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Help me decide: Soft or Hard?

3K views 42 replies 32 participants last post by  Espo78 
#1 ·
First of all...that's what she said?

I'm brand new to the forums and Jeeps. I know this question has been discussed ad nauseum, and I've read those threads; but I'm looking for your advice.

I'm looking to buy a used Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in the next few weeks, and am having trouble choosing between a hard or soft top based on my needs and limitations.

About me:
  • I live in Denver, Colorado and regularly head up into the mountains every weekend.
  • I do not have indoor parking (hard top!)
  • I live in a 2br without a garage and don't really have anywhere to store the hard top during the summer (soft top!)

The weather in Denver is amazing during the summer, so I'd love to have the soft-top. I've also read that people have no problem in snowy areas with the soft-top on year round.
The hard top is ideal: it's quieter on the highway, more secure, and much sexier (unless the soft top is down). My problem is mostly with hard top storage during the summer.

Does anyone have any suggestions or guidance here? I've found 2 great Jeeps: one 07 JKU Rubi hard top, and an 07 JKU X with a soft top. The soft top is obviously much cheaper (which is ideal), but will I have a lot of issues and regrets if I go with the soft top?

Thanks for your help!
 
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#3 ·
Go with the Rubi with the hard top. Not because it's a hard top but because it's a Rubi. Plus, you can get a soft top later on if you want one for less money than you can get a hard top. How high is the ceiling/rafters in the garage? Can you put a hoist up there and store the hard top above your parking spot?
 
#5 ·
That's a tough situation. Too bad you don't have a place to store the hard top. Any friends with a garage or basement to store it in for you? I bought my JK with a hard top and bought a soft top after. It is much cheaper buying a soft top after market than a hard top after market. Although I would get by with a soft top year round, I prefer the hard top in the winter for some insulation and ease of snow removal. I guess you need to figure out which is more important to you. Hard top for the winter or soft top for the summer. With the Freedom top, you CAN take the panels off in the summer although it isn't exactly like the full top down. You can always try the hard top and if you are not satisfied, you can sell it and buy a soft top and put a little money back in your pocket. Or, you can just suck it up for the winter with a soft top and then have it for the summer. You can always wait for the new Trek top that is a hybrid between hard and soft http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/bestops-new-trektop-nice-959018.html.
 
#7 ·
ok this really is a personal decision. My first question is how do you see a Wrangler? is it an off road machine to you or a convertible? Next, Do you plan to use the rear storage much?

If you want a Wrangler just for snow or off roading, the hard top is ok, same if you need to get in and out of the rear much. But, if one of the major draws for you is top down, than it needs to be a soft top - you will not enjoy the top off much if its a hard top with your situation. I know, I am in the same one.

The only negative I had with the soft top was people kept saying you cant let snow build up it or that will wreck the the hardware so I would go out and keep the snow off it during any storm. And the rear bar that holds the back window down. It makes the back almost useless...

I had a soft top (and also with half doors) that was older and looked rough enough to make the whole Jeep look beat up. I thought I wanted a hard top and full doors. I wanted to change enough parts I decided to trade in. Now I have full doors and a hard top and its a different vehicle. Too much like a car for me.

With the soft top half doors, the top was down 50% of the time it could be, now I just drive it like a regular car - with the windows down. I had though of renting a storage space and getting a soft top - but it just too expensive to do that.

I personally wish I had the soft top back again and will do so at some point. I just cant justify selling the hard top.
 
#11 ·
Yeah i'm with ya here. It will primarily be used for city/daily driving to work. Weekends I head up in to the mountains, so lots of highway driving too. During the summer, I'd love to have the top down as much as possible, but I dont think I'd leave the top down all the time; it's just be an ad-hoc type thing.

I do use the back a lot. I have a dog that's used to riding in the back of my MDX, so I'd like it if he stayed in the back of the jeep too. Also, going into the mountains each weekend requires me to bring a lot of stuff...skis & gear, clothing bags, camping/hiking stuff.
 
#8 ·
I'm over the hills in Utah. You won't have a problem with the soft top. The hard top insulates a little better and is a little quieter, but it's really not a big deal. If you don't have a good place to store the hardtop, I would just get the soft top and not sweat it. I've got both and I've had them each on during the different seasons. If I had to pick one, I'd stick with the soft top.
 
#25 ·
This is the critical issue. If you buy the soft top you will not have the connections for a hard top later. That will cost you at least $ 350 just for parts.

Buy the hard top. Then get a premium soft top later. Yes, you will probably run the soft top 9 months of the year. I do. But right now here in Utah I have the hard top back on for good reason. We are about to get dumped on again.

I have owned many Jeeps and many tops and I believe the Mopar factory hard top combined with the Mopar Premium Soft Top is the best you can get.
 
#12 ·
As others said, get the rubi with hard top, you don't want to do what I did and regret not getting a Rubicon when you had the chance. I have never had a hard top but at times really wish I did. I am constantly loading/unloading oversize packages and the soft top is a pain. However , you can't beat the ease and freedom of a soft top.
 
#14 ·
One last thought. If you can afford it, get both tops in the package. Like others have said, it comes with all the hookups and everything. If you get a place you can store the top later you are good. If you decide on one you can sell the other. I forgot you are in Denver. I have heard some of the bigger cities have places that specifically store Jeep hardtops for a lot less than say a 5x5 storage facility.

The funny thing is I may have just found a way to store my HT. Just got a deal on a ford Ranger FX4 I couldnt pass up. It has a topper. I was thinking the Jeep HT might fit in the bed and under the topper. When I get home next month I will have to measure and see if it fits :)
 
#15 ·
For me its either hardtop or no top. Hards are more secure, quieter, have better visibility, and less maintenance. Plus you can easily pop out the freedom panels while out for the day and pop them back in quickly if it looks like rain. What's that you say? Denver Colorado and no garage. For me that = Hardtop.
 
#16 ·
I have both. If you go soft only, I would definitely go premium for noise and insulation.
I love the top off, but if I were you I'd go hard top. Noise and insulation are a huge difference and as others said, rear access. Also nobody mentioned that there is no rack option for soft top unless you go full expedition rack. With the hard top you can get gutter racks or permanently install one. This is your best option for hauling your ski gear.

You can always buy a soft top when you upgrade to a place with a garage.
 
#17 ·
As others have said, this all about gathering opinions to help inform your decision. When making the choice between hard/soft tops, there are a few facts to weigh:

Hard tops are more secure if you keep gear/equipment/valuables in your vehicle unattended. Soft tops are less secure and you need to plan for that.

Hard tops are faster/easier for loading/unloading gear due to the flip up window vs. unzipping the rear window and managing the floppy window/retaining bar.

Hard tops have Freedom Panels that allow some open-air capability like a sunroof. They do take some time to take off and put on. Also need to put them in a case and store them in the vehicle (if weather is iffy or traveling for days). Soft tops provide the quintessential full open-air experience of a Wrangler (made even better with the doors off) and the top is always with you if the weather turns bad.

Hard tops are quieter. Bestop makes a Twilltop soft top (heavier fabric) that is quite a bit quieter than with a stock soft top.

Both tops can be used year round even in extreme cold and in snowy areas. The heater in a Jeep is strong enough to compensate for the lower heat retention with a soft top.

Roof top storage options are available for both hard and soft tops and each have their own list of pros/cons.

The "opinion" part is where things get wild because this boils down to personal preference most often based on how each of us uses our Wranglers or how much one is willing to accommodate the cons of either option to enjoy the pros. Both options have benefits and both have drawbacks. Those who have owned Wranglers before also have the benefit of personal experience to know what will work better for them. First time owners don't have that luxury. Fortunately, I have both tops so didn't have to make this decision!

If I had to pick one, it would be a soft top because the pros outweigh the cons for my use - this is of course purely personal preference, no right/wrong answer. The full open air/doors off experience is a high priority for me and is a great benefit when wheeling (visibility primarily but also keeps damage down to hard top, doors on our heavily wooded trails). During the daily weekday commute, driving in the open-air keeps me in a perpetually great mood as well! Could have had a crappy/stressful day at work but when I hop in the "naked" Wrangler, that cures everything!

Personally, I would be disappointed to have a hardtop on during the incredible summers and Fall here. Again, that is just opinion/preference because there are cons to the soft top. There are lots of folks here who run hard tops year round.

For daily driving, errands, road trips, etc. I can make it work to not have the security - sometimes it is a pain and inconvenience but I can make it work (i.e. if I have my work laptop computer with me but I need to run errands on my way home, I just bring it in to the store with me). There are also after market storage options for theft deterrence if needed/wanted.

I don't have any personal experience with a soft top in the Winter. I do have friends that run soft tops in the Winter so it can be done (they either have no convenient storage or didn't want to spend the money on dual tops).

Like others have said, if you're really on the fence, you probably can't go wrong starting with a hard top. Less financial risk, you might find a storage option later and can then add a soft top. Or, if you find you really don't like the hard top, it is easy to find a used or new soft top and could likely sell your hard top. Either way, you'll still be in a Wrangler and of course that is hard to beat! Good luck!
 
#18 ·
Awesome thank you everyone for your help and input! I'm going to go after the Rubicon hard top and see if it works out. It's a used car that came from Canada, so there's a bit of rust on the underbelly. I'll have it checked out by a mechanic and if all checks out and the carfax is good, I'll give it a shot!

Speaking of, anyone have any experience buying Canadian cars in the US? Anything I should look out for? Or should I avoid it all together? I've heard to look out for them; they're originally on KPH not MPH, so you can't trust the odometer. Also it might not have a full carfax history. Anything else I should be wary of?

Thanks!!
 
#21 ·
OK, so I'm going to throw a monkey wrench in your decision. I also live in CO (Parker) and get your dilemma. My suggestion is solely based on you not having a garage and a place to store your hard top. I, myself got the hard top and then purchased a soft top on Craigslist (you can find amazing deals, just have to be diligent in looking. Found a 2012 soft top for $200 with all hardware!). I have a garage though and a lift to store it for most of the year. I use my soft top almost all year and have it down whenever I can. If it were me in your situation, I would get the soft top. Hard tops are big, clumsy, and not easily stored unless you have a helper. The soft top is so much more versatile (put it up during inclement weather, fold it down during the 300+ days of sunshine that we get every year). Putting a hard top on/off gets old real quick. Furthermore, hard tops aren't any more secure than a soft top. If someone wants to steal your stuff, they will. I would just carry a bag to take your belongings with you when you leave the Jeep. And as for the winter time, get a remote start (Fortin remote start is $100) so you can pre-heat the interior before you get in.

Again, my recommendation is solely based on you not having a garage or place to store. If your situation was different, I would suggest differently. Hope this helps!
 
#22 ·
Ok great thanks for your input! I think I was leaning towards the Hard Top because it's usually a better value (rather than adding a hard top later on). I do have a cousin who lives in Breck that would probably let me store the HT in his shed during the summer, so that helps too. But I kinda agree, a HT feels like it'll be more of a pain in the ass with my situation. But at the same time, being able to brush off the snow and have rear defrosters/wipers during the winter is pretty valuable. It's a tough choice.
 
#23 ·
Well you came to the right place for advice!

First off I too live in Colorado (Golden) AND I've owned 2 Wranglers, an 07 with soft top and now a 2013 with the hard top.

I live up in Coal Creek Canyon, no garage so both get (got) plenty of exposure to the elements.

This is easy, if you don't mind the noise from high winds as your rolling down the highway, get the soft top. The only issue I had with it was about after 5 years of ownership it began to leak, bad. This is to be expected with a soft top parked outdoors year around, it needed to be replaced.

I've been asked several times why I would want a soft top in a state where we get cold weather, sometimes severely cold. Now after owning a Wrangler with a hardtop I found out the interior stayed WARMER with the soft top! The cloth material does a much better job of retaining the heat inside and keeping the cold out.

The hard top does a much better job of conducting heat and cold.

I like the quiet of the hard top but I badly miss throwing down the top at anytime and enjoying the fantastic weather we have here in Colorado.

If I had a garage or a place to store my hardtop, a soft top would be on it right now.
 
#26 ·
just the money aspect get the hard top, i see unlimited soft tops that have never been used all over the denver craigslist for as low as $100 up. i think the cheapest i've seen the hard top for is $1200.

i don't know where you live in an apartment or what but small patio would be good enough to store it or maybe just the side of the house under a tarp. i wouldn't carry it up stairs though.

only other reason for the hard top is i found the soft top kinda chilly in the winter, it just didn't want to hold heat for anything, the summer i put the soft top on and only put it up when it rains, i keep it for more of an emergency top then anything.
 
#27 ·
I bought my Jeep new in 12 with just the hardtop option and I do love it and even though I have the garage space and a hoist it's still a pain to take off, especially if I'm only off work for a day then it doesn't seem worth the hassle so I end up leaving it on. So now I'm looking at buying a soft top for the spring and will run both for 6 months each.

Like I said above it can be a pain to take a hard top off on a regular basis especially in the OP's situation so a soft top would be a better choice but like also stated it's very expensive and hard to find a good used hard top if you find you don't like the soft top all year round. I guess in the OP's situation I would go for the hard top and once I have the jeep then I would start looking for a good used or unused soft top for sale on line and then do what I plan to do and rotate them through out the year.
 
#28 ·
One advantage of the hard top not mentioned yet is that you have several different options for a rack that are less expensive than with a soft top. Do you ski or kayak? Sure, you can fit the skis in the unlimited, but not if you are taking friends and want everyone to be comfortable.
 
#29 ·
When I bought my 14, I went with both hard and soft tops thinking that winter would be best for the hard top and spring, summer and fall for the soft. In summer, I hand wash my Jeep with the soft top, but come winter when it's too damn cold to wash by hand, the hard top allows me to run her through an automatic car wash. We have only a one car garage and my wife hates cleaning snow off her Subaru so the deal we made was she gets the garage all winter and I leave my Jeep outside. When I first proposed putting the hard top in the garage suspended on my home made hoist, she was dead set against it saying she doesn't want to park her car under my hard top. We "discussed" this at great length and knowing that I'm no longer the boss, found an alternative storage place with a 10x10 storage bin could be rented. However, I was able to finally convince her that I could suspend the tops safely above her car and would take full responsibility to repair her car if I screwed up. So the hard top was suspended above her car all summer and now in winter, I have suspended the soft top and keep my Jeep outdoors all the time. For some reason, she seems to always use the garage and I chose not to push my luck... 😄 Driving on the beach or even my daily commute with the soft top down is just fantastic. Love the open air driving and if a summer squall or fast moving thunderstorm pops up as they do in New England summers, the soft top is fast to put up. I have a locking bin under the drivers seat for valuables. Come winter, I switch out the soft for the hard top and although I miss the openness of the soft top, I can always pull the tee tops off on nice winter days. For me, having both tops works and I love the different feel I get from each top during the seasons. I can't wait for spring when I will switch back to the soft top. I'm thinking that the soft top will last longer if it's used only three seasons per year. I have noticed a few older JKs with soft tops used year round and they look pretty ratty. I bought some cleaner, protectant from Bestop that I hope will help preserve the soft top. Having both tops just adds to the enjoyment and this JKU has proven to be the most fun vehicle I have ever owned. Sorry for the rambling post, but I love this site and I love Jeeps... Cheers
 
#33 ·
Sounds like your leaning hard top, you think it's sexier although me personally can't imagine why. You mention its quieter on the highway I think you might be surprised at how quiet the modern softops are. You could look into renting a storage space for your hardtop. Me personally where I live it can be nice most of the day with an afternoon thunderstorm. It's rare to have a week straight with no possibility of rain. So a hardtop was out of the question since I would never take it off until it was older. (My YJ lives outside with no top or doors all summer long) also I just hunker down and try to get through the winter, I will gladly give up any mild inconvenience of not having a rear wiper or easy access in the winter for top off doors off pure joy of the summer. I wasn't going to truely enjoy the winter anyways except those times between the time a heavy snowstorm has come through, and the plow trucks cleared it out.
Nothing in my opinion equals summertime softop enjoyment. Not a quieter ride, not an illusion of better security. Not a rear wiper and a hatchback, and a giant sunroof just doesn't do it for me. (I'll admit I do like the sunrider feature for those short trips.)
If you can swing both tops. Get both, if your looking at buying both eventually get the hard top.
 
#34 ·
I've driven hard tops, had the stock soft top and now have the twill Trektop. Going from stock soft top to temporarily driving a hardtop, yea the difference was pretty noticeable. Definitely quieter, insulation wise it was better but with the heat our jeeps put out its never mattered to me much. Now going to the premium Trektop, I would take the Trektop over anything else any day. It's noticeably quieter actually and the insulation is the same I believe. Get hard top and sell that sucker for a premium super top/Trektop. I'd go super top in your case so you don't sacrifice any storage
 
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