Can I run my top without door surrounds, or will it cause damage by not running in the door surround channels?

 

I would not run a sunrider top without the surrounds, just because the main side bar seems so weak with that plastic slider piece. Non-sunrider should be fine, I ran my TJ that way for years.

Another thing I did with my TJ was separate the two halves of the door surround, then just installed the upper half. That should work fine on the JK whether you are running sunrider or not.

I am speaking of 2dr only, don't know how the 4dr surrounds work.

 

I'd say the same thing - especially if you're going to be doing some highway driving, I think that I'd want the top portion of the rear surrounds installed - for the channel and latch that holds the top straight.

Try it and see - how 'loose' does the top seem without the surrounds?

 

I dont think that would be a good idea. if it were, they wouldnt have included them!

 

I run that way some times... I was doorless and topless a few weeks ago and it started to really lightly rain so I put the top up, but didnt have door surrounds, worked fine even at highway speed

 

Without door surrounds your top will probably flap in the wind. Over time that will stretch the material and destroy the seams, zippers and hardware. Cheaper to get the door surrounds than to replace everything else...

 

Yes you can, without any problems. Sure, the soft top does flap a little more, slightly annoying but it's zero trouble. The purpose of the surrounds is to keep the soft top fitted tight and snug, so it's your call if running without surrounds bothers you.

Do it, and see. Enjoy going naked.

 

When I run top up and no doors I bungee the frame to the roll bar in the middle.
This helps keep everything down tight on the highway. I've never had issues. It's a Jeep, there is no right way to do anything with it, so whatever works.....

 

I run my sunrider without them anytime I put it up in the summer and never had an issue. As soon as summer hits the doors, surrounds and windows come off and don't go back on till winter.