underman16
Active Member
I really wish I would have found this thread before I spend hours going nuts over where to mount the plates.
Sponsored
This was great! Thanks for taking the time to put this together!Like the thread title says, I installed the soft top today. Here are a couple of helpful hints I wish I knew. By the way, I have no idea if the JL is anything like the JK. The last soft top I put on was a YJ and Bush Sr. was President so if this is common knowledge, forgive me.
In the big box, there are a few plastic bags of parts and hardware. There are three types of bolts.
The smallest bolts are used to connect the L- and T-sections of the rear door surrounds (2 per 2 sides), attach the plate to the rear bar (2 per 2 sides), and attach the Lift Assist Mechanism to the same plate (2 per 2 sides).
The mid-sized bolts go on the back to secure the rear corners (1 each per side) of the soft top.
The longest bolts are used to clamp the door surrounds to the sports bar- 2 per door x 4 doors.
In the first step, there are 6 (3 per side) plastic door surround pieces. I wish I took pictures when I started, but I didn't, so you'll have to see them in place/assembled. The manual says to start with the front. The surrounds go on the outside of the bar with the hinges on the bottom/outside. Use the longest bolts to go up from the bottom of the surround, through the bar, and into the receiver hole on top.
When mounting the front, it should set into the gasket at the front windshield.
Now we install the rear seat door surrounds. The T shaped piece joins the L shaped piece using two of the short bolts per side. There's also a small weird-shaped rubber gasket that goes between them. Once this assembly is together, connect it to the bar just like the front with long bolts.
Here's the gasket installed already-
When you install the rear door surrounds, they mate up with the front ones. Make sure the gaskets are all smooth:
Now we'll move to the back of the Jeep. The quarter window "anchors" go on the rear corners with medium (not longest) bolts.
Next come the only metal plates in the soft top box. The owner's manual doesn't even mention them that I could see. You have to remove a trim piece from your rear bar first.
To pop the trim off, stick a flat head screwdriver down behind it to pinch the trim tabs. You can see I bent one during my struggle-
It will reveal this. Using the shortest bolts in the box, you connect the metal plate here. It's obvious how to align it. The plate has an indexing pin that goes into the hole here.
Use 2 short bolts to attach the plates to the inside of the rear bar. It'll look like this.
Then you'll lift the soft top into place and align the box (the Lift Assist Mechanism) to the plate. This is the only step you really could use a buddy to help out. It's really awkward to hold the top and reach the bolts from the outside of the Jeep. Two more short bolts on each side and you're almost there.
After that just follow the last couple of steps in the manual- pull back the slide, mount the pins, and release. Pretty much done!
Happy Jeeping!
I really wish I would have found this thread before I spend hours going nuts over where to mount the plates.
Thanks for posting the detailed instructions and pics! I used this along with the user manual and installed my softop today. It took about 1hr for the first time but can probably get it down to 30 min in the future. Would have been a lot tougher with only the manual since it jumps to several sections for full install instructions.It's crazy those plates aren't even mentioned in the User's Manual. I hope others can find this thread before swapping tops.
Which Racor Lift did you get? They're a bunch on Amazon.I bought a Racor lift off Amazon for about $120-$150 and hung the hard top from it. The lift is a 4'x4' shelf which is perfect to place the freedom panels on top.
Tomorrow or Tuesday I'm going to mount a couple of 2x6s on the wall you see to hang the doors.
P.S. I looked closely at this picture and freaked out because I thought the glass was cracked. It's a reflection of the crack in the garage floor I think. Phew!
Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage RackWhich Racor Lift did you get? They're a bunch on Amazon.
Wes,i just finished mine. wish i had seen this before as i was struggling with the manual and finding info online. i actually couldnt locate the gasket and the small bolts though looking at it i knew i was missing something. found it taped inside a box wrapped in bubble.
one thing i noticed on yours though. on the metal bracket there is a little cut out where that little allen head bolt needs to sit in it. once in it holds it up and the bolt holes line up. yours appears to not be seated in there.
Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009I8AO6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It was $150 when I bought it.
Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009I8AO6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It was $150 when I bought it.
I’m perplexed. Followed these instructions every step of the way (thank you), but now that I am done I can’t close the top. The front is about a 1/4 short from reaching the latches. I mean, if I gave it everything I had I could probably get them to latch, but would never be able to get them undone. I’ve opened and closed it a bunch of times thinking it needed to stretch out a little, gone over every inch again and I can’t find anything wrong. Thoughts???Like the thread title says, I installed the soft top today. Here are a couple of helpful hints I wish I knew. By the way, I have no idea if the JL is anything like the JK. The last soft top I put on was a YJ and Bush Sr. was President so if this is common knowledge, forgive me.
In the big box, there are a few plastic bags of parts and hardware. There are three types of bolts.
The smallest bolts are used to connect the L- and T-sections of the rear door surrounds (2 per 2 sides), attach the plate to the rear bar (2 per 2 sides), and attach the Lift Assist Mechanism to the same plate (2 per 2 sides).
The mid-sized bolts go on the back to secure the rear corners (1 each per side) of the soft top.
The longest bolts are used to clamp the door surrounds to the sports bar- 2 per door x 4 doors.
In the first step, there are 6 (3 per side) plastic door surround pieces. I wish I took pictures when I started, but I didn't, so you'll have to see them in place/assembled. The manual says to start with the front. The surrounds go on the outside of the bar with the hinges on the bottom/outside. Use the longest bolts to go up from the bottom of the surround, through the bar, and into the receiver hole on top.
When mounting the front, it should set into the gasket at the front windshield.
Now we install the rear seat door surrounds. The T shaped piece joins the L shaped piece using two of the short bolts per side. There's also a small weird-shaped rubber gasket that goes between them. Once this assembly is together, connect it to the bar just like the front with long bolts.
Here's the gasket installed already-
When you install the rear door surrounds, they mate up with the front ones. Make sure the gaskets are all smooth:
Now we'll move to the back of the Jeep. The quarter window "anchors" go on the rear corners with medium (not longest) bolts.
Next come the only metal plates in the soft top box. The owner's manual doesn't even mention them that I could see. You have to remove a trim piece from your rear bar first.
To pop the trim off, stick a flat head screwdriver down behind it to pinch the trim tabs. You can see I bent one during my struggle-
It will reveal this. Using the shortest bolts in the box, you connect the metal plate here. It's obvious how to align it. The plate has an indexing pin that goes into the hole here.
Use 2 short bolts to attach the plates to the inside of the rear bar. It'll look like this.
Then you'll lift the soft top into place and align the box (the Lift Assist Mechanism) to the plate. This is the only step you really could use a buddy to help out. It's really awkward to hold the top and reach the bolts from the outside of the Jeep. Two more short bolts on each side and you're almost there.
After that just follow the last couple of steps in the manual- pull back the slide, mount the pins, and release. Pretty much done!
Happy Jeeping!
Perhaps try closing what you can and running the heater? I've seen posts that say temperature makes a difference to new tops.I’m perplexed. Followed these instructions every step of the way (thank you), but now that I am done I can’t close the top. The front is about a 1/4 short from reaching the latches. I mean, if I gave it everything I had I could probably get them to latch, but would never be able to get them undone. I’ve opened and closed it a bunch of times thinking it needed to stretch out a little, gone over every inch again and I can’t find anything wrong. Thoughts???
Yes not sure of your temps but people usually leave new tops out in the sun for 2 to 4 hours allowing them to heat up and stretch easier.Perhaps try closing what you can and running the heater? I've seen posts that say temperature makes a difference to new tops.
Appreciate the tip and @vonbek too. I am in Houston and left it in the sun all day. Still have a huge gap. Will be at the dealer tomorrow AM and see what they say. I’m sure it is user error....Yes not sure of your temps but people usually leave new tops out in the sun for 2 to 4 hours allowing them to heat up and stretch easier.