Does Anyone Completely Remove The Soft Top Frame Every Day?

[TheNewGuy]

The Smittybuilt in the link says it's for a 4 door. Since the 4 door top is larger, I imagine it wouldn't fit a 2 door top as tightly. Unless they make a 2 door version

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[Botanicalstig]

Smittybilt is one size fits nobody. Actually... It might work well on a 2 Dr. Too tight for the 4dr, couldn't get it to zip up all the way across, and just looks a little funky.

Most reviews say the same thing. You can definitely muscle it on, but it's not perfect. If your windows are this hard to slide in, you might have some problems with your windows

 

[mnjeeper]

Team bungee here as well as the other I saw. Love the JL top for simplicity, annoyed that it doesn't fold for shit.

 

[Themallcrawler]

Team bungee here as well as the other I saw. Love the JL top for simplicity, annoyed that it doesn't fold for shit.

I hope some of the after-market folks are reading this thread. The market is SCREAMING for a solution to this.

 

[TheNewGuy]

I hope some of the after-market folks are reading this thread. The market is SCREAMING for a solution to this.

We are on year 6 of the JL. Those screams apparently aren't loud enough.

 

[RenegadeT]

Does anyone have a link to the procedure to remove and add the soft top? I'm hoping its as simple as: fold the top all the way down, secure the folded fabric with bungees or ropes, unlatch the rollers and remove 4 screws. Thx...

yep, its pretty much that simple, plus you only need the factory toolkit.

 

[Pinion]

Team bungee here as well as the other I saw. Love the JL top for simplicity, annoyed that it doesn't fold for shit.

I agree, but after living with a TJ soft top, I really like the new ones. They fold up easier, and I really love the safari mode. Since I have a boat, I'm already careful about dealing with the canvas on the JL.
I have some nylon straps with Velcro sewn to them instead of the bungee cords. No canvas wrinkles.

 

[Terpsmandan]

Same here. I had to pack a flat screwdriver with my YJ to get the snaps off the frame piece over the door otherwise they would rip out. The TJ soft top was easier than the 2 door JK soft top. I could raise the TJ top from the side and for the JK I had to stand on the bumper to push the top up and hope it caught the sunrider tabs. On her JKU I had to stand in the Jeep behind the back seat to get it back on unless I had help. The JL soft top looks ugly when down but goes up so easily that I am willing to accept the tradeoff. Pretty sure OP must be a first time Wrangler owner.....

 

[mnjeeper]

I agree, but after living with a TJ soft top, I really like the new ones. They fold up easier, and I really love the safari mode. Since I have a boat, I'm already careful about dealing with the canvas on the JL.
I have some nylon straps with Velcro sewn to them instead of the bungee cords. No canvas wrinkles.

But, MY TJ top tucked so much better. I guess I'd also take function over aesthetics, but they could have done better.

 

[five9dak]

...What I really dislike is how it blocks the bottom 1/3 of my rear view mirror visibility.
...

Agreed, the visibility is brutal. Between the stupid high seats, my long torso, the rear view mirror that is too low, I can't see nearly anything out the back with the top lowered. I got some velcro straps to tie it down more that another member recommended coming today, hopefully they help some.

My TJ had way better visibility with the top folded. It's a good thing the JL has a backup camera, it is needed for a soft top JL 2 door.

 

[mnjeeper]

Agreed, the visibility is brutal. Between the stupid high seats, my long torso, the rear view mirror that is too low, I can't see nearly anything out the back with the top lowered. I got some velcro straps to tie it down more that another member recommended coming today, hopefully they help some.

My TJ had way better visibility with the top folded. It's a good thing the JL has a backup camera, it is needed for a soft top JL 2 door.

Agreed! The JL is a masterpiece in so many ways compared to the TJ, but canvas is the killer. I have a 37 inch spare now, had a 35 with the TJ. Mirror flip on both...but the JL made less difference. I felt fine without a camera before, it's needed now.

 

[five9dak]

Agreed! The JL is a masterpiece in so many ways compared to the TJ, but canvas is the killer. I have a 37 inch spare now, had a 35 with the TJ. Mirror flip on both...but the JL made less difference. I felt fine without a camera before, it's needed now.

I have the manual dimming mirror, so if I flip it I will lose that functionality. I guess I should investigate switching to an electrochromatic so I can flip it. Come to think of it, my 03 TJ sahara had an electrochromatic, and my 43k msrp JL doesnt, hah.

 

[nositting]

if i see the weather is going to be nice for four or so days, i’ll take it completely off. i think it looks better.
also, i use a bungee cord when the top is down and this helps a lot with visibility.

 

[HammeredGold]

I got a milwaukee battery powered ratchet and a t40 socket that makes taking the soft top and components off much easier and quicker. Though I do leave it off for days at a time and use a trail cover when the weather is iffy.

 

[RZ.]

That's the smitty-boot ... fits just fine & install is no more difficult than putting the windows back in.

Smittybilt is one size fits nobody. Actually... It might work well on a 2 Dr. Too tight for the 4dr, couldn't get it to zip up all the way across, and just looks a little funky.

Most reviews say the same thing. You can definitely muscle it on, but it's not perfect. If your windows are this hard to slide in, you might have some problems with your windows

As far as I can tell ... you're doing it wrong.


That seam is supposed to slide into the c-channel on the whatever-its-called that goes above the tailgate. You can't pull the bottom of the boot far enough forward like that.

It should look a little more like this:

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