Smittybilt Safari hard top for JL?

[Doctorit]

I stumbled across the Smittybilt Safari top today:
https://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/282.htm

Currently, only available for the JK. This thing looks awesome! Anyone out there have any experience with it on the JK?

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[jscherb]

I stumbled across the Smittybilt Safari top today:
https://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/282.htm

Currently, only available for the JK. This thing looks awesome! Anyone out there have any experience with it on the JK?

I don't have one on my JKU but I have taken a close look at it. It weighs 320 lbs according to the Smittybilt web site (the 2dr version is a mere 275 lbs.). It doesn't have drip rails over the doors. The "Alpine windows" in the roof are plastic (acrylic, lexan, ?) which are very susceptible to UV degradation (clouding and hazing like the headlight covers of many vehicles).

 

[Oletimer]

I stumbled across the Smittybilt Safari top today:
https://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/282.htm

Currently, only available for the JK. This thing looks awesome! Anyone out there have any experience with it on the JK?

I saw one up close installed today. I thought it looked goofy. Like a old land rover top.

 

[Doctorit]

I saw one up close installed today. I thought it looked goofy. Like a old land rover top.

Goofy is in the eye of the beholder - I like the classic offroader look.

 

[Doctorit]

I don't have one on my JKU but I have taken a close look at it. It weighs 320 lbs according to the Smittybilt web site (the 2dr version is a mere 275 lbs.). It doesn't have drip rails over the doors. The "Alpine windows" in the roof are plastic (acrylic, lexan, ?) which are very susceptible to UV degradation (clouding and hazing like the headlight covers of many vehicles).

Too bad, but I guess you get what you pay for. Maybe a JL version will have some improvements?

 

[jscherb]

If I were to have a Safari-style hardtop on a JL, this is what I'd want...

A rear barn door for easy access to cargo:

Power vent windows for easy flow-through ventilation:

Removable side panels:

Roll-up soft sides for when the hard sides are off:

Integrated roof rack to hold any amount of weight:

 

[Wabujitsu]

I stumbled across the Smittybilt Safari top today:
https://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/282.htm

Currently, only available for the JK. This thing looks awesome! Anyone out there have any experience with it on the JK?

Does it have wiper and squirter? It didn’t say on the link.

 

[jscherb]

Does it have wiper and squirter? It didn’t say on the link.

As far as I know it does not.

 

[Doctorit]

If I were to have a Safari-style hardtop on a JL, this is what I'd want...

A rear barn door for easy access to cargo:

That looks very nicely done. Your Jeep?

 

[jscherb]

That looks very nicely done. Your Jeep?

Thank you, yes it's mine. 2013 JKU.

 

[TrewJL]

Thank you, yes it's mine. 2013 JKU.

That is a great looking jeep. Was the top custom built?

 

[jscherb]

That is a great looking jeep. Was the top custom built?

Thank you. Yes, it's homemade.

I don't like the factory hardtops much so if I ever have a JL I'll probably make a JL version with similar features.

 

[Rufus]

Thank you. Yes, it's homemade.

I don't like the factory hardtops much so if I ever have a JL I'll probably make a JL version with similar features.

Looks great and functional...you could go in to business.

 

[jscherb]

Looks great and functional...you could go in to business.

Thank you very much. I'm definitely not interested in going into business but I do like designing new things and making a few examples of each design- my hobby is design. I did a hardtop for my LJ before I did the JKU one and that one was licensed by a company and has been in production for the past few years (photo below), so sometimes things I design turn into products. I also did the CJ grille kit for the TJ/LJ that's on the Jeep in the photo below, but I haven't licensed that to anyone yet so for now it's a one-off.

I recently finished several JL/JLU designs, including a slider window kit and a cargo hatch window kit for factory hardtops, several hardware designs like Rotopax and HiLift carriers, and several fabric designs like custom fit storage bags and Molle panels, all of these have been picked up by companies for production, some of those are on the market now and some will be soon. (But not by me, I'm not in business and I don't sell anything, I just do designs for my own enjoyment ).

 

[Melny67]

I stumbled across the Smittybilt Safari top today:
https://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/282.htm

Currently, only available for the JK. This thing looks awesome! Anyone out there have any experience with it on the JK?

Interesting but no wild animals around here in NYC unless count the residence haha

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