Advice for soft top for summer
04-19-2010, 04:00 PM
#1
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Advice for soft top for summer
Well it's heating up pretty fast down south, and I need to ditch the hard top until the winter.
My JEEP came with every option except dual top, so I'm in need of a lighter soft top. Any suggestions? I've read mixed reviews about the best top being better and worse than the factory top. I've also read about bikinis and wind jammers, will these be adequate to stop unexpected summer showers? I'd like to be able to stow it and put it up rapidly. I'm trying to go for as weather proof as possible. Any other options in leaving out?
I'm also looking for a set of half doors aswell, so it would be great if anyone could suggest a place to buy everything together.
Thanks in advance for any tips.
Oh... 2010 JK unlimited sahara.
My JEEP came with every option except dual top, so I'm in need of a lighter soft top. Any suggestions? I've read mixed reviews about the best top being better and worse than the factory top. I've also read about bikinis and wind jammers, will these be adequate to stop unexpected summer showers? I'd like to be able to stow it and put it up rapidly. I'm trying to go for as weather proof as possible. Any other options in leaving out?
I'm also looking for a set of half doors aswell, so it would be great if anyone could suggest a place to buy everything together.
Thanks in advance for any tips.
Oh... 2010 JK unlimited sahara.
04-20-2010, 03:34 AM
#2
JK Jedi Master
There are several options I know of for an Unlimited:
1. Softtop. Probably about the best deal you can get on this is off the for sale threads here on the forum. They go for around $500--often times never used.
2. Bestop Trektop. I can't speak from experience, but those who have it seem to like it. And it should keep you reasonably sealed up.
3. Safari top/2-door Wraparound Windjammer/Duster. I know you have a four door, but there is not a 4-door Wraparound Windjammer. The 4-door Windjammer (note the missing word "Wraparound") does not seal up the back. The 2-door Wraparound Windjammer (not the 2-door Windjammer--again note the missing word) can be made to fit an Unlimited. There are threads about it, but the short version is either stretch it to fit, or have an upholstery shop sew in some extra material. The disadvantage is the reduced visibility out the rear. There are extensive discussions in numerous threads about which safari top, etc. I strongly recommend you research those--lest my post go to four pages in length to cover all the possibilities, wherewithalls, etc.
1. Softtop. Probably about the best deal you can get on this is off the for sale threads here on the forum. They go for around $500--often times never used.
2. Bestop Trektop. I can't speak from experience, but those who have it seem to like it. And it should keep you reasonably sealed up.
3. Safari top/2-door Wraparound Windjammer/Duster. I know you have a four door, but there is not a 4-door Wraparound Windjammer. The 4-door Windjammer (note the missing word "Wraparound") does not seal up the back. The 2-door Wraparound Windjammer (not the 2-door Windjammer--again note the missing word) can be made to fit an Unlimited. There are threads about it, but the short version is either stretch it to fit, or have an upholstery shop sew in some extra material. The disadvantage is the reduced visibility out the rear. There are extensive discussions in numerous threads about which safari top, etc. I strongly recommend you research those--lest my post go to four pages in length to cover all the possibilities, wherewithalls, etc.
04-20-2010, 08:30 AM
#3
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Check Craigslist for people that want to sell without the need to get $900 for it.
For larger stuff I looked closer to my area. But little things I search the US by going to craiglook or something similar.
One clown on CL wrote me a nasty little email cause I offered him $500 for his '08 soft top that he was "firm at $900, because a new one is $1600."
I ended up buying a new (2008) top from a guy who didn't even have a wrangler anymore and was moving so he didn't care what they sell for new. I offered him $150 since he didn't have the windows. I bought the windows from a guy in Indiana off Craigslist for $170 shipped (also new in the box).
The kicker is buying the brackets that go on the cage. The brackets from the parts dept were $20 a piece but the 4 screws I needed were $7 each! And I had to drive to two different dealerships to get all four.
So, in two days I pieced together:
Craigslist - Soft top with door surrounds - $150
Craigslist - Windows - $170
MOPAR - Brackets and Screws - $70
= $390
Love it! And I still have my hard top for longer trips and colder months.
For larger stuff I looked closer to my area. But little things I search the US by going to craiglook or something similar.
One clown on CL wrote me a nasty little email cause I offered him $500 for his '08 soft top that he was "firm at $900, because a new one is $1600."
I ended up buying a new (2008) top from a guy who didn't even have a wrangler anymore and was moving so he didn't care what they sell for new. I offered him $150 since he didn't have the windows. I bought the windows from a guy in Indiana off Craigslist for $170 shipped (also new in the box).
The kicker is buying the brackets that go on the cage. The brackets from the parts dept were $20 a piece but the 4 screws I needed were $7 each! And I had to drive to two different dealerships to get all four.
So, in two days I pieced together:
Craigslist - Soft top with door surrounds - $150
Craigslist - Windows - $170
MOPAR - Brackets and Screws - $70
= $390
Love it! And I still have my hard top for longer trips and colder months.
04-20-2010, 09:14 AM
#4
Check on Craiglist, or check the for sale section on the forum and you may find a OEM Softop for a good deal or price. I lucked out and found a guy selling his JKU and sold the softop seperately for $150.00
Just be sure when you buy used you get the door surrounds with 4 large plastic screws to secure to the roll bar, two clips for the back of the tub, 2 side windows, 1 rear window with bar to slip into the clips. Also, 4 torx screws to mount the softop to the roll bar.
Just be sure when you buy used you get the door surrounds with 4 large plastic screws to secure to the roll bar, two clips for the back of the tub, 2 side windows, 1 rear window with bar to slip into the clips. Also, 4 torx screws to mount the softop to the roll bar.
04-20-2010, 05:25 PM
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It seems that the general consensus so far is to get a factory soft top if I can....
I kind of like the look of the safari top with windjammer more, but I suppose I'll settle for what I can find and make work. I want it khaki in color.
So is the factory top best to keep out the weather? There was one on crags for 400 not too long ago. Thanks for your help so far.
I kind of like the look of the safari top with windjammer more, but I suppose I'll settle for what I can find and make work. I want it khaki in color.
So is the factory top best to keep out the weather? There was one on crags for 400 not too long ago. Thanks for your help so far.
Last edited by apache137; 04-20-2010 at 05:53 PM.
04-20-2010, 05:40 PM
#6
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04-21-2010, 04:35 AM
#8
JK Super Freak
I'm not a fan of the factory soft top, all those bars and crap, I use a trek top. mines a 2 dr and love it and i have read that most of the 4 dr users love theirs to. No matter what you choose there will always be some one that doesn't like what you got for some reason. Early trek tops had some issues but i believe all is well now and by the way, Best top makes the factory top for chrysler.