First off, it was 92 degrees, i let it bake in the sun, and it still was hard to stretch..got her on though. 2nd of all..i went to put the window on tonight, and it doesnt zip all the way..its missing maybe an inch at the very bottom..normal because its new? will it stretch out? 3rdly: how do you NOT get these windows covered in fingerprints when installing it? and lastly: How easy is it (didn't try it because i wanted the fabric to settle) to roll it back? do i have to remove the header? it just seems like its pretty tight to be able to pocket around the header and snap into place. this is my first jeep and this is my first softtop..thats why the n00bie questions...thanks guys!

 

Leave the top up for a few days so it can stretch out. The window should zip all of the way to the end of the zipper. Avoid handling the window. Hold it by the top and bottom.

You have to unscrew the header screws to roll it back, and unfasten the cross strap, but it's not worth the trouble. Why? Because, you'll have a devil of a time getting the header to seal properly unless you loosen the entire top. If you do roll it back, remove the rear window. Also, use the short straps and snaps to fasten after rolling. Don't lose the strap retainer. Put it somewhere where it's safe.

Rolling it back serves me no useful purpose. I simply take it down, roll it up and stow it behind the rear seat, bungee cords looped around the sport bar base and the top to keep in the Jeep. I wrote a whole procedure for removing and stowing the Trektop. It's on the forums somewhere, maybe I can find it.

 

I found it....


You can roll up the Trektop and lay it across, behind the rear seat. I use 2 or 3 bungees to lash it to the lower rear of the sport bars (roll bar).

I'll take some photos some day and post them with instructions. I do have one annotated photo, which I'll put at the end of this post.

Until then, here's my procedure...

1) Unfasten the cross strap (inside the Jeep).
2) Store the little plastic clip somewhere safe, it's small and will get misplaced. I drop it on the coin tray in the center console storage.
3) Unfasten the two knobs/screws that clamp down the header. Store these with their V brackets in the console or glovebox.
4) Pull the velcro loose where it wraps around the upper bars of the door surrounds (two places, on both sides)
5) Pull the velcro strips loose that secure the top to the back of the door surrounds.
6) Fold the strap and buckle onto the roof of the top.
7) Carefully roll up the top towards the rear, stopping about 3" from the quarter window line.
8) Pull the top retainer strips from the side rails, completely.
9) Unzip both sides of the rear window and slide it out of the top groove and the tailgate bar. Leave the tailgate bar where it is.
10) Carefully roll up the rear window. You can stow it behind the seat. Just be careful how you stow it to avoid scratching the clear plastic.
11) Flip the side panels with the quarter windows, over the top. Make sure they are even. Do not fold across the windows, but along the seam above them.
12) Remove the rear bow (1/2" black painted aluminum pipe).
13) Carefully roll the top back until it's about to fall into the Jeep. There should be about 18" of the side panels hanging. Do not roll the top up tight. a little loose is preferred.
14) Lower the rolled top down so that the ends rest on the inner fender wells, just behind the sport bar. Make sure it's centered relative to the Jeep.
15) Tuck the 18" of the side panels in underneath. Close the tailgate.
16) Slide the bow into the rolled up top (this is one reason you don't roll it tight) until it is completely inside and centered.
17) Loop a 12" bungee cord around the sport bar. Don't wrap it around the shoulder belt. Lift up the top and stretch the bungee around the rolled top and hook the bungee ends together. Repeat for the other side.

You are now ready to roll. The top is secured.

 

the windows are OH so close..ill leave it up..and yeah that write-up you did makes sense..i just can't believe you have to go through so much to roll it back..my freedom panels seemed a hell of a lot easier, but i never took the whole thing off

EDIT: other than the window not zipping up all the way yet the rest seems like a really good fit..i was sweating (and swearing) like crazy trying to get the window on though..i think thats why theres so many smudges on the windows from today..it was so hot/humid

 

The next time you erect the top, zip the window in prior to tucking the top under the belt rails. Slide it into the upper track. Take the tailgate bar off, then slide the lower part of the window into the track on the bar. Pull the window tight using the bar, and then snap (clip the inside on and roll the bar towards the rear to latch) the bar in place. Now, with the top not tucked under the rails, start the zippers and zip the window fully on both sides. Now, tuck the plastic retainers under the belt rail, beginning just behind the doors, ending with the ends nearest the tailgate.

 

got the windows zipped up..thanks widewing!!!!

 

okay...so the trektop is installed as perfect as i could get it..none of the surrounds are bent or anything. but i looked at my rear driver's side door, and the weatherstripping on the top left corner of the door is ripped, from where the door surrounds come together..its put on correctly and its not bent..why the hell does this shit always happen to me? a tiny bit of the paint also was rubbed off of the door and you can tell it hits there right before it closes..im considering sending it back..

 

another question for trektop owners...ive read that in order to get the front to be re-installed at the footman loops, you need to detach the top in the back..I just undid the velcro all the way to the rear pieces behind the back doors..and i was able to get the bolts in (had to use a lot of muscle and sweat my ass off to do so...would i get a better seal if i detached the back of the top first? i had small leaks at the corners of the front doors during VERY severe weather the other day (torrential rains, high winds, tornadoes)..but it doesn't seem to me theres much slack left that could be pulled up front.

 

nevermind, widewing just answered my question with a little write-up in the WOL trektop thread..you're the man!