Soft top full removal, or cover when open?

[TTEChris]

I apologize if this has already been posted, but does anyone know how difficult it is to fully remove the softop. This will be my first softop other than a trektop on a Jeep. From the looks of it folded down it seems to be a giant eyesore and hinder rearward visibility.
With the new hinge system I don't think it will be possible to have a cover like this that nicely hides the top.

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[Troybilt]

I did see one video from the LA Auto Show that showed them fold it down almost flat to the gate. It did not seem to take them long to do. Just snapped the tubular arm from the bracket and it fell flat just like the photo above.

 

[TTEChris]

Thanks, I'll see if I can find that video.

 

[Matt The Hammer]

Yeah it locks down now too. Old tops for the JK did not. Just gravity.

The YJs came with straps to hold it down when folded.

I made nylon straps for my JK soft top to help squeeze it down better. I use that Tuffy trunk and it limits how far down the top can tuck - so I needed to help it a little.

But regular open trunk? It should fold down pretty flat.

Removal is easy. It's kinda awkward to handle it and store it. Not to mention when you need it; it will be a challenge to get it back on and up. Versus the few seconds it will take to fold it back up. With the fast moving pop up storms in the summer, so many times it's nice out one minute then big old dark clouds roll in the next.

 

[BDJeep1]

I did see one video from the LA Auto Show that showed them fold it down almost flat to the gate. It did not seem to take them long to do. Just snapped the tubular arm from the bracket and it fell flat just like the photo above.

Would like to see the video also. Even with the lock on the soft top brakes it seems to be a bit high, especially compared to JKs.

 

[macintux]

Would like to see the video also. Even with the lock on the soft top brakes it seems to be a bit high, especially compared to JKs.

I think part of the reason it seems high is that the spare tire has been lowered on the JLs, but I figured out long ago that as long as my soft top was below the top of my spare tire, it wouldn't impede the rear view. I think the soft top could fold significantly higher than mine and still be a non-issue.

 

[TTEChris]

If it folds fairly flat and can be covered like the JK then I would have no desire to remove it. I just don't like that giant half opened parachute they keep showing in the reviews. Even with the lock in place it still seems to move up and down a good bit(unless they are all doing it wrong.)

 

[TTEChris]

I did find a video where he pulls one side of the rail off very easily, but he doesn't pull the other side to show how flat it could be.
At about the 45 second mark

 

[BDJeep1]

Good to see. Thanks for the video.

 

[ThirtyOne]

In the old days with my YJ I just half zipped off the side windows and folded them under, rolled up the rear window, slammed the whole thing down, and shoved the half door uppers down into the whole mess. Y'all are funny.

 

[Matt The Hammer]

In the old days with my YJ I just half zipped off the side windows and folded them under, rolled up the rear window, slammed the whole thing down, and shoved the half door uppers down into the whole mess. Y'all are funny.

After popping off the 10 snaps, the retainer clip, then sliding the door surround back.

 

[ThirtyOne]

After popping off the 10 snaps, the retainer clip, then sliding the door surround back.

Yep. I always say it reminded my of trying to undress my high school girlfriend.

 

[kurt13]

After popping off the 10 snaps, the retainer clip, then sliding the door surround back.

You had 10? After the first couple of years, I was missing about 3 of them...

 

[RussJeep1]

Nothing necessitates taking the soft top off of and away (i.e. removing, not lowering) from the JL(U) in order to put on the Freedom top, right?

 

[Spank]

Nothing necessitates taking the soft top off of and away (i.e. removing, not lowering) from the JL(U) in order to put on the Freedom top, right?

Like the JK, I'm 99.9% confident you can't have both on at the same time for the JL. You definitely can't have the door surrounds on and Jeep has been very adamant about not having both installed with all previous Wranglers.

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