Soft Top or SOT?

[keviper]

Just ordered a Jeep yesterday with the SOT. I’ve had probably 7 Jeeps in the past 12 years and all but one had the soft top. While I love the soft top, I’m always loading stuff into my Jeep and it’s a pita with the soft top up unless I leave the rear window out. So this time around I opted for the SOT. Two friends have it and they are pretty great.

you can’t go wrong with either option honestly. Just wish the half doors didn’t cost $5k or I would have gotten them with too. Maybe in a couple years.

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[yokramer]

I dont understand the whole "Oh woe is me the soft top is so hard to load" take. Its an extra 15 seconds max to pop the window and fold it over the top and bam you have just as much room as the hard tops.

 

[its_overson]

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.

I totally agree with you. Just wanted to point out that "can't be removed" is different than "can't be removed as easily".

If someone really wanted to go completely topless and has the SOT, it is possible with extra effort... We all know Jeep folks sometimes do stuff most rational people wouldn't

 

[Wbino]

Hot day... SOT open AC on...rear windows out.?

 

[Gladius Nova]

I dont understand the whole "Oh woe is me the soft top is so hard to load" take. Its an extra 15 seconds max to pop the window and fold it over the top and bam you have just as much room as the hard tops.

Ain’t nobody got time for 15 seconds man!!!

 

[yokramer]

Ain’t nobody got time for 15 seconds man!!!

For all the old man "No one wants to work these days" grumbling that goes on here. The people around here certainly seem like lazy asshats sometimes lol

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I totally agree with you. Just wanted to point out that "can't be removed" is different than "can't be removed as easily".

If someone really wanted to go completely topless and has the SOT, it is possible with extra effort... We all know Jeep folks sometimes do stuff most rational people wouldn't

Touché. Let me phrase it this way...."the SOT top was not designed to be removable, and probably shouldn't be removed." Just like if someone said that the seats are not removable, when technically by removing enough bolts and electrical connections they can be removed. Otherwise, show in me in a Mopar user manual where they have instructions for removing the SOT.

 

[Bzinsky]

I dont understand the whole "Oh woe is me the soft top is so hard to load" take. Its an extra 15 seconds max to pop the window and fold it over the top and bam you have just as much room as the hard tops.

It’s more like 30 seconds.

30 seconds while on vacation with wife, don’t care at all
Extra 30 second task while loading kids and their accessories in the car multiple times a day - brutal

Some people live fast lives

It bothers me that I have to wait a second to start the wrangler after I sit in it. If you just hop in and press the start button, it turns on ACC mode, it isn’t fully on unless your sitting down for 2 seconds. Even that delay bothers me.

 

[siggy]

Wasn’t even considering the SOT until we test drove one, then it was a required item. We drag our 2021JLUR all across the US and Canada fulltime motorhoming so we run into all kinds of weather and scenery. It’s also our only vehicle so wife insisted on the unlimited so we had room for passengers and satisfied her requirement for a “civil” vehicle when needed. The SOT goes from “civil” to very capable off-roader at the touch of a button, or multiple buttons as the trail requires. For those that have the SOT, try small adjustments of the SOT position and back window position to get a quite comfortable wind noise level at highway speeds. And don’t consider it a $4,000 option…look at the $ difference between what you were considering and the SOT. For us it came down to a $1,500 difference which paled in comparison to the total cost! Do you!

Got damn is this thing unicorn juice?! I have to get me a SOT. Sounds like I could flip my Jeep on its top and conquer any trail known to man! Does it come with a 4:1 transfer case as well? I need to do more research on this thing.

 

[Ratbert]

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

Yes, but as has been clarified: we're comparing the SOT and the Sunrider for Soft Top. I also made the faulty assumption that the Sunrider for Hard Top was being discussed.

The SOT and Sunrider for Hard Top aren't comparable (obviously IMHO). And, of course, if you get the Sunrider for Hard Top with the colored roof that's included with the SOT you're getting really close to the same cost...for significantly less functionality.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

The SOT and Sunrider for Hard Top aren't comparable (obviously IMHO). And, of course, if you get the Sunrider for Hard Top with the colored roof that's included with the SOT you're getting really close to the same cost...for significantly less functionality.

It would have been interesting if the sunrider with hardtop would have been a poll option since it is a hybrid softtop, similar to the SOT. Besides, what’s the crime with sharing information about it in a thread about top options anyway? Btw, I actually disagree and say that the sunrider with hard top gives you more functionality than the SOT. Quick open air for daily driving, option to put the hard freedom top panels back on for quiet/secure road trips, hardtop off and sunrider on for a bikini top at the beach, or everything off when off-roading in the canyons. The SOT was made to only do one of those four.

 

[Ratbert]

It would have been interesting if the sunrider with hardtop would have been a poll option since it is a hybrid softtop, similar to the SOT. Besides, what’s the crime with sharing information about it in a thread about top options anyway? Btw, I actually disagree and say that the sunrider with hard top gives you more functionality than the SOT. Quick open air for daily driving, option to put the hard freedom top panels back on for quiet/secure road trips, hardtop off and sunrider on for a bikini top at the beach, or everything off when off-roading in the canyons. The SOT was made to only do one of those four.

None of those are done quickly while on the highway when rain comes, goes, comes, and goes. Maybe you don't live in a place like that, but I do.

The awesome thing about Wranglers is the incredible set of options, both factory and aftermarket. In my last vehicle (an Audi RS-5) none of these types of discussions were relevant since there were few factory options and almost no aftermarket.

 

[Wbino]

One of the biggest benefits of the SOT that evryone ignores is the ability to take out the two corner windows.
SOT open with those out is a perfect air in/air out situation with no buffering.
The ability to open/close it at almost highway speed is great as well.

 

[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.

So for the guy that said the sun rider can be raised at 20 mph for a sudden rain event, looking at the picture above......these humans do not exist. And if they did, going 20 mph on a Houston highway would render them extinct very quickly.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

So for the guy that said the sun rider can be raised at 20 mph for a sudden rain event, looking at the picture above......these humans do not exist. And if they did, going 20 mph on a Houston highway would render them extinct very quickly.

I was referring to the sunrider for hardtop and my point was that you don't have to come to a complete stop nor get out of the Jeep to close it.

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