I have the 2 door 08 rubi with the sunrider. I got nicked by a rock from another truck on the trail going a bit too fast when he pasted me up. So, there is this nick in the canvas right next to the plastic retainer over the window. It does not leak, since it hits metal when it is closed, but I do not want it to spread or larger. It is a very small hole (about one strand of canvas, but I can see my finger thru it.

What can I use to patch it up?

Also, there are some stains on the underside of the soft top (looks like water, kind of rust looking). I got the rubi used, what is the best thing to clean it. I really don't know what the stain is, looks like dirt and water

Thanks in advance.

 

Not sure on the patch issue....may want to talk with the dealer or car shop that deals with Softop repairs???

The softop stain inside.... On a warm sunny day.....just totally remove the top and lay it flat out on the grass or deck and hose down the inside. Then all I did was take a bucket of warm water and added a little liquid Tide and got a wash mitt and a stiff brush. I scrubbed the top with the wash mitt first... but for the nasty stains I used the stiff brush. Then I rinsed off the soap and let it dry in the sun and then place back on the jeep.

 

I had a similar small hole and there is a shop here that specializes in vinyl top repairs. They applied a vinyl patch to the hole and it has held up very well. The only other but of advice they gave me that I will pass on is never sew a patch into a vinyl top, just glue it.

 

Haven't tried it yet, but it seems to me that for a small hole like that, one of those air mattress repair kits might work. They come with some patch material and some of that smelly glue like what's in a tire patch kit.

Just a thought, if I ever get a small hole like that I'll try it and let you know how it works.

 

That was what I was thinking as well, DDewar53. I called a few places here and found out that they can fix the small hole for $5 - $10, so I may go that route.

But, I have to take the top off the frame (and the place stressed it three times no frame). I am not sure how to do that, and since I have to take it off to clean it, how does one take it off the frame?

I know that the second bow is just velcro, and it looks like the back bow is not really attached to the top. But the sun rider hardware, I was not able to see how the cavas comes off of that part of the frame.

 

I was able to fix the hole myself. My wife found a tube of Instant Vinyl (transparent Adhesive) at Joann fabrics of all places. The hole was very small and the canvas threads were not torn.

So I placed masking tape under it and put a coat on and made sure I pushed it into the hole. Let it dry for about 30 minutes and then added another coat to smooth it out and fill the hole a bit. Works great and it is flexible. I was worried it would spread, but now it looks leak it is all fixed and water proof again.

 

I have the 4 door and have to get some repair work done to my soft top and my shop "needs" the framework removed. Once I took the top off the jeep I was able to get a good look at it. I have yet to disassemble mine, but flip it over and start at the front... Remove the screws that sandwich the top to the front header. Then the velcro in the middle. Then the screws on the rear bar. Should be that easy.

IMHO, let the pro fix it. That way if the tear gets worse, you can make them fix it!

 

Thanks Paramaniac, I need to take the top off to clean it anyway. It was a small nick in the vinyl, the canvas it self was not torn. if it gets worst I will take it in before it gets any bigger.