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Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - buy Softop or Not

3K views 45 replies 36 participants last post by  HulaPie 
#1 ·
Ok so we are going to pickup a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited tomorrow - only one around us has both the Hard Top and Soft Top. We don't plan on using the soft top really - but being this is our first Jeep not sure. Should we keep both tops or sell the soft top to the dealer??

they said if they keep the Soft top it would drop price by $700. $700 seems cheap to me for a soft top - our question to you - is it worth keeping at that price? anything special I have to do for storage if we keep it but don't use it (keep in cool basement or non heated Ohio garage??)

thoughts opinions and suggestions welcomed
 
#3 ·
If it is your first jeep, get the soft top and experience it first hand. Nothing better than going topless and doorless in my opinion. If you like it keep, otherwise you can probably sell it lightly used for about the same amount you paid for it online.

Shouldn't be any storage issues.
 
#6 ·
I have both soft and hard top and love them both. It doesn't sound like that amount of money or storage is an issue for you so perhaps do as the other member suggested and keep the soft top too. It's awesome riding around with the top down and easy to put up when needed.
 
#9 ·
I bought my Jeep with dual tops and the hard top was on for all of one day. (It sat around for several months before I convinced the wife I'd never use it again and sold it via craigslist.) I simply can't imagine no soft top.
 
#11 ·
I agree the soft top is great in the summer. I live in Ohio as well. I hang the soft top up in the garage for the winter and never had an issue with storing it cold. I run the hard top all winter till about mid April and then hang up the doors and hard top. I couldn't imagine not having the soft top. It's so much nicer than the old ones were on my YJ. Hard top goes back on mid October.
 
#12 ·
I live in central pa, snow country, and only have a soft top and half doors on my willys. They have very good heaters and was never cold at all last winter. Usually the snow blows off once you start moving. I sell the hard top and yes they leak too. Storing the hard top seems like a pain. I got a quality cover from jeepcovers.com and keep an eye out for thunderstorms. And if you go topless, you will get rained on. It happens.
 
#14 ·
Keep the soft top. You'll be glad you did.

I only have a hard top. I use my JKU daily ranging from 0-200 miles a day, city traffic (LA) to long highway runs depending on my project needs.

I never considered a soft top, figuring I needed the security, comfort and convince of the hard top.

Now I find myself looking for schedule breaks long enough to pull the top, I never will unless I have another vehicle or a soft top for back up.
 
#16 ·
I was originally looking for only a hard top and adding an aftermarket soft top 2 months ago.

The dealer found what I was looking for option wise with a dual top group option...and I pulled the trigger and bought it thinking I would sell the premium soft top. Then I thought, I will try it out.

Today...I could not see it any other way. I use the sunrider all the time and doorless most weekends.
 
#18 ·
Bought my JK with hard top and never had any intentions of getting a soft top. Finally caved in this spring and got one. Should have been the first thing I bought because it makes Jeeping so much more fun in the summer.Keep both.Run the hard top in the winter and soft for the summer.
 
#19 ·
I loved my soft top until I went outside to grab my sunglasses from my car tonight.

Automotive tire Tire Vehicle Car Automotive exterior


Why people, why!! It has a zipper for a reason!!! If you wanted to steal my 10 dollar sunglasses, just unzip the DAMN ZIPPER!!

In summary, don't buy a soft top in a big city.
 
#32 ·
I loved my soft top until I went outside to grab my sunglasses from my car tonight.

Why people, why!! It has a zipper for a reason!!! If you wanted to steal my 10 dollar sunglasses, just unzip the DAMN ZIPPER!!

In summary, don't buy a soft top in a big city.
Sorry bud that sucks. The only time I lock the doors on my jeep is when I go from the liquor store to the grocery store. It's parked in my driveway overnight and I have yet to have a problem. It probably helps having a Sheriff's vehicle parked next door.
 
#21 ·
Exactly, they are both nice to have, although I didn't order the soft for my 2016, currently no place to store the hard top, and seasons almost over. I will have one by next summer, the freedom of dropping the top is priceless.
 
#22 ·
The wife bought a new Wrangler back in 2013. She had to have a hard top, because "it looks better." I tried to tell her that if she wanted to have the top down/off, a hard top is way to hard to do....a soft top is where its at. She failed to listen to me, among other buying issues as well, and 6 months later she traded it back in to the dealer. For a small female and then myself, it was almost impossible to take the hard top off and put it back on.

When I had the dealer locate my 2015 Wrangler, one of my non-negotiable's was that it be a soft top. My '98 Wrangler was a soft top as well, and even living in NE Ohio I never had an issue. In fact, the best heaters Ive ever had have been in Jeeps.
 
#24 ·
I bought a JKU about a month ago and was dead set on getting a soft top. I live in Missouri, so the weather changes by the minute. I wanted the ability to put my top on if there was a pop up shower and take it down once it cleared up. The dealership I went to didn't have a soft top in stock at the time I test drove the Jeep and immidiatly I knew I had changed my mind and wanted the hard top. To make sure, I went to another local Jeep dealership and test drove a JKU with a premium soft top and I still had to have the hard top.

Since I've made the purchase I put in the Harken Hoister in my garage and don't think twice about taking the top on or off.

The other day my JKU was naked and I was watching the weather forecast for the next day. They said showers most of the day, so I went out into my garage to put everything on at 11:09PM. After putting the doors on, top on and bolting everything down I walked back inside at 11:21PM.
 
#29 ·
Make sure you know where the drain plugs are you are going to need them lol.
I dont have any fancy hoist ect and me and my wife can pull my hard top and doors in 20 minutes. But with the soft top I dont worry about the rain anymore. Top down and rain comes just pull over and pop it up. No more days wishing I had top off but afraid it might rain.
 
#26 ·
So if you get both tops and don't sell the soft top to the dealer, send me a PM. I just bought a new Unlimited today and am planning on buying a soft top.
 
#27 ·
Soft top. I got mine with the hard top. Taking it on and off was a bi&$h. Got the soft top 4 months later. I use it all summer long. Put the hard top on in the winter. I figure it will prolong the life of the Soft top. If I could only pick one it would be the soft top.
 
#28 ·
I'll be picking up my new 2016 Hard Rock from Brunswick Auto Mart near Cleveland, Ohio, sometime this month and may be interested in purchasing your soft top, if you're interested in selling it to a fellow Jeeper.

Thank You!!!
 
#33 ·
I've posted this elsewhere... but I just got a 2015 Unlimited as well.

Get both tops. I'm in Ohio as well, I took the hard top off (With the aid of a neighbor) and absolutely love the soft top. I use it everyday if there's not rain falling. it's easy to put it back / down and I often go home or go to work with the top down, even when it's forecast-ed to rain later in the day.

I built a hard top cart and store it in my garage, it does take up some room, but on the cart it's much less (Stores upright). I plan to use the hardtop in the winter. Prior to purchase, I asked several Wrangler Owners here in central Ohio, and they all got the dual top....

The hard top only opens up over the front passengers. A major deciding factor for me was the fun the kids would have in the back with the soft top. (Hence the Unlimited).:iamhappy:
 
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