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Dual top package

8K views 48 replies 25 participants last post by  Wild Weasel 
#1 ·
On the 2014's if you get dual tops (hard and soft) , does the soft top remain on in a down position while the hard top is being used over it essentially, or does it have to come off then go back on, meaning one top at a time on the vehicle?
What would be wrong with leaving the soft top on under if you remove the plastic windows and store them while doing so?
 
#2 ·
You take the soft top off.

Technically you could leave it down, folded - but you will have very poor access to the storage in the back. The manual tells you not to do it because of the risk of vibration between the hard and soft top wearing through the soft top.

Dual top comes shipped with the soft top installed in the folded down position, in a bag, under the hard top.
 
#3 ·
On my 13 JKUS Billet (saw what you ordered), per the manual, only 1 top at a time. Mine's a dual top. It's shipped with the soft top down and the hard top on. I drove home, removed the hard top, removed the soft top, put the hard top back on, and stored the soft top until spring (bought it Halloween afternoon).

If you leave the soft top on, you'll damage it due to rubbing over time and you lose space and access in the rear cargo area.
 
#11 ·
2Dr or 4Dr? Don't think you have enough room in a 2Dr. In a 4Dr, you might be able to drop the back seats. Disconnect the brackets at the sport bar and try to spin it around and get the frame end out the back door.

Haven't tried it myself though. You don't really need to remove the top. Just raise it enough to get the soft top bundle out.

Bob K.
 
#12 ·
I just unbolted the tops then I got in the jeep and lifted the hard top while my wife pulled the soft top out from under it. I then set the hard top back down and bolted it.
 
#14 ·
I copied this from a post I made in a previous thread:

"My buddy and I did it in less than 20 minutes. On the 4 door, Remove freedom panels and set aside. there are 6 Torx bolts to remove (2 under where the freedom panels were, 4 in the back, Raise the rear glass window. remove the 4 10mm hex nuts holding the soft top onto rear roll bars. Undo the power connector and rear windshield hose (Yes it does pull apart, you have to squeeze the quick connect on the side)

Now, get your buddy to go inside and lift up the top with his back, only about a foot, as you slide out the soft top from the back. Lower hard top back onto jeep. Re-connect Power & washer fluid hose. Put 6 bolts back in, put freedom panels back on.

Done.
Have rest of beer that you did not have time to finish, cause taking the soft top out did not take long enough.:thumb:"

This is the previous thread:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/removing-the-soft-top-on-my-jeep-137146.html

EDIT: I was later corrected to specify that there are actually 8 Torx total on the 4dr hard top.
 
#15 ·
^Yup...
You don't need to remove the entire top, you just need to get the hard top up high enoguh to slide the soft top out.
 
#16 ·
Unless you want to remove the brackets as well, not sure if the top will stay still if you slide it back while you undue the brackets or not. Glad my garage is long enough to park the Jeep and have 8 feet of spare room available behind it ;)
 
#17 ·
For 4DR it is a total of 8 Torx bolts - two under the Freedom panels as mentioned (one each side), and 6 (3 each side) on the hard top rail in the cargo area (not 6 w/ 4 in cargo area as listed above - I don't have experience with 2Dr, but it MAY be 4 in the cargo area for the 2Dr).

This is important to know mostly when you are removing the soft top the first time because as packed for shipping the soft top is somewhat in the way of seeing/removing the 6 bolts in the cargo area. You can get to them, it's just awkward - and if you think you only need to get 4, and leave 2 in...

Once the soft top is out, the count in the cargo area isn't important because they are right there in the open and visible - the big bit to remember is the two under the Freedom panels.
 
#18 ·
Is there anyone here that ended up with damage on their soft top from leaving it in too long when it was brand new?

I've had my Jeep a few weeks now and it's been double digits below zero the whole time. I've been concerned that I don't have a place to actually set the hard top down if I take it off as there's piles of snow everywhere.

Someone above mentioned they just lifted it up to remove the soft top and then set it back down in place. I wish I'd read that sooner. :)

Meanwhile, I figure I risk damaging the hard top trying to mess with the bolts and seals and what not in these temperatures.

The soft top is wrapped up in the vinyl it comes in from the factory so I expect it's somewhat protected. Am I deluded?
 
#22 ·
I tried that on my own i have a 2 door and it became too bulky to hold the HT and try to move the ST left it in. what I did was where the corners of the ST comes in contact with the HT or body I put foam padding there until weather breaks and I can get another 2 hands
 
#20 ·
Thanks man. I appreciate that. Hopefully nobody shows up and says "Yeah man... mine got messed up that way... " but I guess then I'll know for sure.

By all means though... post up how long you had it in with no issues!

I figure that vinyl wrap around it is probably doing some good.
 
#23 ·
I'm not sure whether foam would make it better or worse though. I mean... I expect it's not a problem or the two of you wouldn't recommend it, but there doesn't seem to be any room there at all. Maybe a flannel sheet or something at best, but I think the vinyl cover might provide just as much protection.

jeffb: Is yours still in there or did you end up getting it out?
 
#25 ·
All of the above! Wanted the dual top when I bought my 2012 JKU NEW, I still got the soft top mounted and rolled in the vinyl wrap as of today!...Honestly, never even thought about putting the soft top on/up, should have saved the $$$ and stuck with the hard top only..And this is just my opinion... It's a pain every time I open the back, going on three years and just don't want to take the hard top off just to remove the soft top..At this point I have no leaks, and want to keep it this way. I talked to the dealer when I picked it up,, he never explained I had to pull the hard top off to remove the soft top, what a stupid design! ...My error, I just thought maybe I'd like both options, but found out I really just like the hard top with the 3 pieces...It could be hacksaw time this spring, to get this out of my way! My next new Jeep will be hardtop only, has all the connections in place for washer and defrost, then if I ever want a rag top, I can buy an aftermarket one, but at this time, hard top is my choice...
 
#27 ·
Yup, but the Dealer had to take the hard top off from FACTORY to get it out/off, and re-install the hardtop...I just personally had an issue with this.....Like I said, I had/have no leaks in the last three years, once you/dealer's start messing with things and break seals, if things aren't lined up correct, you'll have issues... Didn't spend $33,000 for stupid leaks, and yes, this is my third Jeep, so far with this JKU, no issues so far.. Hopefully the infamous "head" issue won't appear.. I got 19,000 on this one!! Knock on wood!
 
#28 ·
I bought a 2015 Jeep last week. I just took my soft top off tonight. I did it by myself and it sucked. All these pieces are heavy. I should have gone next store and asked a neighbor. It would have been much easier.
 
#29 ·
I bought my top lift before my jeep arrived. When my jeep was delivered, I had the soft top out in less than an hour. I can't imagine fighting with the soft top every time I wanted to load something in the back.
 
#30 ·
Yeah, it's definitely in the way back there. I can't believe Ed's kept his in all these years!

I've never read anything to imply that taking off the hard top and putting it back on might leave me with leaks or anything. It just bolts down, right? Ed, do you have some reason for the massive apprehension?

My only concern is with taking it off in the extreme cold. I don't want to crack anything or damage any rubber seals due to the temperature. As soon as it warms up a bit, I'll have that thing off in a jiffy!
 
#31 ·
Wild, not really, no reason, but knock on wood, had no issues at all with leaks from day one(2012)...No door leaks, no top leaks, ect...I'm just one that has an issue with "disturbing" things ( like seals/gaskets) once they are tightened down, pulled off and re-installed, trying to replace/re-seat, without a new gasket...Probably my experience with Maintenance for 37 years at my job. It's just my own thought.....Remove, replace, remove, replace, sooner or later from compression,,, leaks... And really, I do like the hard top... An yes, it's just a couple of nuts to remove in the back of the top, no big deal, couple people to lift off. When putting it back, don't pinch the rubber gaskets.. Good luck, you should be fine!
 
#32 ·
All the rubber gaskets are part of the freedom panels that you must remove first. The hard top itself has no rubber gaskets on any of the contact points with the Jeep. I'm just a few months short of 2 years with my 2013 and no leaks yet on either HT or ST. They have both been off several times for weeks at a time and all 4 doors have been off several times a year as well.

dp
 
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