Soft Top or SOT?

[J.Ferreira]

I love the amount of "hard top" when you specifically stated, "I don't want a hard top"

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[kah.mun.rah]

I love the amount of "hard top" when you specifically stated, "I don't want a hard top"

Touché. I think the point is that a hardtop with a sunrider is a great hybrid version of a "soft top."

 

[MOOG5050]

For the front passengers the Sunrider gives just as much, if not more open air than the SOT does. The Sunrider with the doors and hartop off = great open air experience with quick shade option.

I have a hardtop with Sunrider and didn’t know you could remove the hardtop with Sunrider on. I love it with the hardtop but did want to try the bestop Trektop ultra for more versatility in good weather so that is on its way. I figure the hardtop with Sunrider for Oct - Apr and hopefully Trektop for the summer here in NY.

 

[Bzinsky]

I think the soft top looks like crap on an expensive jeep.

This is my first jeep, I’ve had it for a year now with a soft top.

I initially regretted the soft top and wish I shelled out for an SOT. I’m someone that LOVED open air.

But in my second summer with it, the flexibility of the soft top is really growing on me.

There is one thing I don’t think I will ever get used to, is not being able to access the rear cargo easily with that soft top window in.

I run most of the summer now with my doors and windows off and the soft top on.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Hey all,

Looking to build my 24 from factory this time instead of buying off lot to make sure I get everything I want this time

Just moved to south-central Texas and have been going back and forth from the Soft Top vs SOT and which I should choose

I don't want the hard top because it was such a pain to store/remove on and off during the summer. Since I am an warmer/sunnier climate, I want to take advantage of the weather as much as possible.

I only had a hard top on my Jeep last time so I don't know which one to pick this time. 4k seems like a lot but it is nice to just hit it and get that open air experience

Thoughts?

You're coming from Virginia I take it?

In Texas your options are soft top, soft top fastback, bikini top, mesh top, no top, or GTFO!!! ?

(Ice storms in Texas are funn!)

 

[Megawatt]

If you’re considering a soft top I would only look at the premium spot top (some people call it twill material). The standard soft top is lighter, less sound absorption and looks cheap once it fades.

I had the premium top for 8 years in the Vegas heat on my JKU and it looked great and always parked the Jeep outside.

 

[_olllllllo_]

I bought my Jeep in 2019 and ordered the dual top group. I live in Southern Arizona and my hard top just hangs in the garage. I would only buy a premium soft top if I knew then what I know now. It is not much louder than the hard top, but is so much better for the open air experience. I have zero interest in the Sky One Touch personally. I have been in rain storms that arks were passing me by in my soft top and not a drop of water intruded.

I will add that I bought the JTopsUSA sunscreen that works for both the hard top and soft top. Being a redhead and keeping my hair even with the areas without hair, I need a little sun protection. The JTopsUSA screen is so well engineered.

 

[_olllllllo_]

I think the soft top looks like crap on an expensive jeep.

This is my first jeep, I’ve had it for a year now with a soft top.

I initially regretted the soft top and wish I shelled out for an SOT. I’m someone that LOVED open air.

But in my second summer with it, the flexibility of the soft top is really growing on me.

There is one thing I don’t think I will ever get used to, is not being able to access the rear cargo easily with that soft top window in.

I run most of the summer now with my doors and windows off and the soft top on.

I just pull the tabs out and flip it up onto the roof with the lower bar attached. Takes about 30 seconds. Then I just hook them back in and I am done.

 

[bthomp]

Hey all,

Looking to build my 24 from factory this time instead of buying off lot to make sure I get everything I want this time

Just moved to south-central Texas and have been going back and forth from the Soft Top vs SOT and which I should choose

I don't want the hard top because it was such a pain to store/remove on and off during the summer. Since I am an warmer/sunnier climate, I want to take advantage of the weather as much as possible.

I only had a hard top on my Jeep last time so I don't know which one to pick this time. 4k seems like a lot but it is nice to just hit it and get that open air experience

Thoughts?

Undoubtedly lots of posts to say "it depends on your needs", but this is an EASY answer - SOT! Yes you cannot take the top off (at least not easily), and yes when you take the rear windows out it looks a goofy, but those are minor issues and that is the only downsides. Here's the reality;

Noon; head towards the rocky mountains with the kids for a day get away. Sun is out, 75degrees, OPEN THE SOT.​

​

12:15; Jumping on the highway, gets a bit windy, CLOSE THE SOT.​

​

1:15; On a secluded mountain trail, OPEN THE SOT.​

​

1:18; Starts to rain, because the weather changes quickly in the mountains mid-afternoon, CLOSE THE SOT.​

And on, and on, and on, and all without even stopping. Gets too hot, gets to windy, sun gets in your eyes. ETC., ETC. SOT ROCKS! It completes the Jeep experience. I will always have a SOT as long as I'm allowed to own a vehicle.

 

[Apexcars]

In Texas your absolute best option is SOT and if you start looking you will see a ton of them. They are much quieter and cooler than the soft top. Much easier access to the cargo area. Much better security than the soft top. Has real rear windows so they don’t get ruined the first time you take them out. Also, as quickly as the weather changes here, you can just push the button and you are closed up with no leaks. With the soft top folded back, if it starts to rain and you want the top up, you have to pull over and get out to close it up in the rain and then ride home wet

I will agree that it looks a little weird when naked since it still has the rear window but the people that say it isn’t the same open air experience as having the soft top or no top are just trying to justify to themselves for not getting it.
You said you went hard top previously but then didn’t take the top off because it was a pain. Well, the SOT is a hardtop but you take the top off with one press of a button.
There are plenty of summer days where I open the roof in the morning on the way to work and then close it as I pull into the parking lot. I leave it closed while going to lunch because the sun will bake your brain otherwise and then open it for the drive home. I also drive with it open on surface streets and then hit the button to close it on the access road to the freeway because I don’t enjoy doing 80 with the top open. Try doing that with the soft top.
I might have gone with the hard top if you could open the top over both rows of passengers.

 

[Bzinsky]

I just pull the tabs out and flip it up onto the roof with the lower bar attached. Takes about 30 seconds. Then I just hook them back in and I am done.

Yeah that’s fine for doing it sporadically, I have young kids though and I’m always putting stuff back there and am always in a rush.

I deal with it, just don’t like the extra steps.

 

[calemasters]

I have the hard top and added the Bestop sunrider option. I think it is a great way to go.

 

[UniqueUserName]

Where'd you find a Jeep top with Bronco windows?

In Texas your options are soft top, soft top fastback, bikini top, mesh top, no top, or GTFO!!! ?

(Ice storms in Texas are funn!)

 

[thecritter]

Soft top hands down. Doors stay off as well as back windows. I do run sunrider while the Devil Sun trying to turn me into ? days. Cloudy day or at sundown top goes back. Been in some pretty heavy downpours with sunrider only it sure makes catching those red lights in town more tolerable. I am not to the extreme as @Tredsdert but like his style lol

 

[Capricorn]

Looks wise - soft top.
Functionality wise - SOT

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