Soft to hard top

[Edge]

When I decided to buy my '09 Rubicon I specifically wanted a 2 door soft top for sentimental reasons (my first car, an '83 CJ-7 was a 2 door soft top). Well, that's all worn off now and I'd really like to get a hard top. As those of you with small children know, the little tikes just love to ask a lot of questions from the back seat and with the wind noise I just can't hear a thing he says...so a hard top would help in cutting down on the noise factor. Plus I find that I don't lower the top much these days.

Anyway, my question is besides the physical hard top and the wiring for the electronics is there any other hardware needed to install the thing? Or do all Jeeps come ready to accept either top when you buy them?

Of course, I think I'll probably end up going with a Wild Boar top.

Thanks!

[Mark Doiron]

Mechanically speaking, you can bolt the top in place. If you want to install a rear window defogger and/or wiper, you'll need the wiring to support that, switches to control it (which may already be present and functional in your Jeep), and the hose for the windshield washer fluid. BTW: Check in the For Sale and post in WTB, because occasionally folks buy with dual-tops because that was on the lot, but they don't want one top or the other. I bought a $1500 softtop, brand new, for $500 plus trade of a safari top.

[pearl-drum-man]

Even if you get the wiring harness and hook it all up, you'll also have to get a flash done at the dealer for it to work. But most importantly, yes the top itself will bolt right on. IMO the wiper is not a necessity and I could do without it and the extra weight.

[Mark Doiron]

...IMO the wiper is not a necessity and I could do without it and the extra weight.
And the blocked view. I wish mine didn't have that soccer mom piece of junk.

[doc307]

And the blocked view. I wish mine didn't have that soccer mom piece of junk.


X2, I added a softop I bought off the forum and added the wiring harness myself. Not very hard to do. You will have to get it flashed for it to work.
I really could do without the wiper but I like the rear defrost.

[km2jk]

You will need the bolt kit from jeep unless the seller includes them. The bolts are normal, but the nuts are in a cradle that clips into the rails around the back. Super easy, but it wont work without them.