The Fun Times Guide > Jeeping > Outdoor Fun > Soft Tops & Hard Tops >

All About Jeep Soft Tops

jim-with-jeep-windows-out.jpg Much to my dismay, we can’t ride around in the Jeep with the top down all of the time. Because here in Franklin, Tennessee it gets pretty chilly from October through March each year.

Still, we couldn’t be happier with our Jeep(s), and we’ve had a lot of great times — top up and top down — in both our 1990 Jeep Wrangler YJ and our 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited TJ.

Here’s a run-down of all of the things you need to consider if your Jeep has a soft top…

 

Top Up? Or Top Down?

Usually sometime in October, we resign ourselves to the fact that we have to have the soft top on the Jeep for the next few months. (Bummer.)

And then each March, we catch ourselves taking the hard top off the Jeep… usually just a tad too early.

The whole hard top / soft top switcharoo was something we stopped dealing with when we sold our 1990 Jeep Wrangler YJ and got a a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited TJ instead.

Now, we don’t even own a hard top anymore. We just ride around with the soft top — either UP or DOWN. Summertime or wintertime… the Jeep soft top wins hands-down!

(In case you’re wondering, the heaters inside both of our Jeeps have kept things so toasty inside that we’ve often had to crack a window or switch to cooler air because it’s too hot!)

jeep-with-soft-top-on.jpg

How To Remove The Jeep Soft Top

Soon after we got our Jeep Unlimited, we quickly learned that there were a few tricks to getting through the whole process of removing the Jeep soft top.

Here’s an instructional video we made highlighting the whole process of raising and lowering the soft top in the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. (It’s not nearly as simple as clicking a button like you do in a high-dollar sports car!)

Watch our video about soft top removal here.

 

overhead-view-of-jeep-unlimited.jpg

How To Clean And Protect Your Soft Top & Windows

1. Learn how to clean Jeep soft top windows, including the best products to use on Jeep windows.

2. Then, after you clean them, you’ll want to read these tips for protecting your Jeep windows.

3. Finally, check out these suggestions for prolonging the life of your plastic or vinyl Jeep soft top windows.

 

removing-jeep-windows.jpg

 

RELATED:
Pro’s & Con’s of Jeep Wrangler Unlimiteds
Places To Put The Jeep Soft Top Or Sunrider Top Up In Rain
The Best Replacement Jeep Soft Tops
Pros & cons of Jeep Soft Tops vs Jeep Summer Tops

Lynnette Walczak

I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I frequently write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed several years until switching gears to pursue things I was more passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun websites).

More Posts - Website

Find me here:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Outdoor Fun, Soft Tops & Hard Tops, `Popular Tagged With: , , ,
  • Rich

    I have a complete soft top in black that was hardly used for sale. This is OEM from the factory and will fit a 95 Jeep Wrangler. This is a complete setup as the frame and half doors with skins plus all hardware is included. Everything is in perfect condition with no scratches or rips in the plastic windows or the top. The zippers all work, nothing is broken.I had a hard top for years but sold it. I now have a Pavement Ends soft top that folds back in the front. Asking 600.00 for everything.

  • Anonymous

    Help…I can’t figure out how to put my soft top FRAME on or even if I have all the parts.

  • Anna

    I have a 1999 wrangler, bought used, seller gave me soft top and frame but can’t seem to get it to work, also received different frame from a friend and it seems better but might be missing a part. NEED HELP!! The one I am trying to get to work has the part that locks into the visor area, and the middle top piece that comes down around the back part of the door. I also have the back top piece but no way of attaching the middle and back pieces, nor can I figure out how they attach. Can anyone help…please?

  • Marsha

    We have tired taking off the back window, in one spot the zipper did not caught some teeth and the zipper won’t pass threw this spot. Any ideas on how to fix this problem. We want to put the top own so bad. Got our 2005 wrangler jeep in April. I’m having the time of my life. Can you help us.

    Marsha & Al Truitt

    Kirksville, MO

  • Dawna

    ok this may seem really uninformed… but what is the best way to store the soft top of my new jeep when i am using the hard top?

    i have worked out storage for the windows… it is the actual top that is causing problems.

    thanks

    d

  • Yummyseeds

    Hello..I’m new to the jeep world and I need help. I own a 2007 wrangler soft top that’s not a sunrider. Will I damage the top if i only flip the first section back and not pull the entire top down? I want the experience of the  sunrider although I don’t have one.