Factory Soft Top negatives?

[Capricorn]

My 2 door w/soft top is made even more nimble with the removal of the 70 lb. rear seat. That plus the weight of a hard top, say 100+ lbs., adds up to a sizable difference.

By the way, something that surprised me that I didn’t think about until I heard it, is the pleasing sound of rain on the fabric. Those of you who have ever camped in a tent, probably almost all of you, will get what I’m talking about. And unlike most of my tents, my soft top doesn’t leak.

Soft top is an advantage in places where hail is common too.

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[KrispyKotex]

If you can't see out the back too well with a factory soft top, maybe you should try these nice wide velcro straps. They work fine if you wrap them around the top when in the down position. Makes a HUGE improvement. https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand...d_rd_i=B00575600W&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_rp_33_i

 

[Rico1111]

I was just going to type that if you can't see beyond the soft top with it down you could always use velcro or bungees which is what I do...I remove the tailgate bar from back window and put it back in it's channel then bungee the soft top to it in two places. It is as flat as the JK...the bars on the other hand are a different story! You can still pull them out of the rail tracks and sit them on the wheel arches if they bother you though.

 

[AMT]

Love the soft top. Like others have mentioned, it only takes about 15 seconds to pull the tabs out of their tracks and lift the bar and fold over the back of the Jeep for full access to the rear. However, if there were a conversion so that I could lift it and it would stay up like the hard top window, I would certainly get it. Provides slight rain protection and I am envious of those who have the Brawlee light bar installed on their hard top window.
Running through a drive through car wash would be nice for convenience sometimes.
My biggest frustration is the lack of roof rack options that allow the soft top to be folded down. Only two I have seen are the LOD sliding rack which looks awesome, but $$$. I think Gobi makes a rack that will tilt back from some quick releases on the front so you can fold the top down. Haven't seen any other ones that allow for it.

 

[JP29]

However, if there were a conversion so that I could lift it and it would stay up like the hard top window, I would certainly get it. Provides slight rain protection and I am envious of those who have the Brawlee light bar installed on their hard top window.

Believe it or not, people have done it. I searched high and low just now and couldn't find it, but I thought there was someone doing it for the JK whose kits worked for the JK as well maybe.

 

[hiimmike]

Disagree completely, the JK soft top folded totally out of the way.

Yeah, it's not a TON of difference though, sure some, but it's negligible. Negligible is subjective though.

 

[en480c4]

After more CJs, TJs, LJs & JKs than I'd care to count, I would agree what everyone else has said...

Big Plus: Ease of use. Up and down in seconds with no zippers. Can't overstate enough how great this is.

Minor Negative: Looks when folded. There's no denying it's not a great look, but I'd say the ease of use more than outweights it... Form following function.

Negative: Probably the loudest soft top since my non-sailcloth TJ top. There just isn't enough tension in the cables that hold it tight through the door surrounds to prevent it from flapping if you're going above 50-55 mph.

 

[AMT]

Believe it or not, people have done it. I searched high and low just now and couldn't find it, but I thought there was someone doing it for the JK whose kits worked for the JK as well maybe.

Thanks! I’ll have to expand my search

 

[Scratch]

I have both and if you have to get in the back of the jeep, the rear window is a pain on the soft top. Once I got the Sunrider for hardtop I no longer put the soft top on. It is the best of both worlds.

 

[Rosco P]

After more CJs, TJs, LJs & JKs than I'd care to count, I would agree what everyone else has said...

Big Plus: Ease of use. Up and down in seconds with no zippers. Can't overstate enough how great this is.

Minor Negative: Looks when folded. There's no denying it's not a great look, but I'd say the ease of use more than outweights it... Form following function.

Negative: Probably the loudest soft top since my non-sailcloth TJ top. There just isn't enough tension in the cables that hold it tight through the door surrounds to prevent it from flapping if you're going above 50-55 mph.

I have not experienced any flapping at any speed with 4 JL premium tops on 4 different jeeps over 4 years. you may have a cull

 

[Heimkehr]

@AMT
@JP29

Bracket for soft top rear window.

 

[JP29]

@AMT
@JP29

Bracket for soft top rear window.

There it is! Not quite a hard window, but a solution for those that can't manage flipping it onto the top. Albeit spendy.

 

[KrisEdward]

Freshly switched over two weeks ago from hard top to a premium soft top purchased from another member. For sure louder at higher speeds. Other than that, literally love the flexibility. Have gone on several trails with the top fully retracted, and the experience is that much better on the same trails. When the bugs come out or the kids get cold... 5-10 min and I'm fully enclosed again. Highly recommend for the spring and summer imo

 

[Packnbeer]

My only comment is to go through the process of opening the rear window before making the buy decision. Be sure that you're comfortable going through that and the reverse process any time you need the extra room to access the rear. And, consider if it's raining while you're doing that.

if you pull it loose on the sides (1 to 2 seconds) and then pop loose the tailgate rail and flip it up. Takes no time if you need extra room to load or unload something. Not as fast as opening the tailgate and lifting the glass but frankly I have only had to do that a few times in the year and half I have had my Jeep.

 

[Packnbeer]

a soft top is the only way to go if you truly plan to be topless as often as possible. If I had a hard top, I would rarely go topless because it is such a process. I can take down my soft top and be on the road in a couple minutes and that includes taking the time to pack away the windows in the Mopar protective bag. Also, I can take the bag with me and if I would need to put the top up I can. My soft top is not loud at all. I also like all of the options of the top. all the way down, sunrider, safari look...

Only way to go for me because the top is down every day possible. I rarely ever use the a/c because for me its about all about getting some sun

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