This is a post about JK hard tops.

I have gathered alot of information on the JK hardtop, and I am going to stick it all in this one post in case someone, sometime, wants to try this.

When talking about the JK hardtop you have to take more of an IF/THEN approach rather than a 1+1=2 approach.

This post covers the situation where you HAVE a Soft top and want to ADD a Hardtop.

WE will break this down into TWO Topics. A) "To get it On" and B) "To make it work"

Topic A) To Get It On

I may start an argument here but these findings are from my actual experiences. Your experiences may vary.

You will see many people offering to sell something like this: "For Sale JK hard top Fits 07 to '10" This is not entirely accurate. There was a part number break between 08 and 09. On the top of your windshield is a 'loop' that is located roughly in the center. Your soft-top does not use this loop. And neither does the Hard Top. Well on the 09 and 10 models this loop was moved 2" to the left. What you should do is go look at a Jeep with a Hardtop; you will notice the 'Freedom Panels' are made with a 'notch' so that they miss this loop. Now looking at the loop ask yourself how it would look if that loop was moved 2". It would certainly hit the freedom panel and may go so far as to hold the panel up enough that it would leak. Either way it is not the way Jeep designed it. SO If you have an 07 or 08 look for a top from an 07 or 08. Same with the 09 and 10.
The back portion of the Hard Top is the same from the 07 to the '10's. It is the Freedom Panels that are different.

Now you have the correct hardtop let's move on to installation. The first and main consideration is the nuts in the body. Since your jeep probably never had a hardtop from the factory there is little chance that it will have these "Retaining nuts" installed. There are six of them and they go three to aside from just behind the rear seat to the back of the Jeep.

Where ever you got your Top from you should have tried to get these nuts at the same time. I know that some people don't want to try to remove them, which can be tricky, so you may find yourself searching for them. Just make sure you have made arrangements BEFORE you go to get your hard top. If you want to see what they look like search the web or ebay for..... 55397093AC

When you go to get the top you will need a set of Torx wrenches. I suggest you go get a 3/8" drive set of torx sockets. There are about 8 sockets in the set and it will fit all of the bolts involved in a hard/soft top install. OR go to ebay and search JK quick Knobs.

Now it is just a matter of taking off the soft top, saving all of the bolts in a baggy, and setting the hardtop in place and bolting it down.

That was the easy part......


Topic B) Making It Work

So now you have to answer some questions.....

Do you want the Rear Wiper/Washer and Defroster to work? If NO then you are done.

If 'Yes' then the aggravation begins.....

Look inside your Jeep at the rear left side. Just inside the tailgate. Is there a wiring harness there? A plug with a small hose? If 'Yes' hook them up and then go play the lottery. Your Jeep was set up for a Hard Top! This saves you TONS of aggravation.

If "NO" then you have some choices....

A) Take the jeep to a dealer and say "I just put this hardtop on. I need you to sell me a harness and install it and then flash my computer so it all works." If you can get this done for 450.00 I’d be surprised. But it is the easiest way.

B) Buy your harness and take it to the dealer and say "Install this OEM harness and Flash my Computer" Figure 250.00 here is a good deal. (Like I said these are my experiences.) I actually did this one and had to take it back three times to get it right.

C) Buy your harness and install it yourself. Then go to a dealer and ask to have your computer flashed. This means that you are comfortable taking apart your dash, your steering column, and various plugs in the dash AND engine compartment. If you are mechanically inclined and meticulous you should be able to do this. In the back of the instruction manual there is a step by step guide for the dealership to follow so they get your flash correct also. Figure 0 to 50 bucks for this. Depends on how nice a parts guy you have.

Here are the numbers and links......

If you want to buy your own harness search Ebay or the web for.....82210215ad OR 82210215AG don’t ask me what the difference is. I can't tell.

Want to read the manuals?

http://www.mopar-accessories.com/en-....ashx?id=14627

http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Installation/75123.pdf

So the main things are "Get the right top" by that I mean a year that was made for your jeep, and be prepared both with hardware and information. If you do that your hard top conversion will go much easier.

Like I said these are my own personal experiances if anyone has anything to add to this please do. I just know that when I started this I wish I had all of this info so I am just sticking it out there to try to help.

Hope it helps

Mark

 

That's alot of writing for your first post

 

Yeah and when your boss keeps coming and you have to keep hiding it you will eventually time out. Then you hit preview post and it jumps to a relog in screen and everything you typed is GONE.
So I retyped it in notepad. then did a copy and paste between boss visits.

 

Nice summary. One clarification regarding the quoted text in bold (my emphasis): On the 09's (and I assume the 10's), the Freedom panels do use the center footmans loop. At the front center the driver-side panel overlaps the passenger side panel as usual, and has a swing-latch that uses the center loop to pull the center/front of the Freedom panels tight against the windshield.

The net effect of your post is accurate though -- you're probably best served to stay with 07-08 Freedom panels on 07-08 JK's and with 09+ Freedom panels on 09+ JK's.

 

Thank you!!!!

I KNEW I had heard somewhere that the center 'footman' was used on the newer models. Now If I can a JK unlimited HT for sale somewhere I will be good.

Again THANK YOU!

I love hoarding information

 

Wow, after all that I think I'll just go have a drink!

 

X2 that! I'm on a whiskey diet and lost 3 days already!

 

you said you had to take it back 3 times to make your hardtop work
what was wrong? details please.. i think im in the same situation

 

 

Is the center foot man the "loop" on the windshield that that does nothing unless you fold the windshield down and secure it to the "loop on the hood, with a strap?