Would You Do it Over - Soft Top or Hard Top?

[RELBUS]

Dual tops for me. I'd much rather have both and decide to part with one later than to not have both and have to pay after the fact.
Plus I always enjoyed having both on my previous Jeeps. Only in recent years have I made my TJ soft top only - but I drove that less than 1000 miles over the last year.

I have absolutely no desire to try and take the hard top off myself. I intend to use this place to remove and install + store my top. For $375 I don't have to worry about a thing. http://www.topstore.com/hardtops.html

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[OldGuyNewJeep]

PST only, and no regrets. It’s as quiet or quieter than the hard top, is way more versatile and easy to operate, and looks better (in my not so humble opinion). Plus, I don’t want to deal with storage and effort involved in swapping tops.

I keep nothing of value in my Jeep and don’t even lock the doors, so I’m not concerned with break-ins. Also, it’s a 6sp so I have that added bit of anti theft deterrent.

 

[1995YJ]

Soft top all the way! Standard or premium doesn't matter. My YJ had a hard top, I sold it and bought a Best Top soft top for it. Never once looked back. My JL has the premium top.

 

[EJ3CTA]

My Jeep came with the hard top and I'm happy with it. The TopLiftPro works great for removal and storage, but I don't like going far from home in case a storm breaks out or the temperature drops suddenly. I ended up buying the Mopar cab cover so I can keep the elements out overnight and don't have to worry about putting the Jeep back together at the end of each day. Typically, the hard top stays off unless we are expecting bad weather for a few days straight.

Having said all of that, I do wish I had a soft top for when I take longer road trips. I've taken a 4.5 hour drive down to Virginia for the weekend with the top off and, fortunately, the weather channel wasn't wrong so I didn't get rained on. However, I left VA later than I planned and it was COLD on the way home. :cwl:

In this part of the country storms can pop up unexpectedly with little forewarning. I plan on taking a drive out to Las Vegas either later this year or next and a soft top would be ideal. Being able to pull over and put the top up sounds much better than taking a risk by going topless for two weeks.or not being able to remove the hard top at all.

If I could do it again I would have ordered the dual top group because I'm sure I'm going to like having a hard top for the cold and snowy months.

 

[JeepJL18]

The security of the hardtop is just a false security. My 2016 JLU was parked in front of my house with the soft top on and was broken into. Not by cutting the plastic windows or the top, but by breaking the glass on the door. I questioned the police and they said most don't bother to cut the soft top windows or top because it is much easier to break the glass. I was surprised until he showed me a similar video on his phone. (You can buy these tools less than $10 on amazon and they break a window instantly with almost no sound. Breaks the glass at 1:55. Too easy.)
Didn't bother with a hardtop this time.

This right here solidified my decision. Thank you for this.

 

[Skubaa]

On my third Jeep. Did the dual top with last two and switched in spring and fall. It wasn’t hard and I built a cart for upright storage at the end of my garage. Decided soft top only this time around and will know if it is the right choice next spring. Lol. What I love is the flexibility and freedom it gives me to enjoy my Jeep is not many different ways. And on those warm October or November days, Flipping it down will be so rewarding. Today it is hot, humid and storms are supposed to be here soon. Was sunned out so decided to just pull the windows and enjoy the breeze deiving around. Another day I may want to flip it back. Then another flip it down. So versatile.

I also never leave anything I care about losing in the car. But more importantly, I don’t leave anything in it. My friend had her window smashed for an old bag of used tennis balls she was taking to a school for their chair feet.

 

[PavementWarrior]

The security of the hardtop is just a false security. My 2016 JLU was parked in front of my house with the soft top on and was broken into. Not by cutting the plastic windows or the top, but by breaking the glass on the door. I questioned the police and they said most don't bother to cut the soft top windows or top because it is much easier to break the glass. I was surprised until he showed me a similar video on his phone. (You can buy these tools less than $10 on amazon and they break a window instantly with almost no sound. Breaks the glass at 1:55. Too easy.)
Didn't bother with a hardtop this time.

In San Francisco if you have anything in your car the glass is insta broken and everything gone in seconds. Its so bad its damn near 100% sure unless a cop happened to be hanging out there. Pro rings that do it consonantly take your stuff as if door was not locked.

I like a hard top to better keep my big dogs in, and "Security" from a nooby thief scared to make noise, a cleaner "all off" in summer, and for roof rack on top.

I like the soft top esp in the new Safari mode (sides off, top up). Its great on highway so you are not in wind tunnel, then pop it all the way down at the trail or back in town. I also like the soft top gives me 2-3 inches more head room.


For either top I need to buy Tuffy console lock box and a permit lock to lock my year park pass when hiking.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Learned years ago to always go with hardtop or dual top but never to buy a Wrangler that left the factory as a soft top.

Why...... because it is not all that easy, and is a tad costly, to set a Wrangler that left the factory as a soft top up with a hard top. The other way around is easy....

 

[MonkeyRider]

Last wrangler was JK with hard top, now second wrangler JLUR with premium soft top.
Love the soft top! It's as quiet as hard top and just so easy to enjoy open air anywhere anytime.
Also, soft top shape is more interesting than flat hard top to me.
I'm in Socal so no need to worry for weather.

 

[MeanPeachMojito]

For those of you with only soft tops, who live in snowy areas where you use your ice scrapers... How does the glass/plastic material on the window area hold up?

 

[BMahon9]

Always had regular soft tops, didn’t find that much difference on the premium top I test drove.

Im considering premium. I like the looks of both enough. It’s a noise concern for me. Is the premium really that much more durable/quieter?

 

[LouNYC]

Always Hard Top. If you want to get a HT later, it is going to be a pain in the a#*. Need wiring and brackets.

 

[JoeG]

I just have the hard top. I'm pretty sure i would go for the dual top group if I had a do over. Most likely will get a soft top some time down the road.

 

[Swanny297]

Im considering premium. I like the looks of both enough. It’s a noise concern for me. Is the premium really that much more durable/quieter?

Can’t really say, it is thicker material so I would think it would be quieter to some degree - my regular tops have been very durable so I would guess the premium would be just as durable. I live in La and didn’t notice much different in cabin temperature qualities between the 2.

 

[Tex117]

I have a hard top on my JK, and its fine, however, with the improvements of the soft top and the fact that I do indeed take the top off all the time, soft top all the way.

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