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Soft Top Rear Window Question

19K views 28 replies 16 participants last post by  New2012JEEP 
#1 ·
Hi everybody!

1st time poster here. I've had 2 Wranglers previously: a 1997 and a 2001. After an ill-advised Grand Prix purchase, I've returned to the Wrangler family with my 2009. I bought it last October but, as I live in chilly Ohio, last weekend was my first opportunity to drop the top.

In my previous Wranglers, there were elastic straps mounted above the rear window that would allow you to roll the window up and snap it into a cylinder, which would fit neatly below the folded down top. I discovered that the 2009 not only doesn't have these straps- there are no snaps on the outside of the top, so even if I purchased the straps there's no way to secure the rolled up top!

My question, then, is this: what do you do with the rear window when you want to drop the top down? Rolling it up by hand doesn't work- it's sloppy and I'm afraid the window will get permanently dented/ripped by the weight of the top on it. Is my only alternative removing the rear window completely, like I do with the sides? I hope not, because taking the rear window in and out is a real pain in the butt...

Thanks for any help!!
 
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#2 ·
I can relate.... my 02 Wrangler didn't have them that I recall and my 07 Ultimate doesn't either... interested in the answer! I just usually take windows off and leave in garage when I intend on taking top off.... if I get rain, I just put top up and roll up side windows so at least the seats stay dry!
 
#3 ·
I'm considering putting my own straps in, and making it look like the Jeeps I used to own. There are snaps already mounted on the inside of the top, just not on the outside- I imagine I could come up with a strap with a snap on one end & velcro or something on the other, just to hold the rolled up window in place until the top comes down... I wouldn't mind it so much, but taking out the rear window & reinstalling is a pain in the butt!
 
#4 ·
that is odd that they took that option off in 2009's as my 2008 has the snaps on the inside top of the rear. I just snapped my windows in today, wonder why they would take that option away?
 
#5 ·
The snaps and elastic bands are an accessory that the dealer should have given you. There would have been two bands with velcro for the freedom soft top (not sure if I'm naming it correctly, i.e. moon roof) and two bands with snaps for holding the rear window up. The snaps are on the bands themselves.

I have never used these as I was told they will cause lines in your rear window from them rubbing on the elastic. However, that is to keep it open while driving. It may work well to do this prior to talking down the entire soft top so you don't have to completely remove the rear window.

Another option is to buy a Window Storage Bag and store it underneath the soft top or some even attach to the roll bars on top of the soft top when it is in the down position.
 
#6 ·
^ What he said- check your glove compartment :) Plan B is unzipping the window all the way and letting it hang down into the rear cargo area. Plan C is, as stated, just removing it. I store ours right behind the back seat if I think it might rain, right next to the sides :) Mark W.
 
#7 ·
I had a long time to think about putting mine up the first year because I bought it in October and didn't actually put it together until August the next year because I was having problems with the hard top leaking and wanted the dealer to work on it until it was solved. When they put me into the vehicle buy back program, they said I may as well try out the soft top before the new vehicle arrived. During the long wait to use the soft top I read in the directions that a set of straps were required to secure the top and rear window and I think it named the part number in the owner's manual. I bought a set in anticipation. Then I found a set included in the top. Now I have two sets. I use both sets when I temporarily lose one in the car.

Anyway, I have used the straps to put the rear window up when I use the sunrider (the front half open). There are two snaps on the rear bow that the loops snap to and the window rolls up and the loops hold it up there. I never thought of rolling it up and opening the whole top. So far I have been putting them on the back seat. I may try that. Thanks for the clue as I had none. :punk:
 
#11 ·
BeerMonkeY,

You said no straps with snaps but what about the snaps on the rear bow? Are they up there? If they are then all you have to do to use them is invest about 4 bucks :). P/N should be in the OM.

jk'n
 
#12 ·
I find the loops especially useful when loading things in the back and just temporarily need to roll the window up.
 
#13 ·
Dealer told me to remove the window and not roll it up to prevent damage. Mine is an '09 and I have not found any straps. I did find two grey circle things with threaded rods coming out of them today...have no idea what they are for....I should probably watch the Jeep DVD that came with my Jeep.
 
#17 ·
Well...here is my take on the storage bags: When my jeep was new I bought the mopar bag for the freedom top and have been using it religiously. They store strapped in behind the rear seats and don't flop around. Now that the hard top is off I store them in the bag in the garage. I have been since reading in various threads people lamenting about how to paint the top to cover up the scratches in their tops. I think to myself, maybe the 80 bucks I spent on the storage bag was worth it.

I have now been dealing with the windows for a while and can see that if not stored right, can cause scratches and dents and ripples that will eventually make the jeep look a little unkempt. So, today I sprung the $108 for the Mopar window storage bag. I will post my opinion on it once I start using it. I pick it up later today.

Making your own is certainly an option. When you invest in the materials, the time to design and assemble it you may or may not arrive at something just as useful as the one designed for the purpose. I'd rather spend that time driving the jeep with the windows still looking shiny new. I'm sure there are as many opinions out there as there are days in a year about this. If you have the dollars, just get what you need/want to make the ride more comfy.

I am not a neat freak or anything but I gotta say that this jeep of mine has already gotten more of my attention than any other vehicle that I have owned all put together. I'll leave a coat of mud on it for a while but I also get a kick out of showing off the plastic coat too. :D You might say it's like a doctor Jeckle and Mr. Hyde dual personality type situation. I have to confess that I tried out the Turtle Wax Ice quick spray and clean detailer on it tonight and the Jeeper next door chucked at me and said "you got it bad".:rofl:

One last note: my jeep dealer sells mopar parts at a reasonable price. Every accessory I have priced or bought so far they have been slightly better than the on line price and no shipping...just pick it up at the dealer. 4WD.com had it for around $119 plus s&h. Dealer price delivered is $108.
 
#19 ·
some have used the Quadratec Clover Patch which rolls in the back of the Jeep, so I figured why not buy some blankets and roll them myself to sit on the floor. I now wonder if rolling them will somehow cause the windows to lose structure over time and wrinkle because of not sitting flat? The thing I liked about the Mopar Bag is that the windows sit flat..
 
#22 ·
I got the mopar storage bag. I've used it a few times. So far, my opinion is that it is easy to use. It appears well put together. I am happy with the purchase. Could they sell it cheaper? Possibly. I'm thinking the materials all put together don't look worth 108.00 however, that being said, I wouldn't want to put one together myself and so considering the purpose, for me, the money was well spent.

I have rolled the bag up after putting the windows in it as the directions state. I haven't noticed any detrimental effects on the windows from rolling them up in the bag. After rolling up the bag, there are straps that are built into the bag that secure the roll. Two clips on the bag secure the bag to the two metal loops in the storage area at the base of the rear seats. When placing the windows in the bag, there are sheets of nonwoven material that go between the windows. The nonwoven sheets are secured on the edge of the bag that is opposite the zippered side. Placing the windows into the bag was pretty easy and rolling was easy also. My first impression is favorable. If you have the money and are looking for an easy to use storage method for the windows that protects them from scratches and damage, I would buy it.
 
#29 ·
fwiw, the first time I rolled up my window, it actually did crease. Just a warning. I would take out the tailgate bar if you roll it up, which ends up just being a pain in the ass, back to square one again.
 
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