VolCntry73
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Tim
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2018
- Threads
- 23
- Messages
- 551
- Reaction score
- 795
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Vehicle(s)
- 2018 2-Door Rubicon JL, 2018 Accord, 2008 Accord, 2007 CRV, 2000 Dodge Dakota
- Thread starter
- #1
First let me say...obviously the following is just my opinion, so feel free to disagree. Just going by my own personal observations. And it may have alot of "Thank you Captain Obvious", but some may be curious...so here goes.
A quick background…I ordered my 2 Door Rubicon last year from the factory with the hardtop. While I went back and forth, I ultimately went with a hardtop on the order for a few reasons. Anywho, I knew eventually I would want a softtop as well and the dual top was not an option on the 2 Doors.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. After going back and forth between the trektop and factory premium softtop, I settled in on the factory. Found what I thought was a good price ($1,788 to my door), and installed it this past week. While there are enough threads and videos that show the decibel levels between the two, I wanted to touch a few things that I haven’t seen much on.
1) I think I became spoiled on the quietness of MY hardtop. I emphasis MY, because it’s probably not a fair comparison. Soon after I got my Jeep, I installed the Hotheads Headliner with the Sound Assassin. I’m going to say, there is no comparison in quietness between the premium softtop and the hardtop with this set up. While I don’t remember exactly what the decibel reading was after I installed the sound assassin last year (there are videos on that too I think), it is MUCH quieter than the Premium softtop. Again, I know it’s not really a fair comparison (ie. Glass windows vs vinyl, hard shell vs fabric, sound dampeners vs nothing), but if you are thinking about changing over to a premium softtop or twill trektop, and you have the same hardtop set up as I do, prepare yourself for the fact that it will be louder. I just wanted to point this out since there are videos and comments out there that show the hardtop pretty much on the same sound level as the premium soft top, however, with the hotheads and sound assassin, that will not be the case.
2) This may be all in my head, but it does feel like the Jeep handles a little differently on the road. Maybe that’s due to the difference in weight, creating a lower center of gravity around turns. But the bumps seem to feel a bit harsher for some reason. Could be because there is a little less weight? Or could be that the hardtop creates a more tightness in the body resulting in less give in everything? Or again, could be in my head.
3) Lastly, all that said, I’ll sacrifice these things for the ability to put the top down this spring and summer. Just really looking forward to it. The top looks great and was a very easy install.
Just wanted to share a couple of things for those going to a softtop or planning to order one with it. I do think a hardtop with no headliner and a Premium Softtop are going to be very comparable in sound. But if you have been running a hardtop all winter with the same set up as me, just be prepared for a significant difference.
A quick background…I ordered my 2 Door Rubicon last year from the factory with the hardtop. While I went back and forth, I ultimately went with a hardtop on the order for a few reasons. Anywho, I knew eventually I would want a softtop as well and the dual top was not an option on the 2 Doors.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. After going back and forth between the trektop and factory premium softtop, I settled in on the factory. Found what I thought was a good price ($1,788 to my door), and installed it this past week. While there are enough threads and videos that show the decibel levels between the two, I wanted to touch a few things that I haven’t seen much on.
1) I think I became spoiled on the quietness of MY hardtop. I emphasis MY, because it’s probably not a fair comparison. Soon after I got my Jeep, I installed the Hotheads Headliner with the Sound Assassin. I’m going to say, there is no comparison in quietness between the premium softtop and the hardtop with this set up. While I don’t remember exactly what the decibel reading was after I installed the sound assassin last year (there are videos on that too I think), it is MUCH quieter than the Premium softtop. Again, I know it’s not really a fair comparison (ie. Glass windows vs vinyl, hard shell vs fabric, sound dampeners vs nothing), but if you are thinking about changing over to a premium softtop or twill trektop, and you have the same hardtop set up as I do, prepare yourself for the fact that it will be louder. I just wanted to point this out since there are videos and comments out there that show the hardtop pretty much on the same sound level as the premium soft top, however, with the hotheads and sound assassin, that will not be the case.
2) This may be all in my head, but it does feel like the Jeep handles a little differently on the road. Maybe that’s due to the difference in weight, creating a lower center of gravity around turns. But the bumps seem to feel a bit harsher for some reason. Could be because there is a little less weight? Or could be that the hardtop creates a more tightness in the body resulting in less give in everything? Or again, could be in my head.
3) Lastly, all that said, I’ll sacrifice these things for the ability to put the top down this spring and summer. Just really looking forward to it. The top looks great and was a very easy install.
Just wanted to share a couple of things for those going to a softtop or planning to order one with it. I do think a hardtop with no headliner and a Premium Softtop are going to be very comparable in sound. But if you have been running a hardtop all winter with the same set up as me, just be prepared for a significant difference.
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