Been topless in heavy rain?

[bradcrc]

Also, are most people getting caught topless in hardtops where you took the whole top off? I have both tops

Yea, I had a soft top and a bikini top/tonneau for my JK but I rarely put them on. I just looked at the weather forecast and drove my truck if it was going to rain and the Jeep when it was going to be nice, which 99% of the time is fine, but every so often you push your luck too far. I'm fine with that, but don't want to fry my electronics.

the JK got SOAKED many times, but never was a problem.

I don't have a soft top for my JL yet, but will probably buy one, though like I said, last couple years I didn't even put it on my JK. If it's going to rain for a longer stretch, it's easy enough to drop the hard top and doors back on.

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[zrickety]

So I go topless and doorless all summer and inevitably will get caught in an unexpected downpour. That's just part of the deal, happens every year.

Has anyone experienced that in their JL yet? Any issues?

I've recently moved to a JL, which is not like any of the past jeep models I could take a hose to the inside without issue, so I'm a little worried about whether it can handle getting soaking wet without ruining a lot of the gadgets and electric gizmos.

Yes, drive faster. LOL
The biggest problem is spray coming inside and getting on the windshield and mirror.

 

[DOOKEY]

Yes, drive faster. LOL
The biggest problem is spray coming inside and getting on the windshield and mirror.

There's that specific speed where the tires throw more rain at you than the sky. It's a balancing act!

Rain never bothered me so much one I got caught in snow!?

 

[Cutterone]

I made the mistake once with my 2009 2dr JK of running the rarely seen hard bikini top, just the 2 front hardtop panels and no back. Really cool until I was caught on the highway at 70 in a downpour, and that configuration creates a big vacuum back into the jeep cabin, needed wipers inside and outside the windshield that day! Was soaked head to toe in now see thru scubs when I got to work! Fun times!

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Yeah, just leave the plugs out all the time and try and be ready to put the freedom panels on if possible. The carpet is made to get wet and it dries super fast
Make sure you bring some nice towels with everywhere, probably in a bag or container but I've never been that ahead of the game.
At the very least you can hold the towel over the center to keep the radio pretty dry
Your gonna get wet, that was one of the things we all knew going in, damage control with a beach towel generally protects what needs protecting
It helps to have someone with whos also soaked to help hold that towel
Now... if you do have the front top on then you will be amazed at how much rain flies forward from the back and like someone mentioned you will want inside wipers that you don't have... flashers on, slow down and accept fate ?
A hot shower awaits yee upon arrival so just deal with it

 

[Deleted User 38384]

So I go topless and doorless all summer and inevitably will get caught in an unexpected downpour. That's just part of the deal, happens every year.

Has anyone experienced that in their JL yet? Any issues?

I've recently moved to a JL, which is not like any of the past jeep models I could take a hose to the inside without issue, so I'm a little worried about whether it can handle getting soaking wet without ruining a lot of the gadgets and electric gizmos.

I live in Texas, Dallas area, it gets pretty warm in the summers so I don't really have any issues with the Jeep not drying out. I find the seats can be completely soaked and in direct sunlight will dry out in about 2 to 3 hours.
As it is I have no carpets, and have been running semi topless for the last 6 months maybe. When I say semi topless I have a DIY clear top over the front seats. It provides protection from the Sun with 5% ceramic tint, and in my experiences I can drive in a downpour with the windows up and see little to no rain in the cab. It was a lot cheaper than clear lids too, $250 front to back for me. Took a lot of time though. About 3 months of r&d and making it work.

There's definitely condensation on the polycarbonate on the top and bottom, but I left it out last night with all the windows down, it might drip a little as the day precedes but it'll dry right up.

Probably a lot of user preference here, but I can't really stand carpets in off-road vehicles. So I removed all of mine and got rid of them, and I run with all of the drain plugs removed so that when it does rain it drains a lot more effectively. I find if I park on an incline the drain plugs will work better if it's raining. Also if I know I'm going to be leaving the Jeep at work while it's raining, I'll park The front two tires on the curb so that it is on an incline, and then I'll slide my front driver seat all the way up and it tends not to get wet at all. I've actually been meaning to get a completely waterproof front seat cover set, that way if the seats do get wet in the rain I can just remove the cover and be able to sit on a dry seat afterwards.

There's definitely a lot of tricks here, personally I will be switching out to seats I can hose down in the future. But those will be expensive, like 500 each, so not for a while. I also plan on rhino lining the entire cab, so instead of carpets I'll have truck bed liner. Should aid with the ability to just hose down the entire thing.

Welcome to the club, Wranglers are a way of life, not just a hobby! ???

 

[r.stevens]

I like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.

But seriously, this is good info to know. I always stress out when I have the doors off and it looks like rain is gonna roll in. I mostly never take the front part of the top off and I don’t have a device to remove the back half of the top easily so it has never been removed.

 

[Jeep Dude]

Large, rear, removable mudflaps that hang low, really help a lot with the back spray. ??

 

[Shibadog]

haha, that's the key, don't hit any red lights!

This-or stop n go traffic?

 

[INCRHULK]

If it’s pouring I press a button and I’m good.

 

[TheBirdie72]

I like to ride topless and doorless in the summer. I have a mesh sunshade installed that stays on overhead. Been caught in the rain a couple of times even though I pay attention to the weather forecast - it’s gonna happen at some point. Really not a big deal as long as you are moving; the rain just kinda flies more over the vehicle vs coming down inside, if that makes any sense. Sitting stopped at a light for 30 seconds in the rain usually gets me more wet than driving 10 minutes at 45 mph. ?‍

Would also add - my two door with the 2.0 is fun to drive… but without doors and the hardtop drives like a bat outta hell with the reduced weight! Too much fun not to run topless and doorless! ?

 

[Cutterone]

I like to ride topless and doorless in the summer. I have a mesh sunshade installed that stays on overhead. Been caught in the rain a couple of times even though I pay attention to the weather forecast - it’s gonna happen at some point. Really not a big deal as long as you are moving; the rain just kinda flies more over the vehicle vs coming down inside, if that makes any sense. Sitting stopped at a light for 30 seconds in the rain usually gets me more wet than driving 10 minutes at 45 mph. ?‍

Would also add - my two door with the 2.0 is fun to drive… but without doors and the hardtop drives like a bat outta hell with the reduced weight! Too much fun not to run topless and doorless! ?

Oh man I had a spider shade on my 2dr JK in the rain, that mesh top turns rain into a fine mist inside the cabin, it was nuts!

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