Some tops take a year or so of just use or mounted to the jeep and in time they loosen up.

This is normal

Do you have the standard top or premium ?

 

I have not had this experience. I have a standard top on my 2014 and never had any issues with the top not fitting.

If the latches above the door surrounds aren't latched properly, it can be an issue. The only time it didn't "reach" was when my wife thought her side was in the latch and it was actually behind it.

 

What is the build date of your jeep ? Did your cheap come with a hard top or did always have a soft top ?

Did the original poster have a dual top option where he just recently installed the soft top ?

Some tops are looser than others and some are tighter than others it all depends on the build date if it came with the soft top if it came with dual top option or if this was just recently installed

 

Don't know about the build date. It was early - I picked it up in August of 2013. Soft top only.

Why does the build date matter?

 

Well if your soft top has been on your jeep since late 2013 or later then your top has had plenty of time to stretch

If the original poster bought his top still wrapped up or had the dual top option then his has never had any long length of time to stretch

 

I recently rediscovered how tough a fresh top can be to latch. I also have the premium cloth top for the first time. Here's my advice, if you've already tried it, fine. For starters, try it with the back flaps loose, that should do the trick with the front latches like every one else said. In my case, there was no way in hell I was getting the back flaps down with the front latched... I wasted more time than I should have trying to use this method.

In my case it seemed natural for me to want to pull the header bar towards the front of the Jeep, thinking that would get the latches closer. That is also futile. If you wedge your hand between the top and the header bar, and just pull that sucker straight down, I guarantee you will get that extra little bit. don't be afraid to hang from that thing if you have to. I weigh 185 and it didn't break from all of my weight on it. Also make absolutely sure that the latches are as wide open as possible.

Hope I helped.

 

I do have the premium dual top option, been on a couple months now. It seems that the only way to get the latches to reach is pushing the header forward with all of my might is my only option for now...

 

I borrowed my buddies 2014 the other day and took the premium top down for awhile and had the same problem, couldn't get to reach. The trick for me was to unzip all back windows and that seem to do the trick.

 

When I took the top down on my '08, And was ready to get her dressed again, I always started up front and worked my way back. It is definitely easier to latch without the back end pulling. I never used mine with jus the front unlatched, so I don't have advice... Other than just get the Jeep nekkid!! ;-)

 

I thought that I had the same problem the first time I opened my roof. It only took about 10 seconds to realize that I needed to spread those clips.....open them W I D E and they will hook over the ends. Then, as you clip them shut, the roof just clams up nice and tight. And most surprising of all, is the fact that the roof is really tight. I hasn't leaked in the heavy rains that we had the other day. The road even washed out, but the inside of the Jeep was nice and dry.