All About Jeep Soft Tops

Written by Lynnette on November 14, 2006 | Comments (14)

Much to my dismay, we can't ride around in the Jeep with the top down all of the time. Because here in Franklin, Tennessee it gets pretty chilly from October through March each year.

Still, we couldn't be happier with our Jeep(s), and we've had a lot of great times -- top up and top down -- in both... our 1990 Jeep Wrangler YJ... and our 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited TJ.

Here's a run-down of all of the things you need to consider if your Jeep has a soft top...

Top Up? Or Top Down?

Usually sometime in October, we resign ourselves to the fact that we have to have the soft top on the Jeep for the next few months. (Bummer.)

And then each March, we catch ourselves taking the hard top off the Jeep... usually just a tad too early.

The whole hard top / soft top switcharoo was something we stopped dealing with when we sold our 1990 Jeep Wrangler YJ and got a a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited TJ instead.

Now, we don't even own a hard top anymore. We just ride around with the soft top -- either UP or DOWN. Summertime or wintertime... the Jeep soft top wins hands-down!

(In case you're wondering, the heaters inside both of our Jeeps have kept things so toasty inside that we've often had to crack a window or switch to cooler air because it's too hot!)

How To Remove The Jeep Soft Top

Soon after we got our Jeep Unlimited, we quickly learned that there were a few tricks to getting through the whole process of removing the Jeep soft top.

Here's an instructional video we made highlighting the whole process of raising and lowering the soft top in the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. (It's not nearly as simple as clicking a button like you do in a high-dollar sports car!)

Watch our video about soft top removal here.

How To Clean And Protect Your Soft Top & Windows

1. Learn how to clean Jeep soft top windows, including the best products to use on Jeep windows.

2. Then, after you clean them, you'll want to read these tips for protecting your Jeep windows.

3. Finally, check out these suggestions for prolonging the life of your plastic or vinyl Jeep soft top windows.

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14 Comments

Scott said:

I have a 2008 rubicon unlimited, and no matter how tightly I close the rear door on the left, at highway speeds, the rear side panels still flap open... any suggestions, or is it a manufactures defect? thanks.......

August 17, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply to this Comment

Lynnette said:

Scott -
That's a great question. I've often wondered the same thing myself.

Our '04 Unlimited does the same thing -- the left rear sail panel won't stay in place at highway speeds. BUT... it's only when the rear side windows are out and the back window is rolled up (open). When the rear windows are in place, that left side sail panel tends to inch outward, but never comes completely out.

It's quite frustrating, I must agree. We blamed it on the fact that we simply didn't get the sail panels PERFECTLY in place one time, and riding around too much with them "out of sync" might have caused them to distort/bend/warp/lose their fit. Not sure...

August 17, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply to this Comment

Randy said:

I am a new Jeep owner. I have a 2002 Wrangler X w/ a bolt down latches. I have not been able to find any photos or directions on the proper way to take the top down and secure it. I have been to other forum groups and they just tell me to look at the owners manuel. Problem is it does not show you how to properly secure it in the back of the vehicle. Any ideas? thanks

July 15, 2008 8:59 PM | Reply to this Comment

Richard said:

Looking for a white CJ5 soft top and doors. Or, if someone has knowledge as to where I might purchase a pattern so I can get an upholstery shop to make one would work.

May 8, 2008 7:30 AM | Reply to this Comment

Jeremy said:

I have a 98 Wragler that is my pride and joy. i resently had to buy new uppers to replace the old ones. They are the right ones but they don't fit. like they are too tight. Any sugestions?

March 14, 2008 8:51 PM | Reply to this Comment

Bill Baker said:

Recently purchased upper slider window doors for my TJ and am having two problems they won't sit down properly and is their any lubricant I can put on the windows to slide easier.
Thanks for the help

February 25, 2008 8:36 PM | Reply to this Comment

Richard Cooper said:

Searching for a soft top for a 81 CJ5 in the blue Levis
Package. No longer produced so looking for someone that could give me some directions as to where they would look. THanks very much.

October 11, 2007 4:22 PM | Reply to this Comment

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