A couple soft top questions

[dave.j.fisher]

Last weekend I removed the hard top and happily installed the soft top for summer.

1. In regards to the soft top rear window, do you normally leave the window attached the cross bar and just drape the window back into the cargo area of the jeep? I had worried that it would blow out so I ended up laying it diagonally across the cargo area. I like to drive with the top on, but the windows removed.

2. The rear door surrounds, anyone else have a gap between the bottom of the surround itself and the edge of "tub" of the cargo area? The holes are lined up, but when I slam the rear door, the plastic surround kind of rattles a bit? I'm tempted to add some additional padding or something to firm it up a bit? There is some padding there, but it really doesn't reach the tub wall.

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[Kadonny]

Cross bar meaning tailgate bar?

You have to take the tailgate bar out of the bottom brackets to remove the rear window anyway, so just leave the tailgate bar attached to the rear window after you slide the rear window out and just lay it into the cargo area. That's the easiest. On my JK, I would unzip the rear window the one way and it would not totally detach from the side sail panel on the right side. Then it was just as easy to flap it over into the rear compartment but leave it all attached. You can't do that to the JL because the rear window does not zip anymore, it's a sliding track system.

Regarding the door surrrounds. Sorry, can't help I don't have my JL yet. But I would certainly think if the surrounds are not getting pushed down tightly onto the tub from the weight of the top (for whatever reason) extra padding on the bottom of the surrounds where they contact the tub doesn't seem like a bad idea. See how it helps. Maybe you need to adjust the door surrounds to push them down a little more. Loosen the surround bolts, then while pushing the rear surrounds down to squarely to contact the tub re-tighten the bolts into the roll bars. That might help too.

 

[RussJeep1]

Dave:

Not that this will necessarily answer your questions: but have you seen this?

 

[dave.j.fisher]

I have seen that video, it just seems like the rear door surrounds are about 1/4" too short. I don't see how it would be possible to install them incorrectly. Also, yes, I was referring to the tailgate bar in the 1st response.

 

[liquids]

There are reports in other threads of gaps between soft top connections. I've seen comments about fitment issues in both C and D pillars.

 

[sleepnclass]

Off topic, but if you order a JL without a soft top, can one be bought from mopar later?

 

[JTopsUSA]

Off topic, but if you order a JL without a soft top, can one be bought from mopar later?

They can, but it will be several months off before there are any available, it sounds like. Every soft top Bestop makes is going straight to orders that have already been delivered and on Jeep’s production schedule.

 

[Matthew/E36]

HELP FITTING TOP PLEASE

Riding in here with a couple premium soft top install questions related to the side windows and "C pillar".

When I try to install the driver side window, it feels like the top front seam, and lower seam pull in place correctly and are aligned with the body. It looks the same as the passenger side.

However, the C pillar seems short of reaching the top and bottom and does not feel like it pulls in place. I can sort of pull down on the soft top, but when I let go of it all I can just grab the c pillar and and slips out without hardly any force. Hard to describe but it just doesn't seem as tight and in place as the passenger side. This might not be the problem, but it seems like the drivers side soft top is sitting a little higher and wants to pull up away from the C pillar.

If pics stay in order:
1) drivers side top
2) drivers side upper C pillar
3) drivers side lower C pillar

4) passenger side top
5) passenger side upper C pillar
6) passenger side lower C pillar

 

[scottw]

HELP FITTING TOP PLEASE

Riding in here with a couple premium soft top install questions related to the side windows and "C pillar".

When I try to install the driver side window, it feels like the top front seam, and lower seam pull in place correctly and are aligned with the body. It looks the same as the passenger side.

However, the C pillar seems short of reaching the top and bottom and does not feel like it pulls in place. I can sort of pull down on the soft top, but when I let go of it all I can just grab the c pillar and and slips out without hardly any force. Hard to describe but it just doesn't seem as tight and in place as the passenger side. This might not be the problem, but it seems like the drivers side soft top is sitting a little higher and wants to pull up away from the C pillar.

If pics stay in order:
1) drivers side top
2) drivers side upper C pillar
3) drivers side lower C pillar

4) passenger side top
5) passenger side upper C pillar
6) passenger side lower C pillar

I thought for sure my side panels where too short. Let them sit in direct sunlight for an hour or two and they will pop in perfectly.

 

[Matthew/E36]

I thought for sure my side panels where too short. Let them sit in direct sunlight for an hour or two and they will pop in perfectly.

Thanks. After carefully trying to fit it and reconnect both sides to check I ended up putting the rear window on.

It was REALLY tight on that driver side. Will pull it out into sun too and see how that works.

Tx!

 

[Lurvis33]

HELP FITTING TOP PLEASE

Riding in here with a couple premium soft top install questions related to the side windows and "C pillar".

When I try to install the driver side window, it feels like the top front seam, and lower seam pull in place correctly and are aligned with the body. It looks the same as the passenger side.

However, the C pillar seems short of reaching the top and bottom and does not feel like it pulls in place. I can sort of pull down on the soft top, but when I let go of it all I can just grab the c pillar and and slips out without hardly any force. Hard to describe but it just doesn't seem as tight and in place as the passenger side. This might not be the problem, but it seems like the drivers side soft top is sitting a little higher and wants to pull up away from the C pillar.

If pics stay in order:
1) drivers side top
2) drivers side upper C pillar
3) drivers side lower C pillar

4) passenger side top
5) passenger side upper C pillar
6) passenger side lower C pillar

I thought for sure my side panels where too short. Let them sit in direct sunlight for an hour or two and they will pop in perfectly.

Ditto. The first time I put it on I thought something was wrong but now it’s good. The only “problem” I’ve had is the small flap on the bottom right on the back window. It doesn’t seem to want to stay tucked in.

 

[Matthew/E36]

Ditto. The first time I put it on I thought something was wrong but now it’s good. The only “problem” I’ve had is the small flap on the bottom right on the back window. It doesn’t seem to want to stay tucked in.

Tx luke...it all felt snug once I put the rear window on, but I wanted each part to feel snug as I went. The rear window was really tight pulling onto drivers side. Will see if driving it today and some sun stretch it to fit easier next time.

 

[uudog]

HELP FITTING TOP PLEASE

Riding in here with a couple premium soft top install questions related to the side windows and "C pillar".

When I try to install the driver side window, it feels like the top front seam, and lower seam pull in place correctly and are aligned with the body. It looks the same as the passenger side.

However, the C pillar seems short of reaching the top and bottom and does not feel like it pulls in place. I can sort of pull down on the soft top, but when I let go of it all I can just grab the c pillar and and slips out without hardly any force. Hard to describe but it just doesn't seem as tight and in place as the passenger side. This might not be the problem, but it seems like the drivers side soft top is sitting a little higher and wants to pull up away from the C pillar.

If pics stay in order:
1) drivers side top
2) drivers side upper C pillar
3) drivers side lower C pillar

4) passenger side top
5) passenger side upper C pillar
6) passenger side lower C pillar

Same issue when I installed the soft top the other day. The rear window seems to hold the two side windows in securely since the fit isn’t perfect right now. My concern is that if I decide to drive without the rear window, the side windows will pop out and fly off on the road.

 

[scottw]

Thanks. After carefully trying to fit it and reconnect both sides to check I ended up putting the rear window on.

It was REALLY tight on that driver side. Will pull it out into sun too and see how that works.

Tx!

I just put them on a tarp in the yard. A little sun will help them stretch nicely. From there they should go on and off easily until next spring.

 

[Matthew/E36]

Follow up question/comment on the top down position. The manual states the velcro strap should be used to hold the soft top bars together (pg 147 of the manual). I notice it flops up and down still, so I secure the bar(s) closest to the frame together.

Thoughts, anyone do something different?

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