

[GoVR46]

Tuff question to answer, I would think it’s about your comfort level on safety and if you want others to judge you. Personally I would not put my infant in the back without the doors on, freedom top off I would be fine with because it’s no difference then having a sunroof open.

Many years back when my daughter was a baby I was picking her up from my dads house, changed cars in the afternoon and moved the car seat base to the car I was using, when I clicked her into the base I thought she was secured and proceeded to drive.
Came to a hard stop because someone cut me off at a red light, daughter with car seat flew forward and landed upside down between front passenger seat and rear.
scarred the crap out of me but she was fine, didn’t even cry.
Thinking of what could happen if you were in a Jeep with the rear doors off makes me cringe.

 

[pannelld20]

Tuff question to answer, I would think it’s about your comfort level on safety and if you want others to judge you. Personally I would not put my infant in the back without the doors on, freedom top off I would be fine with because it’s no difference then having a sunroof open.

Many years back when my daughter was a baby I was picking her up from my dads house, changed cars in the afternoon and moved the car seat base to the car I was using, when I clicked her into the base I thought she was secured and proceeded to drive.
Came to a hard stop because someone cut me off at a red light, daughter with car seat flew forward and landed upside down between front passenger seat and rear.
scarred the crap out of me but she was fine, didn’t even cry.
Thinking of what could happen if you were in a Jeep with the rear doors off makes me cringe.

Yeah....... thats something I hadnt thought of for sure.

 

[Higher_Ground]

I think you will be fine with the top off and rear doors on, but definitely defer to mom on this one.

My youngest was ~ 6 months when I bought the gladiator and he was just fine with the open top assuming you take care of the elements.

I would 100% keep the rear doors on with a young kid in the back. Just not worth the risk of a rock or something else being kicked up. Mine are both still in car seats so I haven't really had to figure out when "they're old enough now."

The top is more about comfort than safety to me. If it's even remotely hot outside I would worry about overheating since they are all wrapped up and can't cool off quickly. Sun is another factor but you can get things that attach to the car seat to cover them up. It's easy to forget how hot and bright it can be when you aren't moving.

Truth be told it's a fun thing to do occasionally but I would not want to run day in and day out like that until they're much older.


P. S. - that first drive home from the hospital is something you won't forget. I think I did like 25 mph the entire ride home.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

The wife and I are having our first in April. Fired up about it. I'm curious because I constantly hear "everything has to be on the truck when the baby comes". So my question is this. At what age did you take the freedom panels and the front doors off? At what age did you also take off the back doors. Obviously wouldn't be able to take off the back doors with an infant. I am just curious at about what age could I take front 2 doors and freedom tops out with an infant.

congratulations!

I waited until both our kids were 2. Up til then, we drove them in the minivan.
The first kid, I rode soft top open and half doors in a JKU. Had to get them googles for small dust and debris. open air noise was awful too. Got them some OSHA ear muffs.
Second kid rides with the gladiator soft top flipped and sun shade over head. Hat would have been fine but they don't always keep them on and the sun can really beat down around here.

 

[AZJT]

I've read the OP a few times and still can't tell if the "at what age" question refers to the JT or the offspring.

 

[ATLalien]

One thing to keep in mind, on rare occasions, I have had rocks come in through the open Freedom panels, into the rear passenger area.
In a rental Jeep, while on vacation, we actually had a rock come in and hit my then 8 yr old in the head. Didn't break the skin but it did hurt and was pretty scary. Have no idea where it came from as we were a long way behind the closest vehicle in front of us. Happened one other time in my current JT, but no one was back there.

 

[Georgia Jeeper]

I started driving my daughter in my two door Wrangler with the top down when she was a little over 2 years old. At that age she was able to communicate enough that I felt she could express if she was not enjoying it. I also only drove her around town, and did not do any freeway driving with her in it while the top was down.

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