its fine under any weather / salt.

Infact, its kinda neat, as snow doesn't stick to my TJ soft top windows, it drops off...

just brush the snow off if it gets over 2-3" on top of the truck...

i just don't like all that weight on it.


However, my new TJ is also my 'weekend toy'; so its top is usually down, as it sits in the garage unless its

1. time for WHEELIN!

or

2. sunny

I have a 1995 Tahoe that works great in the snow, saving the shiny TJ :

(I had a 1998 TJ for all my soft top experience, back then it was my daily driver from 98 to 2002)

then, i sold it... stupid me... never sell your jeep, you will kick yourself, slit your wrists, and pray for death... unless of course you can afford a new one, in which case you will return to sanity...

thankfully, I now have my love back, my Rubi...

and as soon as they perfect the JK a bit more (and I replace my 95 Tahoe) I'm sure I'll pick one up!

 

I not only appreciate the quality & quantity of the answers, I find that the questions posed on this board, for the most part, are more considered than on some other boards. People here seem to to a bit of research on their own before asking questions.

Have you made a top decision?

SV

 

Get the soft top. I did and I don't have any regrets.

A. With the crazy Texas weather we have, we can have an 80 degree day or a ice storm in the winter, so its nice to be able to easily adjust to the weather.

B. The soft top looks better, both inside and out. The stark white of the stock hard top is UGLY!

C. I've drove both and the soft top is only marginally louder. Turn up the radio and jam.

D. Surely, a better after market hard top will come out sooner or later. Part of the fun of being a Jeep owner is modding it!

E. That extra money you would use on the hard top is better spent on wheels and tires, lift, or gears!

The only negative is the whole security issue of the soft top, but I'm gonna get the Viper alarm that works with the stock alarm key fob and will include a motion sensor to mitigate the risk of getting anything stolen.

 

If I lived in a warmer area the question would be easy - I would get the soft top and spend the money on something else. Having both tops is nice but if I had to choose one I would get the sof top. Is the hard top remarkably quieter? No. Is it noticeably quieter? I think so. If security was a serious issue you might score a point for considering the hardtop. But I can't imagine not being able to take down the top in the nice weather - seems like it would defeat the purpose of having the jeep (even with the freedom panels). I don't think the soft top is that noisy (and i think most everyone thinks the same) and I drive the Jeep every day to work (its my only vehicle). There are times when the ambient noise is a bit much - easier to talk on the cell phone when the hardtop is on (in my opinion). But it's a Jeep - I didn't expect it to be that quiet.

 

Go with a Soft top. In Ft. worth you get the occasional ice once a year but other than that you get the crazy weather here, freezing to hot, and its good to be able to take off the top whenever you feel like it.

 

sorry to hijack, but for those of you with hard tops and that live in snowy areas...are there any precautions I should take with the hard top?

 

Nope. Just treat it like you would any other vehicle, wash it often to keep the road salt off.

Personally, I love the hard top. I havn't had the soft top on yet, so the hard top is really all I know. But the rear wiper, wash, security, and quietness of the hard top will be hard to beat with the soft top. Can't wait til summer to see.

 

Sorry to light up an old thread.

Wind noise on my soft top isn't that bad, but overall ambient noise is inconvenient. We have a lot of tunnels here in Seattle and it sounds like the top is open when driving through them. It's literally impossible to talk on the phone.

Some have said the hard top isn't that much quieter though so I'm wondering if there are any sound-proofing options? For example, would Line-x or Rhino on the inside help since the top isn't insulated?

 

Don't have the hard top so I can't compare in all instances, however I've ridden in a friends with HT and the noise level isn't that much worse with the ST. With the windows open and driving the highway, the ST tends to flap a bit but nothing all that bad. With the windows up and the heater or air on the ST lifts a bit and stays nice and tight.
As far as winter with the ST. This is the 2nd winter we've had it and no problems yet. Just brush off the snow, and bang the top a bit from the inside while driving. Any snow left comes right off. As for the plastic windows, they get cloudy in the winter but it seems to clean right up with a good wash on a warmer day.
Unlike some others who've posted about the ST, I've had no problems at all with leaking.