Very nice. Would like to do the same to mine

 

I hear that.

I have owned my JKU with dual top pkg for four years and the best setup for dual tops per seasonal use is the Raingler net system. I am unsure if they are a vendor or not so I'll keep it simple. I like to run a hard top in winter but, I certainly love the Jeep because it is thee only softtop convertible 4x4 available. One of the main reasons I bought the JKU over a Disco or a Yoda Fj is the Jeep has a soft top which makes "it a Jeep!" That's half the fun. Going a MSRB or a Garvin would eliminate the dual top-ness of owning a Jeep.

The Raingler mil-spec webbing is tough stuff. I use the 5 net system. It has two window nets, a big bulkhead net and the two roof nets. They stay on all year round, regardless of hard top, soft top or no top! But, when the soft top is folded down, you simply use motorcycle straps and caribiners to strap down cargo, duffle bags and dry bags to the top. It has been the BEST mod I have done to my Jeep. Hands down. I could not imagine trying to camp more than one night in a JKU without my Raingler net system.

For pictures there is another thread about cargo netting systems a few pages back.

 

I run softop year round. I am installing a Offroad Logic Safari full rack on Saturday, but it ubolts by 4 bolts for removal. Very lite as well.

I am not a fan of hardtops on Jeeps. Just personal preference. Sold mine within a year after getting the Jeep.

 

Just a question.

I absolutely LOVE the idea of overlanding and that's exactly how I want to mod my Jeep. In fact ill be purchasing the gobi ranger rack here fairly soon. However it will be one of my last mods for quite some time because I am due for a kid in October so I probably won't have money for much else for a while. Now comes the question. How often is it that you guys go "overlanding" and is stuff like the fridge that must be made out of gold (just kidding I love that Arb fridge) needed? Also where do you guys normally go? Are there regular trails that are considered overland style like cross country?

 

Thanks!
I searched for PCmobile and Nroute and both seem to be Garmin's software. Is that correct?

Do you know if they only work with Garmin's GPS devices?

My PCs have the embedded SiRFstar III GPS chip, which is not Garmin.

 

Correct, both are Garmin products. Nroute is better for trail mapping, but Garmin seems to be moving away from it. PCmobile seems to work very well, but does lack some of the live tracking abilities that Nroute offers.

I am definitely not a GPS guru. I don't know what is capable with what. I use all Garmin.

Just FYI, the nice Garmin receiver I am using was only $32 from Amazon.

 

PCmobile screen shot from this past weekend.

 

If your trip is typically more than a couple days and far from civilization, as mine typically are, a fridge is essential. You don't have to go for the gold though, a $400 43qt Edgestar will last you years and is good for 110V and 12v service. I'm out West, so plenty of open space to explore, I just pull out a trail map and plan a trip, I never take the same routes and never over-plan as it takes the fun out of it for me. If I like an area, I stay there for a few days. Rarely do I actually have a firm destination or arrival date. With a RTT, you can stop anywhere. I staunchly avoid any area requiring reservations.

 

What screen size is that? Looks to be an old school format.

 

Not sure why you say that. It does help to have four people when I swap out the hardtop, but I just schedule a little top-swap party at my house and have a few folks over for burgers. I can get the top ready to pull by myself, needing the four people for only five minutes for the actual removal, storage onto the Bestop Hardtop Storage System, and movement into the garage. The rest I can take care of by myself.

So, I run with three tops routinely, and have overlanded with all three. The advantage of the hardtop, besides the overhead rack, is security. I enjoy getting out of my Jeep and hiking places. Depending on where I'm at, there is a concern because I routinely travel with $10K or more in camera gear, much of which is too large to carry while hiking. So, while the hardtop isn't the best security, at least it's better than the softop or safari top, which both invite inspection of my interior (I don't even lock the Jeep with those tops on most of the time).