2 Door Soft Top

[Tiffster]

I am currently in the market for a 2 door Tuscadero Pink Wrangler. Really prefer a hard top that is same color as body but having trouble locating one. Found one that is a soft top but I’m wondering about the functionality of that in a place that has cold winters. Is it cold? Does the cold make the top wear out faster? Thanks!

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[Jeep Wick]

I am currently in the market for a 2 door Tuscadero Pink Wrangler. Really prefer a hard top that is same color as body but having trouble locating one. Found one that is a soft top but I’m wondering about the functionality of that in a place that has cold winters. Is it cold? Does the cold make the top wear out faster? Thanks!

I had the premium twill soft top on my 2 door and it was great. Honestly could not tell a difference between it and the hard top. I eventually sold the hard top because the soft is more fun.

 

[Cartman]

I have both. But for me, winter is for hardtops, cause the fabric on the winter is more fragile.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

I am currently in the market for a 2 door Tuscadero Pink Wrangler. Really prefer a hard top that is same color as body but having trouble locating one. Found one that is a soft top but I’m wondering about the functionality of that in a place that has cold winters. Is it cold? Does the cold make the top wear out faster? Thanks!

@Tiffster
For a whole slew of reasons.... I suggest you stick to your first thought.... your initial preference and go with a hardtop JL.

OH... about the color matched Tuscadero Pink ... It's nice but to me the contrast of the black hardtop with the Tuscadero Pink is just as nice.. and to me nicer.. Personal choice there...

Do though add a Sunrider to the hardtop. Do this and you will have the best of both worlds so to speak...

Hardtop pluses but with the ability to easily easily open the Sunrider, to enjoy the Sun without the pain of putting down a soft top... ....and the ability to within 15 sec. to close the JL up quickly if rain starts.

Yes, you can leave the Sunrider installed year round, regardless of whether or not you live in a rainy/ cold, snowy locale or not. Again, no problem running a Sunrider year round. Oh ...It's no colder inside running with a Sunrider..

Just be sure to spray fabric guard protectorant on the Sunrider in the Fall before it gets cold. Doing so protects the Sunrider from road salt staining, etc..

 

[Buzz11]

I've had 3 soft tops Jeeps over the past 30+ years, most of that living in Colorado. I've never had a soft top wear out. The side windows get a scratch or two, but that's about it.

I'll add the heater in a Jeep is plenty good enough that, at least in the front seat, you stay plenty warm.

 

[siggy]

Going in my second winter with a 2 door soft top. I've had passengers say they're surprised by how quiet it is. No issues in the cold as it gets well below freezing here. Admittedly I haven't had a meaningful amount of snow sit on the top as it's garaged with the exception of when I go into the office. I think the soft top is great and really functional. Wranglers have powerful heaters. Now, half doors are pretty noticeable with noise so I swap those out to full doors once the weather gets consistently cold.

 

[siggy]

@Tiffster
For a whole slew of reasons.... I suggest you stick to your first thought.... your initial preference and go with a hardtop JL.

OH... about the color matched Tuscadero Pink ... It's nice but to me the contrast of the black hardtop with the Tuscadero Pink is just as nice.. and to me nicer.. Personal choice there...

Do though add a Sunrider to the hardtop. Do this and you will have the best of both worlds so to speak...

Hardtop pluses but with the ability to easily easily open the Sunrider, to enjoy the Sun without the pain of putting down a soft top... ....and the ability to within 15 sec. to close the JL up quickly if rain starts.

Yes, you can leave the Sunrider installed year round, regardless of whether or not you live in a rainy/ cold, snowy locale or not. Again, no problem running a Sunrider year round. Oh ...It's no colder inside running with a Sunrider..

Just be sure to spray fabric guard protectorant on the Sunrider in the Fall before it gets cold. Doing so protects the Sunrider from road salt staining, etc..

Can you elaborate on your whole slew of reasons?

 

[yokramer]

If you want the hard top get the hard top cause you will find every reason to not be happy in the soft top.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Can you elaborate on your whole slew of reasons?

@siggy

For the record... I am not ant-soft top.. The OP said her first thought was to go with a hard top and I do feel first thoughts are to be taken strongly into consideration..

A few reasons .... I can quickly think of:

Less upkeep with a hardtop. IF you have a soft top and you are wise/prudent, you do clean routinely (twice yearly) with a soft top fabric cleaner and you also use a protectorant. A time commitment and you have to pay for the products used to maintain and protect.

Soft top fabric tends to fade over time... Especially if you live in a locale like Florida..
They also stain from bird chitt, etc...

Soft top windows, no matter how hard you try to protect.... always have color changes, become less clear, gain creases, stain and scratch. Fastener issues and such..

Security is better with a hard top.

Road noise is less with a hard top. A concern if you do a lot of interstate driving.

Pain in the ass to put down and slow to go back up when the rain hits suddenly.

Soft top when down takes up room in the rear of the JL.

A hard top is a tad more Weatherproof.... lots less prone to leaks than a fabric soft top.

You are unable to rent a UHAUL trailer if you have a soft top of your JL.

Depending on your insurance company, insurance rates can be higher if the vehicle has a soft top.

 

[Tiffster]

@Rhinebeck01 what is a sun rider?

 

[Buzz11]

A Sun Rider top replaces the Freedom panels and let's you have an almost instant convertible for the front seats.

All the major after market vendors sell them.

 

[OffRoadMedic392]

I ran the Bestop Trektop NX (Twill) on my two door JK for nearly 8 years back in Chicago and had no issues aside from the zippers snapping towards the end (my own probable fault for not maintaining/lubricating them periodically).

Wind noise is obviously louder; as you're going from a sealed fiberglass enclosure to a "weatherproof" soft material. But the ease and function of the soft top was everything i wanted, and I never missed the hardtop.

I've since moved on from my JK to a 392 and enjoyed how sleek and "quiet" the cabin was with the hardtop but missed that wide open feeling. A month later I sold the hard top and bought a Bestop trektop NX in twill for it too, and even bought Mopar half doors.

 

[rk911]

My garaged '03 2-door soft-topped TJ went thru 20-Chicago winters and was pleasantly warm during my daily commute and errands. My garaged '23 2-door soft-top JL is exactly the same. No complaints.

 

[siggy]

@siggy

For the record... I am not ant-soft top.. The OP said her first thought was to go with a hard top and I do feel first thoughts are to be taken strongly into consideration..

A few reasons .... I can quickly think of:

Less upkeep with a hardtop. IF you have a soft top and you are wise/prudent, you do clean routinely (twice yearly) with a soft top fabric cleaner and you also use a protectorant. A time commitment and you have to pay for the products used to maintain and protect.

Soft top fabric tends to fade over time... Especially if you live in a locale like Florida..
They also stain from bird chitt, etc...

Soft top windows, no matter how hard you try to protect.... always have color changes, become less clear, gain creases, stain and scratch. Fastener issues and such..

Security is better with a hard top.

Road noise is less with a hard top. A concern if you do a lot of interstate driving.

Pain in the ass to put down and slow to go back up when the rain hits suddenly.

Soft top when down takes up room in the rear of the JL.

A hard top is a tad more Weatherproof.... lots less prone to leaks than a fabric soft top.

You are unable to rent a UHAUL trailer if you have a soft top of your JL.

Depending on your insurance company, insurance rates can be higher if the vehicle has a soft top.

All fair! For me it’s just a toy so some of those are less impactful. My soft top stays down all summer long unless I get caught in unforeseen rain. If I simply drove it around like any other SUV there are better vehicles.

 

[AdamG]

Going on 7 years in Michigan, base soft top only and it’s my only vehicle. Other than the scratches from off-roading and that you can’t really undo the rear window when it’s cold, it’s totally fine.

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