Dual Top or Hard Top?

[Kraty1]

Dual top hands down if you can! I was also a Jeep newbie. We went with the hard top and had the freedom panels off within the first 10 minutes, very easy to do and store. Shortly thereafter we took the hardtop off. Now that wasn’t easy and either was storage (ended up on blankets on garage floor), plus when it rained I couldn’t drive anywhere till I could get help getting the top back on. Then I started researching on this forum and ended up buying a premium soft top used (never opened) for $1700 and installed the Harken Hoister system in my garage. Could have saved a ton of money buying the dual top and now my monetary loss was someone else’s gain. Long story short the hoist is great and makes taking the hard top off and storing it very simple, however as others have said there’s piece of mind having the soft top with you in case of rain (although I’ve read the JL interior is just about waterproof). As an added bonus I’m looking forward to running in safari mode with the doors off on really hot days! But come winter that hard top will offer the most warmth and safety in the snow. Hope this helps!

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[dabial]

here is another perspective. My rubicon came with a soft top by mistake (I only ordered the hard top) was not interested in a soft top so I sold it. Grew tired of removing the panels so I bought the Bestop Sunrider:
https://www.quadratec.com/p/bestop/...FF9uQq3x23F2HEAKpxeKVn0y0w4Npvg8aAtTXEALw_wcB

for me its the best of both worlds, I have the security and look of the hard top and in a few seconds I have a convertible. I use it everyday on my commute to and from work. got it for a great price too, I was one of the first to order...

Looks perfect!! Thanks for posting when my order finally arrives may grab this option

 

[robaw]

Dual top hands down if you can! I was also a Jeep newbie. We went with the hard top and had the freedom panels off within the first 10 minutes, very easy to do and store. Shortly thereafter we took the hardtop off. Now that wasn’t easy and either was storage (ended up on blankets on garage floor), plus when it rained I couldn’t drive anywhere till I could get help getting the top back on. Then I started researching on this forum and ended up buying a premium soft top used (never opened) for $1700 and installed the Harken Hoister system in my garage. Could have saved a ton of money buying the dual top and now my monetary loss was someone else’s gain. Long story short the hoist is great and makes taking the hard top off and storing it very simple, however as others have said there’s piece of mind having the soft top with you in case of rain (although I’ve read the JL interior is just about waterproof). As an added bonus I’m looking forward to running in safari mode with the doors off on really hot days! But come winter that hard top will offer the most warmth and safety in the snow. Hope this helps!

+1 - sounds like why I went dual tops. Personally I don't like the soft top on when the weather allows, but that isn't all that often for me (stupid Midwest!). But if the weather is questionable or if I'm going to be more than a few miles from home the soft top is nice to have just in case. And safari mode - just awesome! When my soft top is on I go with that quite a bit, mostly free-air but with sun protection. Best of both worlds!

 

[Lou Bunn]

When we looked at getting a Jeep, there was no question on model (Sport S) with V6 & 8 speed auto, the only question was the tops. My daughter had flip-flopped on the issue and I said lets drive both and see. We did, the premium soft top was no louder than the hard top as far as we could tell and the ease of the sun-rider flip back sealed the deal. Now, this was in Feb, so it was still cold around here, but with the heated seats / steering wheel and fast warm up heater, no one complained. We have friends with a hard top Sahara and they say that their next one will NOT be a hard top. Now, if you live up "nawrf" up may want to factor how many months of warm weather you actually get.
Me? One day I hope to get my own Jeep, we old guys can dream right, I mean eventually right?? And when I do I'm thinking little 2 door Rubicon with soft top. Just room enough for me and my dog, he doesn't get moody or stare at a phone 23 hours a day!

 

[trouphaz]

The soft top is a necessity for Wrangler life. Trust me, leaving your house without any cover at all will make you a little paranoid. It's nice to have the added benefit of being able to flip the top up and keep the interior locked and dry when running errands or leaving it in your work parking lot. I know some people who only have the hard top and they, essentially, never use their wrangler as a wrangler. They just leave the thing covered at all times because a) the hard top takes about 35 minutes to remove and b) they don't know if they can trust the weather long enough to leave it open while they're out.

Also, keep in mind that some of the best weather to go topless in is pre-rain summertime. It will be hot with a cool breeze and full cloud cover. You'll be on top of the world. Don't let the lack-of-soft-top be the reason you can't fully embrace that.

I went with just the soft top on my Sahara. I might, someday, get a hard top for it. But the priority is having the flexibility to flip the top down whenever the weather is nice.

i bought scaffolding from home depot that i roll up behind my car and a cordless screw driver. i can have the top off or on in less than 10 minutes. other than that though, you are 100% correct. i get paranoid about leaving the house. i check the weather multiple times and am now looking for what options i have so i don't have to worry so much. i'm probably going to buy the quadratec cover so i can just cover it at night and not have to keep reinstalling the top at the end of the day. if it is raining, i'll just take my other car and leave the jeep covered. the only thing that is missing is something that i can put on the car if it happens to start raining while i'm out, something that i can drive with in a pinch. i'm mostly focused on protecting the electronics from rain and keeping the passengers somewhat dry.

i do regret not getting the dual top though.

 

[JEFFREY]

Sky top and you don't have to worry about it.

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