Sad day, hardtop back on

[S2k Chris]

We’ve had lousy weather here in northern IL lately, and as we get into fall more and more it becomes advantageous to have the HT on (inclement weather, carrying firearms so need secure storage, etc.). So I had some spare time today and made the switch.

It all actually comes apart really easily. I tried putting the little cover back over the soft top while it was still on the Jeep, it didn’t work really well. I put a folding table up behind the Jeep, wrestled it off the rig, and then once it was on the table it was easy to finish wrapping it all up. Everything else comes apart really easily.

Don’t forget to take off the corner pieces like I did until I couldn’t figure out why the HT wouldn’t seat.

I used the brackets I usually store my S2000 convertible top boot on to hang the soft top. Works out great.

Anyways, it’s like I’ve got a whole second car. Much quieter, nice to have a rear windshield wiper again, and makes the Alpine stereo sound even better.

Sponsored

 

[American Jeeper]

It’s always refreshing to get the top back on, and then to take it back off again when it warms up!

 

[Mid-life Wrangler]

I disassembled the soft top as well, but the weather, in northern Kentucky, is still nice enough to go topless. I left the hardtop on the TopLift Pro for another day and installed the Jeep Backbone. Do you know/remember which brackets those are and where you got them?

 

[Wanderingwheelz]

I did the opposite. I just put the soft top on a week is so ago and took the doors off(trail doors on). Love the mild fall and winter here. Probably run with this till Jan/Feb.

I just took the windows off my soft top. My Wrangler was forced into daily driver duty for a week so I closed it all up. It’s back to “fun only” duty so naturally the windows are hanging in the garage.

Tomorrow the doors come back off.

 

[S2k Chris]

Do you know/remember which brackets those are and where you got them?

They were generic something or other; I think I got them from Menards.

Not sure these are 100% the same, but they look like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Lehigh-HGSH-...2&keywords=lehigh+storage+brackets+for+garage

 

[RussJeep1]

I hear you @S2k Chris on how the hardtop is better for winter weather and securing items in the rig.

Maybe, when it comes to market, the Bestop Sunrider (e.g. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jl-sunrider-for-hardtop-bestop.16329/ ), along with some bolt down lock boxes in the rig to secure valuables, might allow you to extend your Summer (and Spring, by getting a jump start in early Spring) as a transition top between complete soft and hard top.

And I say this because what Jeeper doesn't have extra pocket change given the standard feature rich configuration of the JL, along with its unbelievably low purchase price, to buy such accessories.

 

[Outdoors55]

I’m in northern Chicago burbs as well and made the switch back to the hard top yesterday. I miss the softtop already but at least it’s taken care of now until spring.

Getting the softtop off the brackets was a bit tricky but it came out eventually.

My one mistake is I tossed out the softtop wrap after my intial install and instead used some generic Velcro to hold the softtop together as much as possible and stored it in my basement.

 

[Jeep your tips up]

me too - hard top back on today...watch your fingers - easy to get caught in the hydraulics.

 

[RussJeep1]

@S2k Chris : said entirely tongue a cheek.

There's a solution to keeping your soft top on longer into the season.

Have a tree branch fall on it as the remnants of Hurricane Michael pass through, and just before you're about to put the hard top on.

Doing so will break the rear bow, and bend some other components necessitating you keep it on for the dealer (who may think its a JK) to assess for repair. And despite this you'll feel good because:

* thank goodness you weren't one of the people in Florida devastated by the storm.
* Had it been the hard top, while it might have suffered no damage, it could just as easily suffered unrepairable damage: less likely in a soft top,
* Nobody was hurt, worse killed.

Serious: I get the bummer associated with the end of summer, brother.

Sponsored