Seasonally swapping hard/soft tops?

[inorganik]

I have a hard top, and a hoist to store it. Removing it is pretty simple. I was checking out the Bestop ultra - it's estimated at having a 4 hour installation for my JLU, yikes. So my question is, is it practical or even feasible to swap tops in the spring and fall, so I can ride the hard top in winter, and soft top in summer?

I'm betting there isn't as much work to reinstall it, but it's hard to tell how much work is involved removing the soft top. Does anyone do this? Is it worth it?

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[There’sOnlyOne]

Many do this. I do currently and have in past Jeeps also. That 4 hours is just the initial install eta on the soft top. You'll have to put some brackets together and make some attachments to Jeep. Afterwards you'll be able to take most of , if not all of, the softtop off as a complete unit like the hardtop. It should take maybe 30 min to remove a complete softop and install ht on a hoist and the reverse. Enjoy your Jeep.

 

[WhereRU_A-A-Ron]

I do this every year and it doesn’t take anywhere near 4 hours. It MIGHT take me 45 minutes to go from hard top to soft top fully installed. I’d say allow yourself 2 hours from start to finish since it’s your first time. You’ll also have things to assemble the first time that can just stay assembled in the future.

The process is very simple so don’t let it intimidate you. I won’t say I “enjoy” switching tops but it’s absolutely 100% worth it IMO.

 

[Graydd]

Mine came with a hard top. We switch to the Mopar soft top in the summer. Not hard to change, but two people make placing the soft top in its place is way easier. Took about an hour first time.

 

[Jeep4Win]

I swap as well after getting a soft top from a forum member. The process maybe takes me 45min to an hour for me but YMMV.

 

[au176]

Totally worth doing, and won't take you 4 hours except initial setup. I do it every year, including OEM 1/2 doors, and can do the whole thing by myself in well under two hours. I use my rolling garbage tote to aid in placing the soft-top on the roll bar, and have a Top-Lift Pro for the heavy lifting.

 

[MichaelT333]

I have a hard top, and a hoist to store it. Removing it is pretty simple. I was checking out the Bestop ultra - it's estimated at having a 4 hour installation for my JLU, yikes. So my question is, is it practical or even feasible to swap tops in the spring and fall, so I can ride the hard top in winter, and soft top in summer?

I'm betting there isn't as much work to reinstall it, but it's hard to tell how much work is involved removing the soft top. Does anyone do this? Is it worth it?

Absolutely it’s feasible. More than feasible. It is what I have been doing for 3 years. Hard top In winter and Bestop trektop in the summer. I would highly recommend it as you can throw the top down in less then 10 seconds whenever you want and it’s much warmer in the winter with the hardtop

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