Sky One Touch Roof Conversion?

[Gregj]

What are the parts I need to order to swap from SOT (JL rubicon) to soft top?

Besides a full Softtop kit, you need the Targa brackets and a windshield header molding with the cutouts for them.
68469893AC Targa bracket left
68469892AC Targa bracket right
eBay windshield molding
I would buy a windshield molding from eBay and swap all my wiring and seatbelt/Sos/Assist button over to it, you will have the connector for the SOT switch that you won’t plug in but it doesn’t cause any issues.
Gregj

eta you need four bolts for the brackets 6512230AA

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[Tom Tiger]

Hi Gregj - cool to see what you have done for JL SOT to standrard hardtop conversion ...
Question in our case is now the next level ;-) hope you can help too ...

We have a 12/24 LU Rubi w SOT (and love this one as a daily driver) ... so no SOT is no option ;-) ... BUT we are overlander as well, and want to use the same car w roof top tent as well - as the SOT is not supported by a Rhino Rack Backbone - we would need something like a GOBI Rack (whats really uggly) ... so we had the idea to simply buy an additional Standard Hardtop, put a Rhino Rack Backbone in, and so have 120/360kg Roof load ... and just install the Hardtop incl Rhino and IKAMPER 3.0, when we do an overlanding tour - e.g. to Island next summer, and once back simply change back to the SOT for daily driver use ...

1) We got a Hardtop - used, not cheap but for a fair price,
2) We found out we need the brackets like you mention + the middle ones over the Window + the back ones (something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9N35L4Q?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title or from Mopar) - not so easy out of Germany, but managable w friends in US
3) the Panel you mention - i would rather try to cut w a Fein or Drehmel some room for the brackets - BUT now i found out that the Switch for the SOT is exactaly at the room where the driverside middle bracket have to be mounted ;-(

So now we need the creativity or experience of this group - other way the money for the Hardtop is wasted ;-(

Do you or others have a solution for Dual Use / Switching w SOT and Standard Hardtop - so we need the Swutch but also the Brackets ...

First ideas -
a) other way to get bracket mounted differently , or alternative bracket ?
b) replace the Switch - where too ? ... and what to do w the hole of the current place ?
c) get something 3d-printed that lifts/prolongs the switch to get the 3-5 cm you need to get both in, switch and bracket (think this is the easiest way if one could design and print)
d) use 2 of the AUX switches (do not know if they are compatible, but would look integrated) ? Cabling might be not easy (get the cable from the top in the feet area of the second driver) ?
e) other / smaler compatible switch ?
f) ... any other idea ??? ;-)

Manny Manny Thanks for each idea, link, video ...
lets find a way - together ;-)

 

[Gregj]

I replaced the regular SOT switch with a momentary spdt switch like This. It is small enough to fit in the hardtop panel along with the hardtop bracket. Just ground the center pin and put the open signal wire on one outer terminal and the close signal wire on the other. I’m not near my Jeep right now or I would post a picture of it. I also drilled holes where the striker brackets nut is and got some plastic plugs to cover them.
Gregj

 

[Tom Tiger]

I replaced the regular SOT switch with a momentary spdt switch like This. It is small enough to fit in the hardtop panel along with the hardtop bracket. Just ground the center pin and put the open signal wire on one outer terminal and the close signal wire on the other. I’m not near my Jeep right now or I would post a picture of it. I also drilled holes where the striker brackets nut is and got some plastic plugs to cover them.
Gregj

Sounds like one easy option - Some Pic's if you are near again (hope days not Month ;-)) would be great, also from the holes/cuts for the Brackets would be great ;-)

many thanks

 

[Gregj]

Pic as promised.

Gregj

 

[Tom Tiger]

Dear Gregj, many thanks - looks great !

2 more questions -
A) it looks like you used an Standard HardtopPanel (difficult or expensive to get in Europe) ... do you think i could cut for the 4 Brackets also in the SOT Panel ? ... for the Switch i would need to design a blende/aperature to fit the hole and host the smaller Switch.
B) as the original Switch is rather a button (1 press - it runs to the auto stop bach or front) and your solution is a real switch (permanent power in the one or the other direction) ... any degradation of function ? Any things special - like manual switch to 0 required, e.g. after the AutoStop, or not Auto Stop any more , ... ?

Glad i found a specialist that did this allready ;-)

Yours Tino

 

[D00KEY]

Anyone want to trade my granite SOT for your granite hardtop in Denver?

 

[Gregj]

A) Yes, that is a standard top header panel. You only really need to trim a little of the plastic to expose the area where the Freedom panel latches.
B) The SOT switch is a momentary switch so my replacement works exactly the same. The switch I linked is a momentary switch (it is only connected while it is pressed down and it springs back to the “neutral” position when released)
Gregj

 

[Gregj]

As for mounting your replacement switch the panel is made up of two layers, the outer is a soft plastic and there is an inner layer that is a harder plastic, they are spot welded together so maybe you can make a thin panel to insert between the layers and drill the hole for your replacement switch.

The plastic is really easy to cut with a sharp utility knife, I would put tape over it and draw out what you want to cut and use several passes with the utility knife to cut through it. I think it would gum up a rotary tool. Here are pictures of the cut out areas.

 

[Gregj]

The wiring for the switch is pretty simple, it has four wires. A ground (black), an illumination wire (orange/gray), open (orange/green) and close (orange/violet). Connect the black to the center pin, the orange/green to one of the outer pins and the orange/violet to the other outer pin. The orange/gray is not used.

Gregj

 

[Tom Tiger]

Great to have the cabeling ...

Did someone try to keep the SOT panel version - locks much more modern, hold all the tech from a 24 one,..., and is existing ;-) i did some photos today ...

I checked no cabels on the outer Brackets place - but pot bigger cut required , for the inner ones - just a small cut , but this freaking switch ... they made it 10 times bigger than it have to be ... if i take that one out - i have a hole in the panel, ghat i need to close or cover (e.g. w a 1mm V2A metal plate ? Other ideas ?) ..and then drill the hole for the smaller switch to avaoide collision w the bracket...

Or do you think there is a 24+ small panell over the morror for the standard hardtop that have no hole for the SOT switch ?

 

[Tom Tiger]

Hi - may be a better picture ... does anyone know if the holding mold plate exist without the hole for the power top switch ? Would buy it ...

 

[Gregj]

I don’t have one that new but maybe Benny @AllMoparParts.com can help.
Gregj

 

[EveOfChaos]

Following all this. Just got a 392 but has the SOT and I'm not a fan. I'm disappointed to find I have to fiddle with it more than I thought to get a soft top on it.
Do you know the weight of the SOT once it's off? I have the Lange power hoist mounted to the ceiling, wondering if it can handle the weight.

 

[Beach Nut]

I thought I wouldn’t like mine either, but it’s super convenient, never having to store a top, just the back side windows. There’s a YouTube video of 4 guys just walking it off the Jeep without any issues.

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