Since it's my first Jeep and first summer to be riding without the hard top, I thought it might be a good idea for me to have a tarp and 4 bungie cords with me at all times in case of a pop-up storm.
I bought a 10 x 12 tarp and the question I have for those who have done this, after you put the tarp over the JKU and bungie it down, do you just crawl back in the Jeep via the tailgate? I actually didn't think about this until after I test fit the tarp lol. Is there a better way?
I was thinking about a tarp too, when I'm not close to my garage. I'm pretty OCD in checking the weather now, but we all know how accurate that can be.
You plan on driving with a tarp on secured with only bungees?
My plan is to just be able to pull over and put the tarp on until the rain shower passes. I usually will only take the top off and leave if the chance of rain is 20% or less.
I prefer to run a 12x15 tarp on the 4 door, gives it a bit more protection and gives you a bit more wiggle room to get back in. I like to bungie the front two corners to the front wheels. I use a shorter bungie from the hood ti down to the middle front windshield. The back I loop the bungie from the tarp at the outside corner, into the rear wheel well, and under, through the d-ring on the rear bumper and back up to the middle rear on the tarp. This leaves the sides. One bungie per side through the rail and back up to the tarp again. That's 7 bungies total.
I do this mainly because in Oklahoma we often have wind, even without rain, so a gust of 50 mph isn't abnormal and using less bungies is risky. Anyhow, in the last step you can secure the passenger side bungie and then hope inside the driver's side and secure it once in the Jeep.
Couple things: make sure the bunnies have the nylon hooks and it's a good idea to reinforce the grommet holes with gorilla tape lap both sides and just cut an "X" in the hole.
For what it costs I think a Pavement Ends Emergency Top is a better bet. Packs up small and you can drive - albeit a bit slowly - with that top in place.
I carry an emergency top, not a tarp. It works really well, it allows you to get in through the door after installing, although different models are different in that respect.
The one I have even allows for you to drive the jeep with it on.
Seems like I've posted this a few times this year. I have a cover but found it easier just to keep the freedom tops in my Jeep for when rain pops up.
Pop on the front panels and off I go. BUT I don't run carpet, it's easy to pull the plugs and drain. If you still run carpet this solution won't work for you.
Seems like I've posted this a few times this year. I have a cover but found it easier just to keep the freedom tops in my Jeep for when rain pops up.
Pop on the front panels and off I go. BUT I don't run carpet, it's easy to pull the plugs and drain. If you still run carpet this solution won't work for you.
Im interested in more on the emergency top options. Never considered the need for one being close to home but while at Ocean City for jeep week last week it occurred to me that I'd be screwed if it happened to rain while I was running top and doors off (sitting in 5th floor hotel room). Also would have given me a little peace of mind knowing it was covered up while it sat in parking lot at night.
I bought THIS to keep in my Jeep for when a random shower pops up and I don't have my top on. I am not sure how well it will work with torrential downpours, but I wasn't about to invest a lot in this. Hell, by the time I put the correct sized tarp, bungees etc in my cart at Home Depot I was up to that price, so why not?
Oh, my bad, I didn't realize you guys were looking for something to put on and drive with. I just got mine for when I am parked somewhere and it decides to pour and I don't want to come out to a puddle in the front seat. I don't mind driving through the rain, if it is too bad I will just pull over to a gas station or something.
As far as not helping when the doors are off, having slider/steps helps with that problem. By attaching the clips to the rails it pulls the cover away from the body, and creates an angle, if that makes any sense?
I bought this cover from extreme terrain. It held up nice in heavy rain storm except that it pooled heavy on the top. By unhooking the side I was able to slip into the drivers seat and push it upwards till it drained out
I've looked at what would work also. Been involved in a couple of pop-up showers, a really good one this morning. But I've got a soft top and I can just flip it up, so a little different.
As others have said, I've pulled the carpet and I keep a garbage bag handy to cover the steering wheel.
So far when the rain pops-up I just head to the nearest church, car wash, or gas station and wait it out.
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