Soft top durability?

[prw04]

That is how mine started. Left flap, then right and then the back window it self was no longer taunt. Next came the tailgate bar not locking in place. Same thing with the side window not locking in. Like I said before I have a love hate with this soft top. On my left side I have had water enter in very heavy rain, like we have been getting all week in NC.

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[JeepMax]

I have both the hard top and soft top. I have had no problems with the hard top and minor issues with the soft top. The soft top when driving over 50MPH, the left window bulges out. For now the securing devices or tabs are okay, but I do notice they are starting to wear out as it is made out of plastic. Please note, I have had a wide range of convertibles and they are a pain. Especially if you do not have a garage.

 

[JIMBOX]

These BESTOPS are tested for thousands of situations--except improper install and "shortcuts"-

Mine is close to perfect and without problems-

W.E.

JIMBO

I wouldn't go by one dude's experience. This is the first time I've read something that bad. I haven't had any of those issues. And I don't even know what he means by "clips." My premium soft top is super solid so far, and I take it off/put it on with the weather patterns, so that's been pretty frequent this summer. Everything is fitting just like it did the first time, and nothing flaps when I'm driving.

You're not supposed to drive with just the back window out - it sucks in the jeep's emissions like a vacuum (if all other windows are closed).

 

[V1k1ng]

I have the basic soft top and one of my bottom rear flaps comes loose all the time. Also, I noticed the top can get pinched in the top frame as you fold it back, causing some scarring. In addition I just noticed yesterday the vinyl cracking in one of the areas where the top folds when it is pushed back.

 

[wired]

Interesting. I've had my soft top since February and it has been up and down at least 40-50 times. Not the first problem. It is not unreasonable to think that some will have fitment/installation/maintenance issues, and Jeep should stand behind those. I never have run with my rear window only up on any of my previous soft top jeeps more than a quick trip as it is a great way to breathe exhaust. (You shouldn't do this in a hard top or any other vehicle for that matter. Now I do appreciate the ability to have top up but all windows and doors off (safari position). Saves me from having to have a sunshade for those really tough days, or up at night to keep the dew out. It is so easy to put the top up and down now, that I no longer see any personal need for the 'sunrider' position. Mine is down unless it is raining.

 

[prw04]

Let me clarify my back window only out statement. I used to ride with my jku's with all glass windows down, sunrider back and rear window rolled up. Side plastic window still intact. You cannot do that in the JLU JL's. You need the rear window to hold the side windows in place.

 

[Thermodynamicles]

I have the premium soft top. Bought in January and have just over 10,000 miles on it. I've done a few long highway trips at 75-80 mph and had no issues.

The week after I got the Jeep I went off road and hit some muddy areas and puddles hard enough to have mud and water running down over the whole vehicle from the roof. Because I didn't hose it off that same day it took a little light scrubbing to get the mud out, but it's fine now and looks good. Maybe a little less deep black than when I first got it.

So far so good!

 

[WXman]

I will say this... if you're used to the way the JK soft top works, the JL soft top takes some learning. NONE of the sales staff at my dealership knew how to work the soft top on the JL the day I bought mine. Which means there ended up being a lot of pulling and tugging in places that didn't need pulling and tugging. Which means that some soft top equipped JLs are probably being damaged by accident at the dealerships before they are sold.

I LOVE the ease of use on the new soft top as far as folding it all the way down and putting it back up. Very very nice. However, the way the rear windows work is wacky. I'm not totally sold on that part yet.

 

[Want a Jeep]

I’m wondering how a soft top would hold up to Northeast winters, summers and everything in between..

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