Travel with stored soft top

[RJBradfo]

Heading to warmer weather this winter with new 2018 jeep. Have hardtop and interested in buying soft top to bring with us and change when in Florida.
How much room does a stored soft top take up? will I still have room for luggage?
Best idea to store hardtop on vacation?

Is soft top better than bikini top? Thought it would be for obvious reasons of weather issue if we do not have a garage to store jeep.

what do we need to know to buy the right soft top?

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[tomk62]

How much room does a stored soft top take up? will I still have room for luggage?

Just buy it online and have it shipped to your address in FL.

 

[RJBradfo]

Just buy it online and have it shipped to your address in FL.

That could an option but will need to return with it home so need to know how much room it requires to travel inside the hardtop.

 

[Opus]

If it's just a vacation trip, I'd swap to the soft top at home before you leave. Then you'll have it for the trip and no worries about storage.

 

[RJBradfo]

That makes sense to me but it’s MA to FL so it’s a long drive and I’ve heard a softtop is loud for long distance driving.

 

[tomk62]

That makes sense to me but it’s MA to FL so it’s a long drive and I’ve heard a softtop is loud for long distance driving.

I think the noise is subjective. For me it's not an issue. What would you do with the hardtop in FL? Since you need to return home with the soft top, I would just install it in MA and not have to deal with both on the trip.

 

[Opus]

That makes sense to me but it’s MA to FL so it’s a long drive and I’ve heard a softtop is loud for long distance driving.

Here's a comparison for you:

 

[AndySpill]

Heading to warmer weather this winter with new 2018 jeep. Have hardtop and interested in buying soft top to bring with us and change when in Florida.
How much room does a stored soft top take up? will I still have room for luggage?

When you buy dual tops with an Unlimited the soft top comes in a box that takes up every bit of space behind the front seats, with the rear seats down, that otherwise doesn't block your rear view.

Could removing the pieces from this box take up less space...yes. But carrying a soft top inside your vehicle will take up major space.

Best idea to store hardtop on vacation?

You mention no garage. Given that, I know only one way to store a hardtop inside, and I'll bet you don't want to take that route, but https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/converting-a-factory-jk-jku-hardtop-to-modular.160775/

Is soft top better than bikini top?

A soft top will keep out the elements.

What do we need to know to buy the right soft top?

Start here: much that Bestop is not the only vendor of JL soft tops. https://www.bestop.com/products/?page=1 They make the two soft tops that Jeep sells.

Personally, I'd buy a Sunrider (at link) to replace your Freedom Panels as a good compromise and as your only top.

Do you really want to put pieces of a top on a roof rack and travel the entire East Coast?

 

[RJBradfo]

Here's a comparison for you:

Great video! Thanks will see if I can find someone with a softtop to drive in it and hear for myself what my potential drive could be like. Didn’t think about gas mileage being an issue with softtop. We’re getting used to the bigger gas tank which we knew was coming on the wallet!

 

[RJBradfo]

When you buy dual tops with an Unlimited the soft top comes in a box that takes up every bit of space behind the front seats, with the rear seats down, that otherwise doesn't block your rear view.

Could removing the pieces from this box take up less space...yes. But carrying a soft top inside your vehicle will take up major space.



You mention no garage. Given that, I know only one way to store a hardtop inside, and I'll bet you don't want to take that route, but https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/converting-a-factory-jk-jku-hardtop-to-modular.160775/


A soft top will keep out the elements.



Start here: much that Bestop is not the only vendor of JL soft tops. https://www.bestop.com/products/?page=1 They make the two soft tops that Jeep sells.

Personally, I'd buy a Sunrider (at link) to replace your Freedom Panels as a good compromise and as your only top.

Do you really want to put pieces of a top on a roof rack and travel the entire East Coast?

thanks for your great help and advice. Not wanting to put anything on top of the jeep for that long of a trip.

I like the sun rider and the surf rider tops. We may just keep the hardtop for this first trip and enjoy taking the panels off and figure out the right softtop once we’re back in Mass for the summer.

Hubby just want the roof off! Just not during a New England winter !!

 

[AndySpill]

thanks for your great help and advice. Not wanting to put anything on top of the jeep for that long of a trip.

I like the sun rider and the surf rider tops. We may just keep the hardtop for this first trip and enjoy taking the panels off and figure out the right softtop once we’re back in Mass for the summer.

Hubby just want the roof off! Just not during a New England winter !!

RJ @RJBradfo : I forgot to mention another option that despite being a dual top owner myself, I own, have installed on my hard top, and like and use. I am simply a customer: I have no financial incentive to speak of for you to buy any Wrangler product.

https://eztrunk.net/shop/ols/products/2019-present-jt-ezflip-top-201-prs-jt-zfl

See the videos from the vendor on the EZFlip top here:

https://www.youtube.com/@eztrunk1526/videos

 

[rk911]

If it's just a vacation trip, I'd swap to the soft top at home before you leave. Then you'll have it for the trip and no worries about storage.

+1 on this. This is really the best option. Othetwise what would you be doing with the HT once you get to FL?

 

[73TAWM]

As others have said, replace and drive with the soft to destination. Otherwise your vacation isn't going to be a vacation at all. You don't want to have to worry about all that crap once you get there.
I just ordered a Besttop Trektop Ultra yesterday. I am planning on installing it this winter so we can go out west to Colorado and Utah and be able to put the top down once out on the trails this Summer. I also bought the window bag so we can remove the windows from the top and leave that in the Air B&B while out. Yea it might be a little louder but turn your radio up and know once you get there you don't have to worry about any of it. Vacations should be a time of rest and relaxation not stress and worry.

 

[Ang1Sgt]

My JL is the first Jeep I’ve ever owned with a Hardtop. I really thought I would love the Freedom panels, but they can be a pain in the butt. But I like the security of the hardtop, so what do ya do?

I got the BESTOP Sunrider top to replace both Freedom Tops. I can open this top up almost anytime I want too, and with the heater in this Jeep, I can keep comfortable in the late fall when it’s in the 30’s. For me at my age, it’s the best way to have my Jeep. I just can’t take the hardtop all the way off anymore and the new soft tops I don’t think go down far enough for good visibility, or at least not like my TJ or JK did.

It is something to consider.

 

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

Here's a comparison for you:

Wow, Jeep really has made some big improvements. My 24 is 64 db @ 50 mph with a hard top.

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