Wrangler JLU Hard Top Question

[Hartdt]

I am picking up a "new takeoff" wrangler JLU hardtop and freedom panels tmrw am at a dealer. They tell me all I need to mount it to my jeep are 8 bolts which they will provide. I have a premium soft top now. Does anyone know if the new top should have weather stripping seals that go between the rear tub rails and the top itself? Or perhaps nything else I should need? The top is at a dealer and I am not sure they have the best info for me like the folks on this forum would. I do already have the Jeep hardtop took kit.

I recall putting camper tops on our truck back in the 80s that required an adhesive weather stripping to prevent rubbing or scraping. Guess I was thinking this top would need something similar. Driving 5 hours one way so want to be equipped upon arrival and also not create any unnecessary damage to the jeep on the long trip back home.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

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[joecitrix97]

I am picking up a "new takeoff" wrangler JLU hardtop and freedom panels tmrw am at a dealer. They tell me all I need to mount it to my jeep are 8 bolts which they will provide. I have a premium soft top now. Does anyone know if the new top should have weather stripping seals that go between the rear tub rails and the top itself? Or perhaps nything else I should need? The top is at a dealer and I am not sure they have the best info for me like the folks on this forum would. I do already have the Jeep hardtop took kit.

I recall putting camper tops on our truck back in the 80s that required an adhesive weather stripping to prevent rubbing or scraping. Guess I was thinking this top would need something similar. Driving 5 hours one way so want to be equipped upon arrival and also not create any unnecessary damage to the jeep on the long trip back home.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Hi. I have a 18 JLU Sahara. I have a Hard top only as back in March that is all I could find on a lot. I didn't want to wait on a order. 8 bolts is all I need to remove my hard top. There is no weather stripping.

Are they going to do the swap for you?

 

[RussJeep1]

I am picking up a "new takeoff" wrangler JLU hardtop and freedom panels tmrw am at a dealer. They tell me all I need to mount it to my jeep are 8 bolts which they will provide. I have a premium soft top now. Does anyone know if the new top should have weather stripping seals that go between the rear tub rails and the top itself? Or perhaps nything else I should need? The top is at a dealer and I am not sure they have the best info for me like the folks on this forum would. I do already have the Jeep hardtop took kit.

I recall putting camper tops on our truck back in the 80s that required an adhesive weather stripping to prevent rubbing or scraping. Guess I was thinking this top would need something similar. Driving 5 hours one way so want to be equipped upon arrival and also not create any unnecessary damage to the jeep on the long trip back home.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

I concur with @joecitrix97 that there is no weather stripping where the back portion of the hardtop interfaces with the tub. Rubber built into the top of the hard top and Freedom Panels seals the 3 panels when attached, but apart from that there's no seals or gaskets that you need to concern yourself with.

That said, here is my checklist.

We'll assume, given the time of year, your locale, and not to mention to chance for inclement weather that you are not doing the 5 hour drive to the dealer with the soft top left at home. So you'll be driving to the dealer with your soft top on, and will exchange it for the hard top when you arrive.


...and you'll have to...

Watch this video repeatedly



You will need to do everything in this video backwards barring one thing...you need not remove the hardware attached to either side of the Sports Bar. Otherwise plan to need to have your backseats down (i.e. at most a front passenger) because you're going to need to take your soft top, and all of its hardware (barring what I just mentioned) off.

The soft top can go in the back of the rig sideways. FCA does not recommend that you leave it on, even folded down.

This means that you'll need to come with your Torx wrench and both its bits that you hopefully received with your rig. Both size bits will be needed. The larger one is for the M8 size bolts that secure the hard top, as well as some soft top hardware removal, and the smaller one is for removing the door surround hardware. If you don't have this, you need to make sure the dealer does, or find your way before tomorrow, to, say, a Harbor Freight store where you can buy these star bits.

When you get home you may wish to purchase some of the items of this link https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...o-for-the-rear-wiper.17908/page-2#post-457057 to provide you with ability to operate the windshield wiper, defroster and washer of the hardtop's rear window. I would not be surprised if this stuff does not come with your hard top. Wranglers purchased with the Dual or Hard top option get this.

If you have or run across the device that holds the rear windshield wiper and washer cables when running with the soft top, don't install it in the rig, or remove it if you have it. It just doesn't fit well with the tops. You can use this device to hold the cables, but it needs to dangle freely.

Also watch this video repeatedly:



If you can depend upon no one but you and your passenger the time to learn how to put the hard top on should happen before you ever arrive at the dealer to take possession of the hard top.

There's ancillary things too like getting the paint to match the hardtop, whether you're getting a paint matched hardtop or a black one. A yes, just to complicate matters the paint for the colored matched black colored vehicle hard top is different from the black hard top...both of which are painted products, the former I believe more sheenly.

It is extremely unlikely that you'll be able to install the hard top yourself. You'd have to be very strong, tall, and skilled at it. The back is an unstable 100 pound giant. So travel with a buddy or make arrangements to have someone help you at the dealer in advance.

That's all I can think about for now. If I think of more I'll respond here again. Know the content of these videos like you could do it in your sleep, or if left to your own devices, without this education, you will have a bloody mess on your hands.

David: I don't want to scare you but this is highly non-trivial. Preparation and planning is key.

 

[Hartdt]

I concur with @joecitrix97 that there is no weather stripping where the back portion of the hardtop interfaces with the tub. Rubber built into the top of the hard top and Freedom Panels seals the 3 panels when attached, but apart from that there's no seals or gaskets that you need to concern yourself with.

That said, here is my checklist.

We'll assume, given the time of year, your locale, and not to mention to chance for inclement weather that you are not doing the 5 hour drive to the dealer with the soft top left at home. So you'll be driving to the dealer with your soft top on, and will exchange it for the hard top when you arrive.


...and you'll have to...

Watch this video repeatedly



You will need to do everything in this video backwards barring one thing...you need not remove the hardware attached to either side of the Sports Bar. Otherwise plan to need to have your backseats down (i.e. at most a front passenger) because you're going to need to take your soft top, and all of its hardware (barring what I just mentioned) off.

The soft top can go in the back of the rig sideways. FCA does not recommend that you leave it on, even folded down.

This means that you'll need to come with your Torx wrench and both its bits that you hopefully received with your rig. Both size bits will be needed. The larger one is for the M8 size bolts that secure the hard top, as well as some soft top hardware removal, and the smaller one is for removing the door surround hardware. If you don't have this, you need to make sure the dealer does, or find your way before tomorrow, to, say, a Harbor Freight store where you can buy these star bits.

When you get home you may wish to purchase some of the items of this link https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...o-for-the-rear-wiper.17908/page-2#post-457057 to provide you with ability to operate the windshield wiper, defroster and washer of the hardtop's rear window. I would not be surprised if this stuff does not come with your hard top. Wranglers purchased with the Dual or Hard top option get this.

If you have or run across the device that holds the rear windshield wiper and washer cables when running with the soft top, don't install it in the rig, or remove it if you have it. It just doesn't fit well with the tops. You can use this device to hold the cables, but it needs to dangle freely.

Also watch this video repeatedly:



If you can depend upon no one but you and your passenger the time to learn how to put the hard top on should happen before you ever arrive at the dealer to take possession of the hard top.

There's ancillary things too like getting the paint to match the hardtop, whether you're getting a paint matched hardtop or a black one. A yes, just to complicate matters the paint for the colored matched black colored vehicle hard top is different from the black hard top...both of which are painted products, the former I believe more sheenly.

It is extremely unlikely that you'll be able to install the hard top yourself. You'd have to be very strong, tall, and skilled at it. The back is an unstable 100 pound giant. So travel with a buddy or make arrangements to have someone help you at the dealer in advance.

That's all I can think about for now. If I think of more I'll respond here again. Know the content of these videos like you could do it in your sleep, or if left to your own devices, without this education, you will have a bloody mess on your hands.

David: I don't want to scare you but this is highly non-trivial. Preparation and planning is key.

Really appreciate the guidance and feedback. Hopefully things go well tmrw.

 

[TXRubicon]

You’ll need the wiring harness run if you want to use the rear wiper and defrost functions. Soft top vehicles don’t come with the rear wiring for the hard top.

 

[Hartdt]

I concur with @joecitrix97 that there is no weather stripping where the back portion of the hardtop interfaces with the tub. Rubber built into the top of the hard top and Freedom Panels seals the 3 panels when attached, but apart from that there's no seals or gaskets that you need to concern yourself with.

That said, here is my checklist.

We'll assume, given the time of year, your locale, and not to mention to chance for inclement weather that you are not doing the 5 hour drive to the dealer with the soft top left at home. So you'll be driving to the dealer with your soft top on, and will exchange it for the hard top when you arrive.


...and you'll have to...

Watch this video repeatedly



You will need to do everything in this video backwards barring one thing...you need not remove the hardware attached to either side of the Sports Bar. Otherwise plan to need to have your backseats down (i.e. at most a front passenger) because you're going to need to take your soft top, and all of its hardware (barring what I just mentioned) off.

The soft top can go in the back of the rig sideways. FCA does not recommend that you leave it on, even folded down.

This means that you'll need to come with your Torx wrench and both its bits that you hopefully received with your rig. Both size bits will be needed. The larger one is for the M8 size bolts that secure the hard top, as well as some soft top hardware removal, and the smaller one is for removing the door surround hardware. If you don't have this, you need to make sure the dealer does, or find your way before tomorrow, to, say, a Harbor Freight store where you can buy these star bits.

When you get home you may wish to purchase some of the items of this link https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...o-for-the-rear-wiper.17908/page-2#post-457057 to provide you with ability to operate the windshield wiper, defroster and washer of the hardtop's rear window. I would not be surprised if this stuff does not come with your hard top. Wranglers purchased with the Dual or Hard top option get this.

If you have or run across the device that holds the rear windshield wiper and washer cables when running with the soft top, don't install it in the rig, or remove it if you have it. It just doesn't fit well with the tops. You can use this device to hold the cables, but it needs to dangle freely.

Also watch this video repeatedly:



If you can depend upon no one but you and your passenger the time to learn how to put the hard top on should happen before you ever arrive at the dealer to take possession of the hard top.

There's ancillary things too like getting the paint to match the hardtop, whether you're getting a paint matched hardtop or a black one. A yes, just to complicate matters the paint for the colored matched black colored vehicle hard top is different from the black hard top...both of which are painted products, the former I believe more sheenly.

It is extremely unlikely that you'll be able to install the hard top yourself. You'd have to be very strong, tall, and skilled at it. The back is an unstable 100 pound giant. So travel with a buddy or make arrangements to have someone help you at the dealer in advance.

That's all I can think about for now. If I think of more I'll respond here again. Know the content of these videos like you could do it in your sleep, or if left to your own devices, without this education, you will have a bloody mess on your hands.

David: I don't want to scare you but this is highly non-trivial. Preparation and planning is key.

After reading your post in detail, watching the video, and reading through the attached link I discovered that most likely I do not have the mounting plates for above the sport bar and visors that appear to be required to install the hard top. These plates appear to come with vehicles that came with the dual top option. The dealer did not mention these plates, only the mounting bolts. Needless to say I will not be headed to the dealer until I confirm these plates are included or I have sourced them on my own.

Prob just saved me an 11 hour round trip in for nothing. I owe you a beverage of your choice for sure.

Will post what shakes out.

 

[RussJeep1]

After reading your post in detail, watching the video, and reading through the attached link I discovered that most likely I do not have the mounting plates for above the sport bar and visors that appear to be required to install the hard top. These plates appear to come with vehicles that came with the dual top option. The dealer did not mention these plates, only the mounting bolts. Needless to say I will not be headed to the dealer until I confirm these plates are included or I have sourced them on my own.

Prob just saved me an 11 hour round trip in for nothing. I owe you a beverage of your choice for sure.

Will post what shakes out.

I'm glad I was able to help out and that you appreciate it David, but the "mounting plates for above the Sport Bar and visors" you refer to is language and descriptions I am not familiar with.

(BTW: are you exchanging tops or becoming a Dual top owner? Are you bringing a helper, or will the Dealership help?)

Still more, I would be far more concerned that you got all the hardware you needed if your top acquisition was the soft one, not the hard. Maybe you can better explain what it is that you believe your missing.

My field experience tells me that a hard top, bolts, a Jeep wrench, and base Wrangler JL is all you need to attach the hard top.....the rear windshield wiper, its wash hose, and defroster electrical cable notwithstanding, nor arguably immediately necessary.

I'd like to take credit where it's due David, but I humbly don't understand where I may have saved you a trip...much that I could be wrong.

I own both tops, I've done the swap, and keep on going over it in my mind and cannot fathom what it is you fear you may be missing to install the hard top.

Maybe you can refer me to certain point in either of the videos I linked to you.

The "beverage": I'm still paying back the ones I owe others, as once upon a time we were all unfamiliar. You don't own me anything, but if you feel you do, the currency we exchange is the knowledge of becoming an active bboard participant.

Nobody forces any of us to be here or post: we want to. It takes a village to raise a Wrangler.

Peace..oh, and take nothing the dealer tells you as fact. Check here first. Some employees at dealers know what they are talking about: many don't.

 

[Kadonny]

After reading your post in detail, watching the video, and reading through the attached link I discovered that most likely I do not have the mounting plates for above the sport bar and visors that appear to be required to install the hard top. These plates appear to come with vehicles that came with the dual top option. The dealer did not mention these plates, only the mounting bolts. Needless to say I will not be headed to the dealer until I confirm these plates are included or I have sourced them on my own.

Prob just saved me an 11 hour round trip in for nothing. I owe you a beverage of your choice for sure.

Will post what shakes out.

I'm an experienced hard/soft top Jeep guy, I've removed and installed both on my old JK and now my JL.

These mounting plates you talk about. First, there are no mounting plates above the sport bar. The mounting plates connected to the sport bar that are mentioned (I assume) in the videos are the ones that you fasten the soft top to. They are not used for the hard top but can stay attached if you still want to swap between hard and soft. The mounting plates above the visors I assume are the tabs that the soft top latch to, and where the hard top freedom panels latch to. Those tabs are all the same (I believe) on all JLs no matter what top you have.

So in summation, it is my belief that your JL will accept the hard top no problem and all you really need are the 6 bolts to mount the top to the tub and the 2 more bolts to mount the front of the top to the sport bar (threaded nuts are pre welded to the sport bar). Also, there are threaded nuts that you might need to buy that fit under the tub that the 6 rear bolts thread into. The holes are in the tub already, but the threaded pieces the bolts thread into do not come with a soft top only Jeep. Then install the two freedom panels and you are done.

One more thing, the wiper control harness and wiper fluid line are "optional". If you want the wiper and washer to work, then you'll need to buy that kit and install it. If you don't care about the rear wiper, then you don't need to do anything else.

Good luck.

 

[RussJeep1]

I'm an experienced hard/soft top Jeep guy, I've removed and installed both on my old JK and now my JL.

These mounting plates you talk about. First, there are no mounting plates above the sport bar. The mounting plates connected to the sport bar that are mentioned (I assume) in the videos are the ones that you fasten the soft top to. They are not used for the hard top but can stay attached if you still want to swap between hard and soft. The mounting plates above the visors I assume are the tabs that the soft top latch to, and where the hard top freedom panels latch to. Those tabs are all the same (I believe) on all JLs no matter what top you have.

So in summation, it is my belief that your JL will accept the hard top no problem and all you really need are the 6 bolts to mount the top to the tub and the 2 more bolts to mount the front of the top to the sport bar (threaded nuts are pre welded to the sport bar). Also, there are threaded nuts that you might need to buy that fit under the tub that the 6 rear bolts thread into. The holes are in the tub already, but the threaded pieces the bolts thread into do not come with a soft top only Jeep. Then install the two freedom panels and you are done.

One more thing, the wiper control harness and wiper fluid line are "optional". If you want the wiper and washer to work, then you'll need to buy that kit and install it. If you don't care about the rear wiper, then you don't need to do anything else.

Good luck.

I wholeheartedly concur with the above.

 

[Hartdt]

I'm glad I was able to help out and that you appreciate it David, but the "mounting plates for above the Sport Bar and visors" you refer to is language and descriptions I am not familiar with.

(BTW: are you exchanging tops or becoming a Dual top owner? Are you bringing a helper, or will the Dealership help?)

Still more, I would be far more concerned that you got all the hardware you needed if your top acquisition was the soft one, not the hard. Maybe you can better explain what it is that you believe your missing.

My field experience tells me that a hard top, bolts, a Jeep wrench, and base Wrangler JL is all you need to attach the hard top.....the rear windshield wiper, its wash hose, and defroster electrical cable notwithstanding, nor arguably immediately necessary.

I'd like to take credit where it's due David, but I humbly don't understand where I may have saved you a trip...much that I could be wrong.

I own both tops, I've done the swap, and keep on going over it in my mind and cannot fathom what it is you fear you may be missing to install the hard top.

Maybe you can refer me to certain point in either of the videos I linked to you.

The "beverage": I'm still paying back the ones I owe others, as once upon a time we were all unfamiliar. You don't own me anything, but if you feel you do, the currency we exchange is the knowledge of becoming an active bboard participant.

Nobody forces any of us to be here or post: we want to. It takes a village to raise a Wrangler.

Peace..oh, and take nothing the dealer tells you as fact. Check here first. Some employees at dealers know what they are talking about: many don't.

RussJeep1,

The mounting plates I understood I need to have in order to mount the main top and freedom tops are listed below:

Brackets and Bolts for hard top:
Above Mirror
Front Left: 6830 5371 AB
Front Right: 6829 3600 AB

Above sound bar:
Left: 6829 0527 AA
Right: 6829 0524 AA

These mounting plates were listed within the equipment list on the link you attached on your original reply to my post (also pasted below) in addition to the "non mandatory" rear wiper mounting kit.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...o-for-the-rear-wiper.17908/page-2#post-457057

I have a 2018 Wrangler JLU Sport S that came with the soft top only option. My dealer contact confirmed for me early this AM that I would indeed need these plates in order to mount the hard top and freedom panels (but as you mentioned earlier some employees at the dealers, while good folks, may be under or misinformed).

The dealer has ordered the parts listed above for me and will include in the transaction.

If it turns out I did not need the plates there are no worries, just a delay in getting the top as they are holding it for me until the additional parts arrive in 4-5 days.

Just did not want to drive the 5.5 hour one way drive to not be able to install the top because of a few missing parts.

Regards,

David

 

[Kadonny]

RussJeep1,

The mounting plates I understood I need to have in order to mount the main top and freedom tops are listed below:

Brackets and Bolts for hard top:
Above Mirror
Front Left: 6830 5371 AB
Front Right: 6829 3600 AB

Above sound bar:
Left: 6829 0527 AA
Right: 6829 0524 AA

These mounting plates were listed within the equipment list on the link you attached on your original reply to my post (also pasted below) in addition to the "non mandatory" rear wiper mounting kit.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...o-for-the-rear-wiper.17908/page-2#post-457057

I have a 2018 Wrangler JLU Sport S that came with the soft top only option. My dealer contact confirmed for me early this AM that I would indeed need these plates in order to mount the hard top and freedom panels (but as you mentioned earlier some employees at the dealers, while good folks, may be under or misinformed).

The dealer has ordered the parts listed above for me and will include in the transaction.

If it turns out I did not need the plates there are no worries, just a delay in getting the top as they are holding it for me until the additional parts arrive in 4-5 days.

Just did not want to drive the 5.5 hour one way drive to not be able to install the top because of a few missing parts.

Regards,

David

Wow, so that's news to me. The soft top JL does not come with the additional "tabs or brackets" for the freedom panels to attach to. In the JK those came in all models no matter what top you had, I see now the JL is different. Very good work on your part @Hartdt for realizing this. I learned something new today because I sold my old JK hard top to a soft top only Jeeper and with the bolts and tub nuts, the top went right on and all panels secured correctly. Great to learn.

 

[RussJeep1]

Wow, so that's news to me. The soft top JL does not come with the additional "tabs or brackets" for the freedom panels to attach to. In the JK those came in all models no matter what top you had, I see now the JL is different. Very good work on your part @Hartdt for realizing this. I learned something new today because I sold my old JK hard top to a soft top only Jeeper and with the bolts and tub nuts, the top went right on and all panels secured correctly. Great to learn.

And again, I entirely concur. Being a Dual Top owner I did not realize that all JLs don't come standard with all that is needed to install a Hard top barring the bolts, the 3 hard top pieces, and the wiring kit.

FWIW, and it may be very little, either because the MOPAR sight isn't up to date and/or the part numbers you cite David @Hartdt may have been overrided with new ones, I could find none of those parts here: https://store.mopar.com/

It sounds like David that you need at least 2 of the 3 levers (latch you have) at exactly here:

If nothing else, I hope the videos I linked allowed you to realize the parts my ignorance didn't allow me to know you were missing.

Between you, me and @Kadonny we might actually have you prepared for this project!

Team based problem saving lies at the essence of this bboard's greatness. @JAY

 

[Vawildjeep]

I don’t want to highjack this thread but have a question. My friend is giving me his soft top off of his 19 Rubicon to go on my 18 Rubicon. Will it fit? Same top?

 

[Hartdt]

And again, I entirely concur. Being a Dual Top owner I did not realize that all JLs don't come standard with all that is needed to install a Hard top barring the bolts, the 3 hard top pieces, and the wiring kit.

FWIW, and it may be very little, either because the MOPAR sight isn't up to date and/or the part numbers you cite David @Hartdt may have been overrided with new ones, I could find none of those parts here: https://store.mopar.com/

It sounds like David that you need at least 2 of the 3 levers (latch you have) at exactly here:

If nothing else, I hope the videos I linked allowed you to realize the parts my ignorance didn't allow me to know you were missing.

Between you, me and @Kadonny we might actually have you prepared for this project!

Team based problem saving lies at the essence of this bboard's greatness. @JAY

RussJeep1,

I too was concerned about the part #s but have been able to locate them on mopargiant.com (please see attachment) and confirmed through the dealer that they were ordered. In addition, I also confirmed that the levers you mentioned were indeed on the freedom tops.

Regards,

David

 

[Hartdt]

I don’t want to highjack this thread but have a question. My friend is giving me his soft top off of his 19 Rubicon to go on my 18 Rubicon. Will it fit? Same top?

Vawildjeep,

From my limited research on mounting a 2019 JLU hard top onto a 2018 JLU Sport S it appears to me that they are identical and you should be able to mount the soft top without issue. Of course, this is assuming you get all of the supporting hardware, mounting brackets, bolts, etc. I encourage you to review the soft top video Russjeep shared on Post #3 within this thread to help clarify what parts and hardware that you will need.

Hope this helps...

Regards,

David

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