Soft Top or SOT?

[Bzinsky]

I'm wondering if you've ever used a SOT. The two aren't even close.

I’d say they’re pretty close

sunrider mode in the soft top is nearly as easy to open as SOT, closing it takes 3 seconds. Soft top saves you $4k, and you can go all the way back if you’re so inclined.

Only downside is it looks terrible compared to the body colored hardtop and glass windows.

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[Ratbert]

I’d say they’re pretty close

sunrider mode in the soft top is nearly as easy to open as SOT, closing it takes 3 seconds. Soft top saves you $4k, and you can go all the way back if you’re so inclined.

Only downside is it looks terrible compared to the body colored hardtop and glass windows.

Isn't this the Sunrider?

 

[Bzinsky]

Isn't this the Sunrider?

That’s the hardtop sunrider

soft top also has it, but it’s totally different

I didn’t include hardtop because this thread is soft top vs SOT.

 

[newbie5150]

If you have a hard top with the sunrider flip top, and you want to take it all off, is it a big deal to remove the sunrider flip?
And if you order one with the sunrider flip, does it also still come with the solid freedom panels?

 

[Shark01]

I’d say they’re pretty close

sunrider mode in the soft top is nearly as easy to open as SOT, closing it takes 3 seconds. Soft top saves you $4k, and you can go all the way back if you’re so inclined.

Only downside is it looks terrible compared to the body colored hardtop and glass windows.

And please remind us how we close a sun rider at 50 mph during a sudden rain event?

As far as value, the normal difference between a coupe and convertible tends to hover around $10,000 so the SOT is a great value IF you intend to use it.

I’ll be honest, if a soft top that looks like it does on a Jeep with plastic “windows” is the only top option, I’d be driving something else.

This thread is bringing it BTW, keep ‘em flying

 

[GATORB8]

As far as value, the normal difference between a coupe and convertible tends to hover around $10,000 so the SOT is a great value IF you intend to use it.

Seems like the opposite, SOT is a sunroof, the soft top would be the convertible.

 

[Shark01]

Seems like the opposite, SOT is a sunroof, the soft top would be the convertible.

In 1980 I would agree, who even offers a non-power convertible top now? So the SOT is the modern equivalent.

 

[GATORB8]

In 1980 I would agree, who even offers a non-power convertible top now? So the SOT is the modern equivalent.

https://mytop.us/

 

[BXFXJeep]

If you have a hard top with the sunrider flip top, and you want to take it all off, is it a big deal to remove the sunrider flip?
And if you order one with the sunrider flip, does it also still come with the solid freedom panels?

The Sunrider is pretty easy to remove/reinstall, and the entire hard top can be removed.

You get the freedom panels+ Sunrider for Hardtop.

I would say buy the Sunrider after, and not from the factory, since you can get it on sale at Christmas and Thanksgiving etc.

I had the Sunrider for Hardtop on previous Wrangler, and I would say it was well worth the money, I sold my JK Sunrider when I got the JL, took the money to buy the JL version, then sold that when I got the JL with SOT.

In both cases I bought the Sunrider at a discount, and reselling them I got back pretty much what I paid for them.

Use 303 fabric guard on soft tops and SOT and Sunrider.

 

[newbie5150]

The Sunrider is pretty easy to remove/reinstall, and the entire hard top can be removed.

You get the freedom panels+ Sunrider for Hardtop.

I would say buy the Sunrider after, and not from the factory, since you can get it on sale at Christmas and Thanksgiving etc.

I had the Sunrider for Hardtop on previous Wrangler, and I would say it was well worth the money, I sold my JK Sunrider when I got the JL, took the money to buy the JL version, then sold that when I got the JL with SOT.

In both cases I bought the Sunrider at a discount, and reselling them I got back pretty much what I paid for them.

Use 303 fabric guard on soft tops and SOT and Sunrider.

Thank you so much!

 

[Bzinsky]

Honestly if I had to do it all over again, I might even go hardtop. Because in my second summer with the softtop, I found that doors off safari mode is the best configuration of them all. No need for AC, get the open air experience, no hot seats or beating sun.

Would you take the roof off a golf cart?

And please remind us how we close a sun rider at 50 mph during a sudden rain event?

As far as value, the normal difference between a coupe and convertible tends to hover around $10,000 so the SOT is a great value IF you intend to use it.

I’ll be honest, if a soft top that looks like it does on a Jeep with plastic “windows” is the only top option, I’d be driving something else.

This thread is bringing it BTW, keep ‘em flying

You obviously can’t close it without getting out.

I’m just pointing out that the 1st stage of the soft top opening is incredibly simple and easy. About the easiest manual convertible top ever. It just so happens that it’s about the same amount of open roof area as the SOT.

The 2nd stage of the soft top, getting it all the way back has a few more steps. But this option doesn’t even exist on the SOT unless you take the whole thing off.

Yeah the jeep looks pretty crappy with the soft top, but if you’re a function over form guy, or a cheap guy, soft top is a great option

 

[its_overson]

- Top can't be fully removed (important to me when off-roading on inclines near rock walls).

I saw a bunch of folks say this throughout the thread, so I think it's worth restating BXFXJeep's previous comment - The SOT can in fact be remove (multiple YouTube videos show this). There's just a few extra steps required.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I saw a bunch of folks say this throughout the thread, so I think it's worth restating BXFXJeep's previous comment - The SOT can in fact be remove (multiple YouTube videos show this). There's just a few extra steps required.

The key point is "easily removed." If you want to be technical, the entire Jeep body can be removed from the frame with less bolts than it takes to remove the SOT system from the Jeep.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

And please remind us how we close a sun rider at 50 mph during a sudden rain event?

The Sunrider for hardtop can be closed if you slow down to about 20 mph.

 

[Wbino]

Best thing about SOT? I don't have to wash the top just hit it with a hose..two years in.

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