Getting ready to switch out the soft top for the hard top. What's the best way to store the soft top and windows for an unlimited? Store them flat, roll them? What's the best way to clean the soft top before I take it off to store it? I know it's a little early, but I want to be prepared.
I use a product by PRO C49 and a scrub brush.
It's an upholstery cleaner, professional grade, concentrated (mix 5pts water -1pt soap) used by automotive shops like body shops.
Then to make it pretty (tires & interior too!) I use their Premo dressing.
You can buy PRO products by the gallon. If you look on their site you may find a distributor in your area. If not then maybe purchase online. A gallon of either will last for YEARS
Make sure any chemicals you use are safe for use on vinyl.
The top fabric is pretty tough, and it won't really care if you fold carefully, etc. Avoid moisture and mold, though.
The windows though, should be treated extra nicely. I'd stack them with clean towels between them, and put them somewhere where things won't poke them.
Geoff, the C49 is an interior cleaner designed for leather and vinyl upholstery. I've used it for ... umm.. (at least 20) years and on all of my convertible tops (two cars, now the Jeep) and it's never given me any trouble. Makes a great all purpose cleaner in the house too and NO PERFUMES!
The dressing is a water base, not petroleum, so it should be just fine too.
Just remember to use it very sparingly, and it works especially well if you MIST it lightly onto a wet surface and then wipe the excess moisture off with a damp cloth. I prefer micro fiber. If you're doing your interior, use a damp cloth and spray the cloth, not the dash. It makes a soft glow not a slick shiny surface. Hmm... Maybe tomorrow I'll do a demonstration pic so you can see the results.
I wouldn't recommend that you use either on the windows though. Like Geoff says, you have to be gentle with them. I don't know if it would hurt, but if I said to do it and it messed something up, I'd feel just terrible.
I've used the dressing on the windows once or twice, it has a tendency to streak some. I prefer to just wash them well and use Lemon Pledge on them.
Don't know if that's right, but it seems to be working OK for me.
Geoff, is there something that you can recommend to put on the windows to hide the micro scratches and keep them pretty?
This is timely information for me as well. I have the black boot that Chrysler shipped mine in (dual top) so I plan on storing it in the open with the boot on it. As for the windows, my 1/4s are rolled around a ~4" cardboard tube with towels around them most of the time. Will that be ok for winter storage or do I need to lay them flat. (Like under a bed in the house?)
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to clip the windows to and hang them like an article of clothing. Keeps them up out of the way and we don't worry about scratching the plastic or having creases develop.
We use a product where I work called PLEXUS for vinyl windows. It was made for the aircraft industry and it works GREAT! It will clean and polish your windows better than anything else I've found.
If its possible, keep your windows indoors where its heated. Cold vinyl will sometimes crack if you have to move it.
We use a product where I work called PLEXUS for vinyl windows. It was made for the aircraft industry and it works GREAT! It will clean and polish your windows better than anything else I've found.
If its possible, keep your windows indoors where its heated. Cold vinyl will sometimes crack if you have to move it.
For the top I took some L brackets and a piece of 1x4 to make a hanger in my garage like the one they sell at Quadratec. I know it's for a TJ, but I'm sure it could be modified for your application.
For the windows, I just put them back in their original box.
Putting it away already? Gez I'm about to put mine on. I can't stand this Texas heat so hard top and ac is for the summer. So while I had my soft top I just layed it flat ontop of some boxes.
I have a 2-door, so a little bit different than you 4-door'ers, but not too much. Anyway, here's what I do...
I don't use anything special to clean the soft top. I either take it to the carwash or just hose it down at home. At the very least, wipe the windows down with a wet paper towel. The important thing is to get the dirt off the windows to prevent them from scratching when stored.
I use one of those roll-up window storage duffels and roll the windows up in it loosely.
I have the soft top boot, so I just zip the top up in there and store it in there. I also put the tail gate bar the the two clips in the boot to keep all that together.
I unscrew and remove the arms of the soft top frame, and store those in a medium size duffel bag. I also put the window storage duffel and the door surrounds in the duffel bag.
I store the soft top (inside the boot) and the duffel bag somewhere in the garage. When the time comes to put it back on, everything I need is right there in one of those two items.
Sounds exactly right. I wasn't trying to suggest your cleaner was wrong - I was trying to suggest that there are tons of good products out there, and I don't know about them all. But if it's designed for vinyl, you're good to go.
At the very least, wipe the windows down with a wet paper towel. The important thing is to get the dirt off the windows to prevent them from scratching when stored.
Removing the dirt - yes, that's essential. Be careful with paper towels though. Some are rough enough to scratch the windows. I doubt a wet one would do that, but I'd recommend soft cloth anyway.
We use a product where I work called PLEXUS for vinyl windows.
There are a couple of different products like this, and I've heard good things about them. I'd just remind people that it's for repairing scratches, not for day-to-day cleaning.
I made my storage system for under 30 dollars. It was super easy to do. If you want to check it out I made a video. I hope it helps!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G59evshUJRg
I keep mine on the Jeep.
4th Jeep all previous ones came with soft top only. This one had both.
Never had a hard time with soft top during winter.
Keeping the Hard top just in case.
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