All About Jeep Soft Tops
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!)
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.
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.
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
hi hello, i need your help!
I,m Manuel, from Mexico, and i have a jeep a M151A2. I'm searching
for a soft or hard top and doors for my jeep....
does you know, if there is a place where i make contac by some web or
by mail,that sell items for this kind of jeep?
or any buddy know if this jeep can ware another top of any other
model of jeep??,, for example CJ5 maybe it can match...m?
I will appreciate very much your answer!
best regards!
Manuel N.
Geoffrey, Problem solved. I checked out the Best Top site and they said the zipper pull can spread out. They suggest that you take a pair of pliers and squeeze it together. I tried it and my zipper on the rear window works like new. Oh they also suggest you have a screwdriver in case you squeeze it together too much. I hope this helps you, like I said it worked for me, just like new.
I'm having the exact same problem. As a matter of fact it just started today 8/1/09. I tried soap and it really didn't work. I also tried pulling the zipper towards you as your pulling it up. That seemed to work a bit, but not 100%
I'm not sure if buying a new rear window is the answer as I'm not sure if it's the window or the top zipper that's the problem. Maybe somebody will help us both.
Thanks kevin they forgot to give me them when they sold me the jeep!
Thanks Kevin. I'll give it a shot.
Thanks, just got 'em from the guy who sold me (He forgot) the jeep. Now fits perfectly!!! Thanks.. appreciated
there is a black plastic piece that mounts to one of the hardtop holes and screws to the top door roll bar, in the pic above you can kinda see it
think i read in owners manual that dish soap and warm water to clean them up will help with zipping and unzipping, not sure of any lubs but might try the soap and water
Same problem here, huge gap!!! How do we do it ?
TIA
This sounds stupid i know, i bought a 2006 tj sport,put the soft top on but cant find the part where the side window connects to the door frame, been looking for pics cant find anything! my old yj had a bar with a pin in it that just droped down!this has nothing. thx!
Thanks for all the tips. Got a quick question, hopefully. Just bought my first Wrangler, 2003 , 31K, softtop. The zippers on all the windows are extremely hard to unzip/zip. To the point I'm afraid I might break them putting them on/off. I don't think the top or windows have been off much at all since 2003. Is there anything I can use to lubricate the zippers that won't stain the top material? Thanks again, Joe C.
'99 Jeep Wrangler soft top rear window zipper will not align and have the teeth interlock between the window zipper half and the soft top/car body zipper half. The window has been removed and I can not get the zipper teeth started in the proper alignment to mesh. Can the zipper be worn out or broken? It appears to have all the teeth in good condition on both halves of the zipper tape. And the zipper cars look ok. Do I have to replace the entire soft top?
i just bought a 2000 jeep wranger with hard and soft top, took the hard top off for summer and the soft top was in a black leather storage boot, i cant seem to get it back in there, and this video isnt showing how to fold it up into the small space for when i put hard top back on, any ideas where i can find a more detailed video or instructions?
I have a 89 YJ. Does anybody remember the soft top that angled down in the back following he lines of the roll bars. It was an aftermarket top. If anybody knows if they still make them and by who I would greatly appreciate the info. Thanks
Hey Bill, loosen up the screws around the window on the frame. That made mine slide easier on my YJ. Good Luck
I have a 2006 Rubicon. The factory soft top that it came with was vandalized one day, and I ordered another from the dealer. My original soft top had reinforced sail panels, with a piece of plastic zipped up inside the panel. My original soft top was factory. Anyone seen these soft tops? I want to purchase one with the reinforced panels. My dealer was no help. Thanks
Scott -
That's a great question. I've often wondered the same thing myself.
Our '04 Unlimited does the same thing -- the left rear sail panel won't stay in place at highway speeds. BUT... it's only when the rear side windows are out and the back window is rolled up (open). When the rear windows are in place, that left side sail panel tends to inch outward, but never comes completely out.
It's quite frustrating, I must agree. We blamed it on the fact that we simply didn't get the sail panels PERFECTLY in place one time, and riding around too much with them "out of sync" might have caused them to distort/bend/warp/lose their fit. Not sure...
I have a 2008 rubicon unlimited, and no matter how tightly I close the rear door on the left, at highway speeds, the rear side panels still flap open... any suggestions, or is it a manufactures defect? thanks.......
I am a new Jeep owner. I have a 2002 Wrangler X w/ a bolt down latches. I have not been able to find any photos or directions on the proper way to take the top down and secure it. I have been to other forum groups and they just tell me to look at the owners manuel. Problem is it does not show you how to properly secure it in the back of the vehicle. Any ideas? thanks
Looking for a white CJ5 soft top and doors. Or, if someone has knowledge as to where I might purchase a pattern so I can get an upholstery shop to make one would work.
I have a 98 Wragler that is my pride and joy. i resently had to buy new uppers to replace the old ones. They are the right ones but they don't fit. like they are too tight. Any sugestions?
Recently purchased upper slider window doors for my TJ and am having two problems they won't sit down properly and is their any lubricant I can put on the windows to slide easier.
Thanks for the help
Searching for a soft top for a 81 CJ5 in the blue Levis
Package. No longer produced so looking for someone that could give me some directions as to where they would look. THanks very much.
Thank you so much for making the video on how to take down the soft top. I bought my 2004 Unlimited, used from a dealer. The dealer was not familiar with Unlimiteds. I was thrilled to find out through your video that I have a sunroof! I thought I did, but wasn't sure how to secure it.
I also learned alot from your window care section.
Thanks for a great website!!!
I recently purchased a 93 YJ with a brand new top. The top "ballons" up when I travel down the highway. I'm afraid it's going to blow off! I called Best top. They said that the only thing that secures the top is the little plastic lip. My jeep does not have any other latches or tie downs on the top of the windshield. I did notice 6-8 Tirx screws in the top lip of the windshield. I'm thinking that I may be missing a part for the top. Another problem is that water lays in the top and stretches it a bit. This morning there was 4-5 gallons laying in it. Is all of this normal? Thanks a lot. Dave Paxson
I need help putting on my soft top and can't seem to find help anywhere. I have a 2004 Unlimited and weather is too nice to keep on my hardtop. Anyone know of any video guide or instructions online?
Hi Kevin -
We haven't attempted to completely remove the Jeep's soft top yet.
We think you're right... you would have to remove the support poles in the process.
Anyone else done this yet?
How do you remove completely, the soft top. Do you have to remove the support poles also?
HI IAM LOOKING TO REPLACE MY FACTORY SOFT TOP AND WANDERED IF YOU HAD ANY SUGESTIONS ON WITCH MANUFACTURER IS BEST? I WANT THE BEST/QUIETEST MADE. THANKS FOR ANY SUGESTIONS
super helpful!
I concur with your statement about the Jeep's heater...it works almost too well!
Thanks for the tips!
Proud owner of an Unlimited,
Diana