How heavy is the JLU hard top?

[longfiredragon]

Hey all

How heavy is the JLU hard top. Can my wife and I lift it off. She's pretty strong.

I have insulation I want to put in.

Thanks

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[Rotsam]

It's about 100lbs (https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/hardtop-weight.4301/post-2596095). It's really more awkward than heavy.

 

[AndySpill]

Hey all

How heavy is the JLU hard top. Can my wife and I lift it off. She's pretty strong.

I have insulation I want to put in.

Thanks

Some context. Here's what I'd consider a pretty strong guy taking off his JKU Wrangler hard top, which was about 120 pounds (i.e. 20 more than the JLU one).



I'd buy product (i.e. garage straps as shown, Top Life Pro, etc.) to help her with this if you want her to be able to do it alone.

 

[Whaler27]

Some context. Here's what I'd consider a pretty strong guy taking off his JKU Wrangler hard top, which was about 120 pounds (i.e. 20 more than the JLU one).



I'd buy product (i.e. garage straps as shown, Top Life Pro, etc.) to help her with this if you want her to be able to do it alone.

I definitely don’t recommend this guy’s technique…

OP, if you think you’ll want to go topless in the nice weather, which is one of the joys of owning a jeep, buying one of the lifts/hoists is a great investment, then you can take the top on an off by yourself with zero risk of back injury.

 

[Veets]

Not sure where you live but I have this up for sale. I’m in CT area

 

[longfiredragon]

Thanks all

I am not going to do it by myself. The wife is in no way going to do it by herself. I would love to go topless more often, especially since we are coming into the winter months in Florida.

We are still in an RV. I have no storage, no garage, and no place to put up or store a lift of some type. One day as we get reestablished I will build some type of pulley system to remove it by myself and store it.

For now I just wanted her help to remove it to install the insulation I have for it. I think now the wife and I together can safely remove it.

Thanks everyone.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Get the pulley system, but use a tree limb. It's very awkward to remove, even with 2 people, unless you practice a few times. The weight bias is all wrong and it's easy to lose control of. Look how many used Wranglers have damage to the back corners of the hard top, caused by dropping it. If the rear glass could be easily removed, them it would change the weight bias and make the top a lot more easy to handle. Some of the hard top removal systems break down to make them easy to travel with.

 

[SaintNick]

Why do you have to remove it to put insulation on? I'm assuming it's either MOPAR or Hot Heads if thats what you are talking about and there is no need to remove for that.

 

[longfiredragon]

Why do you have to remove it to put insulation on? I'm assuming it's either MOPAR or Hot Heads if thats what you are talking about and there is no need to remove for that.

No, I can't see the cost in some pre-cut foam. Plus I want to do more. Another words on the back part of the roof I want to do it my way.

I got enough of this acoustical foam off Amazon to do two jeep hard tops. I bought some 3M super 77 spray adhesive and I am in it for a total of $111.

To each their own. I like doing stuff like this, so I don't mind removing the top and doing it how I want. The foam I got may not be as good, maybe it's better, I don't honestly know. I feel like when all done it will be a lot better than nothing.

I just finished doing the freedom panels and I like it. It should work fine for both sound and insulation. It's not coming off anytime soon.

Oh, I didn't shoot for perfection on the freedom panels. I have a spider shade up front so your not even going to see the foam. In back I intend on being a little more precise.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

That's acoustic foam, little to no insulation value. The heat build up inside the vehicle will cause it crumble apart in a relatively short period of time. Then you'll be left with some black foam fuzz, stuck to glue that you can't get off the SMC/fiberglass. Do you ever plan to trade or sell it in the future?

 

[bjm00se]

Two of you together can lift it.

Your fingers and hands may not be strong enough to do the initial lift to break the seal loose. So before you can lift it, you may need to go in the trunk and use your back and/or legs to lift it an inch or two. Then set it back down and go back outside and stand on the ground to lift it all the way off.

Two cents.

 

[The Fixer]

My son and I have done it a few times. If your wife is strong, you two will be OK. I'm not particularly strong (only 5'3" and 50 years old) and we don't have much of an issue. As mentioned, it's more awkward than anything. I usually go into the cargo area and put my back up to the roof and lift it up first to make sure the seal is not stuck. Then I'll walk it back a few inches with the window open to clear the spare tire. Once we're clear of the tire, we get one hand under the back corner and the other under the side and tilt it back to put on our cart. I'm not sure where you want to put the top once you take it off, but if you have a cart or something it's not bad.

 

[longfiredragon]

That's acoustic foam, little to no insulation value. The heat build up inside the vehicle will cause it crumble apart in a relatively short period of time. Then you'll be left with some black foam fuzz, stuck to glue that you can't get off the SMC/fiberglass. Do you ever plan to trade or sell it in the future?

Well sir I stated that I don't know how it compares to the high priced pre cut foam you can buy. But I did look into it's properties.

It is a high density polyurethane blend. (No smell,flame resistant etc.) High density foams are used in both acoustic and thermal applications. Not saying they are the best but they offer both thermal protection and acoustic value.

They are used in a wide variety of thermal applications, electronics, vehicle insulation etc.

Generally speaking, because there are variables. Thermally there good to around 200 degrees F.

It may break down like you say, but it will not be anytime soon. If, and when it does, clean up is not a big deal. I have worked with super 77 for years. You don't have to remove all the glue to put new foam down and a plastic scrapper will remove any foam.

What do you think happens to the pre cut foam when it gets old?

And no I am not selling my jeep.

 

[Whaler27]

We are still in an RV. I have no storage, no garage, and no place to put up or store a lift of some type. One day as we get reestablished I will build some type of pulley system to remove it by myself and store it.

Makes sense.

If I was less of a financial coward my wife and I would buy another coach and travel the country pulling our jeep and motorcycle. I envy you two doing that lifestyle — even if you don’t have a garage for the jeep.

 

[four low]

I think these Handles will help getting the Hardtop off, 2 or 4 Dr. An easy lift for 2 people. Amazon has them.

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