I bought a brand new 2012 oem soft top a few months ago and since have installed it. I keep having the same problem everytime i put it back up regardless if its been full down or softrider down.

What happens is the drivers side is sooo much harder to get the side latch to lock the top in place so i can fold the rest of it forward to get the inside inside latch. Its almost like the top is crooked. When i fold the top forward the passenger side always locks in place on the side and falls perfect to the inside latch but the drivers side is always just short to the point where i have to release all of the tension in the back just to get the drivers side to lock. I have tried grabbing the header and pulling it forward so the side latch will hold it but it just keeps popping out on its on and wont stay.

Ive tried adjusting the door panel up down forward and back but it doesnt seem to work. Now the side latch and little circle notch that the side latch slides into is starting to get worn down on the metal/plastic because of the force.

Im really hoping someone can help me out or hell if there is someone close to me whou knows more than i do can take a look at it and help me out i would appreciate it by buying some beers!

 

I stand behind the Jeep and push the back bar up into the air so I can latch the front easily. It will actually sit up like a foot higher than normal. I then go around and latch the front come back do the rear corners and then put in the windows. I have a '12 too.

 

So your having problems latching the side latches above each door? If so what I do is fold the top up, latch the side latches first then go to the back and grab the top and pull down to secure the back side "sails" on each side then go fold down and latch the front "sunrider" part to the windshield. This seem to be the easiest, if I attach the back sails I have a hard time attaching the side latches.

 

I have a 12 also & have learned to UNDO the back, secure the front then secure the back, you can push the rear bar slightly forward using the sails to hold it in place on the roll bar to give you some added leverage up front, connect the front then go do the back by pulling down to connect the sails

it's realy a pain in the butt till the fabric get's some stretch in it

 

I pretty much do the same thing that everyone here is suggesting, but I still think something isn't right. I will take a photo of how crooked it is when i just fold the top forward.

What bothers me the most is when I just want to use the sun rider part for a quick drive home or something, I still have to practically take everything apart just to secure the top instead of being able to just flip it forward and latch it as designed.

 

Correct! But as soon as I put any pressure in the back or even if I just did the sun rider part the driver side latch refuses to hold that side in place while the passenger side holds it no problem.

Its almost like there is so much more tension on the back left of the jeep "preventing" the top from staying in the hole above the door.

 

With my 07 I found that the middle crossbar with the ends that look like a "C" that pop onto the round bar that run from the side catch toward the windshield would some times not be seated correctly onto the bar on the drivers side. And would actually sit on top of the bar making it almost impossible for the side channels to pop in place. Since your jeep is newer and has the tension cables this would put all that pressure on the the front latch causing it to possibly pop out of the lock position.
Hopefully this helps.

 

What year is your Jeep? Also 2012?
When you bought the soft top did it come complete with matching year door surrounds and all hardware?

If you measure the distances between the side latches and the windshield on both sides are they exactly the same? Then, if you measure the distances between the soft top's seams that sit on the side latches and the front bar that latches to the windshield the lengths are exactly the same?

My Jeep is 2007 and the soft top is a 2010. I only had problems with the windshield latches the first time. Then it seems everything settled and fall down into place nicely.

Only thing I have to do is latching the soft top completely before installing the windows. If I try to put the windows before latching everything gets crooked.

 

My jeep is a 2011 and the top is a 2012. It was brand new in the box. It came with the door surrounds, those pieces that attach to the roll bars for the bows to hook to and the rear bar for the back window.

I will check measurements and see what i come up with and get back to you. Sadly i didnt even think to take measurements, so good idea!

 

Im going to check this out too when i get home today!