slinky

I did some quick searches here and didn't really find my answer, emphasis on quick, so if it exists, forgive me. Do you really need to put those soundbar screws back in? When I was initially shopping, a salesman told me that you really don't need to screw them back in. I highly doubt that all the latches plus the header latch could catastrophically fail all at once, but I'm not one to test things out.

chipmaker

yes, put them back in... is it that hard or time consuming??

slinky

Yeah you're right, it takes longer for me to shove those pieces in that damn bag than it does to take the screws out and put them back in. I don't know who at Chrysler designed that storage bag, but they failed.

Mud Pie

Just put them back in. But don't start cranking on them too hard or you could damage the top, just till they are snug.

bstpierre

I saw another thread on this topic recently. One guy said he leaves them out for the summer since he takes the panels off so frequently but puts them back on in the winter.

Personally, I plan to put them back in each time. Those plastic latches don't give me a warm fuzzy feeling.

TINMAN080

I left mine out all winter, no issues EXCEPT IF your freedom top panels leak water inside, not only will you hear the slosh- the water will ron out of the screw holes on your shoulders.

rlew0083

Yep, had to have mine replaced on my '07 Sahara. Luckily Jeep covered it under warranty. They said the screws were too long.

Hbomb

i have safari straps netting that i leave in place under the hard top in winter.

the netting covers the holes for the freedom panels screws so i don't use them..............

no problems at all. i even take the jeep through the car wash and no leaks!

Notakar

You may want to figure out where they would go and put a grommets to let the bolts through.

While riding with my wife, my mother-in-law recently said "what is this?" and unhooked the front windshield clip.

Thank God for those bolts or we may have had a mother-in-law ejection seat!!!

dcharge74

Yup! I just took mine out last week, and they will stay out until the fall when it gets too cold to take the panels off anymore. Ran like this for the past two summers and had no problems. No leaks even at the car wash.