Soft Top Storage recommendations for the winter?

Plan is to:
1. Washer it down really good.
2. Fold top down nice and neat.
3. Remove per instructions from the vehicle.
4. Then what?
- Is it ok to store in an outside building with low temp ranges down to 25-30 F?
- Should I try to keep it in the Garage in a milder climate?
- Any particular way to lay it down or stand it up?
5. I plan to store the windows hanging on the wall of our empty closet.

Comments Welcome

 

Just be mindful of the possibility that mice may find it and use the material to make themselves a nice little nest. That happened to my outdoors seat cushions, my extra(brand new) pool cover and the $500 seat for my Harley. Destructive little bastards.

 

it may be worth it to buy the brackets that hold the soft top to the roll bar. you could use them to hang the soft top from a wall using the factory mounting holes.

just food for thought.

 

I just stored ours this past weekend. I just cleaned it, folded it up nice and neat, and put the "boot" back on that it came with from the factory. I found two L brackets that are made to hang ladders at the local hardware store and hung it in my garage. My garage isnt heated, but I think it will be fine. We just might have to let it stretch out in the sun in the spring. The windows are stored in a window roll up bag we had left from our TJ. I didnt roll it up though, just hung it in the garage flat against the wall.

Hopefully this works, but I guess I 'll have to wait until next year to find out for sure!

 

bly109 I like the way you think. Think I will go with the garage and ladder hanger method. Simple enough and I can keep an eye on it all winter.

 

Yes, this happened to my buddy's soft top on his TJ after storing in the garage all winter. The mice chewed a tennis ball sized hole in the top (of course) above the rear seat. He had it folded for strorage.

I thought about constructing a wooden box to place the folded softop into. The windows could lay flat inside the box as well. May be cumbersome and bulky, but after seeing what the little bastards did to his softtop, I want to be sure it is in good shape next spring...

 

I keep mine rolled up (as it came from factory) and stored behind my couch in the living room.....

 

I was planning to store the soft top also in the garage, but the winter temps could get down to 10 or so, but typically will stay around or just above freezing.
I am concerned about what those temps will do to a folded top.

I may have to find room in the basement where it stays at 65.

 

It should be fine . I had mine installed & driving around in those kinds of temps. No reason having it folded should be an issue.

I wouldn't reccomend trying to unfold and install a folded top in those temps.

 

Stored my Soft Top today. Believe it or not my 13 year old daughter does not cram stuff under her bed so I was able to fold the top and lay it flat on a blanket with all the window frame pieces and place it under her bed. Took the windows and sandwiched them between beach towels and used those cloths hangers with the 2 clips on them and hung them by the edges in our spare room closet. Warm and toasty for the winter and hopefully away from the varmints. Now only if my neighbor gets back in town we can get the hard top back on. Luckily it is going to be nice and sunny here for the next 3 days so I can get some bonus topless driving in.