Waterproof Interior

[Taxman]

I ripped out the carpet and roll bar padding on my JK and bedlined the floor and painted the roll cage. I would often leave the top off during rain and never experienced any issues. I would also hose down the interior after a day of wheeling in dusty conditions and the floor drains worked great. I would always dry it with a towel afterwards, but everything would get wet. I was always careful with the dash though. I tried not to spray directly onto the radio, especially the CD tray.

I can't imagine the JL has gone backwards with regard to waterproofing. I would hope it's every bit as waterproof as the JK.

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[Stuweeks]

My understanding is that it has to have the same issue/problem repeatedly that is never resolved to be a “lemon.” Out of curiosity what was the issue with your JL that made it a lemon?

The ECU went out multiple times.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...e-out-of-anyone-thats-received-their-jl.4194/

 

[Tavox]

My 09 JK has been rained in so many times I lost count. Never had an issue. Only thing I noticed was the bolts for the seats getting rusted, so I just changed them to stainless steel. As soon as the sun came out I just let it dry. No smell ever from seats or carpet.

Now with the JL, no idea..yet. Lol

 

[GARRIGA]

I too plan on removing carpet, did so in my JK and bedlined the whole inside of tub, would love to see pictures of the tub without carpet to see what the finish quality is on the JL. Hoping my 2 door is built soon......

I’m going to lineX the interior as well. Within 5 years I will do the exterior and retask mine to strictly off-road and just fun driving. At that point I need waterproof. Top will be sold. Going all natural. Jeep that is.

 

[GARRIGA]

My 09 JK has been rained in so many times I lost count. Never had an issue. Only thing I noticed was the bolts for the seats getting rusted, so I just changed them to stainless steel. As soon as the sun came out I just let it dry. No smell ever from seats or carpet.

Now with the JL, no idea..yet. Lol

That’s good to know. Same as my YJ, although, I recall seats were vynil and I never bothered to check the seat bolts. However, now that you mention it. I’ll make the same upgrade in the JL.

This is why I opened this thread. Ideas to make it waterproof or at a minimum as waterproof as possible.

 

[GARRIGA]

I ripped out the carpet and roll bar padding on my JK and bedlined the floor and painted the roll cage. I would often leave the top off during rain and never experienced any issues. I would also hose down the interior after a day of wheeling in dusty conditions and the floor drains worked great. I would always dry it with a towel afterwards, but everything would get wet. I was always careful with the dash though. I tried not to spray directly onto the radio, especially the CD tray.

I can't imagine the JL has gone backwards with regard to waterproofing. I would hope it's every bit as waterproof as the JK.

The speakers ive read are waterproof. Why have that if everything else isn’t. That’s my thought process and I agree it makes no sense to have the JL be less than model it’s replacing.

BTW, I’m not hosing my dash, either. Don’t think any should chance that but looking exactly for your experience. Getting rained on and more likely poured on.

In South Florida the summer afternoon showers resemble a monsoon, however, and downright dangerous enough people pull over and wait under an overpass. I want to know my interior will survive. Specifically my dash. Not like a hose down but it’s going to be a lot of rain. With wind it hits you side ways and splash hits from underneath. It’s nuts.

 

[Taxman]

I had an ‘08 with the original JK dash that had somewhat of an overhang that acted as an umbrella and protected most of the dash panel below it. In 2010/2011, Jeep significantly refined the interior to resemble more of an SUV feel. I also had an ‘11 JKUS that my wife and I called the “civilized Jeep” because it was so much quieter and nicer looking inside than my ‘08. I never left the ‘11 exposed because it was my wife’s DD and she had a hard top on it and really never took it off. If we wanted to go topless somewhere we just took my ‘08.

That being said, the interior of this new JL looks even more refined than the late model JK, but still rugged. I have the soft top on my JL and in true Jeep fashion every time there’s a rainfall, the gutter empties inside the Jeep and all over the dash and floor. I’m not terribly concerned about it and hope that FCA put as much thought into waterproofing the dash as they did into the ridiculous Easter eggs I’m finding everywhere.

Good luck.

 

[BillG]

Only had mine a week, but I will say that the stereo “looks” more weatherproof than the one on my Harley trike, and that’s been rained on or hosed off countless times without issues.
I wouldn’t worry.

 

[greenJLmachine]

Curiously following!

 

[mquinn13]

I exclusively remember M.A. saying you could hose out the interior in a design video. You may want to start there.

 

[GARRIGA]

M.A.?

 

[bjohnsonmn]

Thought I read they used marine wiring and on a video there was mention of water resistant screen but haven’t see any mention of IP68 or similar. The Alpine JK retrofit is IP53. Part of my question is helping me decide if I get the factory 8.4 or wait for Alpine to make available the JL version of their 209-WRA.

For what it's worth, IP68 is pretty darn tough! IP53, eh. Here's a link to a chart that I use when looking up the imperiousness of electronics for use in the utility industry:
http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart/
So, unless you are going full scuba, IP68 is about as good as you can get. I would advise that you would just want to keep it from getting a direct stream of pressurized water.
**This is all assuming the IPxx ratings are accurate. I'd be curious to know if those ratings are guaranteed.

 

[GARRIGA]

For what it's worth, IP68 is pretty darn tough! IP53, eh. Here's a link to a chart that I use when looking up the imperiousness of electronics for use in the utility industry:
http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart/
So, unless you are going full scuba, IP68 is about as good as you can get. I would advise that you would just want to keep it from getting a direct stream of pressurized water.
**This is all assuming the IPxx ratings are accurate. I'd be curious to know if those ratings are guaranteed.

IP67 is what I look for when surf casting. IP53 good enough for dash but I can’t find that anywhere. The figure I quoted was for the Alpine unit. You’d think the dash would be somewhat protected from rain. Considering the use case for this vehicle. I know I’ll be getting wet so long as my Jeep can handle it.

 

[Rontow]

IP67 is what I look for when surf casting. IP53 good enough for dash but I can’t find that anywhere. The figure I quoted was for the Alpine unit. You’d think the dash would be somewhat protected from rain. Considering the use case for this vehicle. I know I’ll be getting wet so long as my Jeep can handle it.

That’s good to know. Same as my YJ, although, I recall seats were vynil and I never bothered to check the seat bolts. However, now that you mention it. I’ll make the same upgrade in the JL.

This is why I opened this thread. Ideas to make it waterproof or at a minimum as waterproof as possible.

 

[BVGeezer]

After living with our JL for a few weeks, I can't imagine going "commando". With all the electronics and exposed electrical switches, I can't imagine everything surviving a summer monsoon without something going south.

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