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Trouble putting soft top back on

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soft top
57K views 25 replies 23 participants last post by  Back N Black 
#1 ·
Do people normally ever have trouble putting the soft top back on a 2010 2 door wrangler? I have taken mine off about 4 times now and every time I have had a hard time trying to get it back on. It usually takes me 3 or 4 hours to get it back on.

Right now, I am trying to put it back on now but I cannot do it. I can get either the back snapped back on or the front latched hooked up but not both. I am going to the dealership tomorrow to try to get some help getting it back on. Does anyone have any tips or advice for putting the top back on?
 
#2 ·
Welcome to WF. :wavey:

It usually works best if you attach the front header clips first. Then you can pull down on the rear bow to attach the sail panels. Check out some of the videos on YouTube, you might find them helpful.
 
#4 ·
If you're doing it alone, as most of us do, open the tail gate and stand inside the back of the Jeep. Gently toss the top forward. If you do it just right you can click the sunrider latches in on the first try.
 
#15 ·
I do the exact same thing, open the tailgate, stand on the rear bumper and push the top forward. Sometimes it clips in the sunrider latches but normally I have to keep a hand on it, pushing it forward, step down and walk around and clip it in. Hang the front latches, not close them all the way, pull down on the rear corners in order to slide the sails under the lip. Install the side windows and rear window, then close the latches, done.
 
#5 ·
Really..it is this freaking hard?! YES!

Ok, I have owned a '94, '98 and now 08' Wrangler. I have never had a more difficult time closing my effing soft top than on my latest Jeep acquisition. Granted the want to be Jeep salesmen that I bought my Jeep from didn't know how to take the top down just to the suntop but now I am paying the price because I cannot get it locked back in. Yes I think he unlocked the pins but I still cannot get it back into a lock down.
So tomorrow, I am taking the whole top down and hopefully will fix what the salesman messed up.

:banghead:
 
#7 ·
Gypsywmn said:
Ok, I have owned a '94, '98 and now 08' Wrangler. I have never had a more difficult time closing my effing soft top than on my latest Jeep acquisition. Granted the want to be Jeep salesmen that I bought my Jeep from didn't know how to take the top down just to the suntop but now I am paying the price because I cannot get it locked back in. Yes I think he unlocked the pins but I still cannot get it back into a lock down.
So tomorrow, I am taking the whole top down and hopefully will fix what the salesman messed up.

:banghead:
92 - 2001 -2007

The Jk top is by far the easiest.
Is the first OEM top I have owned. It's stupid easy :)

I lift up on the rear bow sometimes if my clips don't catch throwing it over.
Lift the rear over the front. They should catch.
 
#8 ·
The first time I put mine back on by myself and it was not near as hard as the 2nd time when my husband helped me cause I watched the youtube video like 6 times but he had his own system of doing it which didnt work! But I took my laptop outside and played it step by step the first time i did it and it was pretty easy! Now that I said that my new top for it came yesterday and I have not taken it out of the box yet so I might be cussing my new one when i put it on! Good Luck! But remember when you get really frustrated with it walk away for about 2 minutes and come back it seemed to help me!
 
#10 ·
I was used to the Bestop Supertops on my previous Jeeps where you could always leave the sail panels installed and the windows rolled up easily for on-board storage so I struggled the first couple times with the Sunrider but now it is easy. I still haven't figured out a good system for what to do with the rear window when taking the top down as removing it and storing it in a safe place as the Jeep video suggests is not very practical. The Supertop rear window could be rolled up and held in place with two elastic straps. Not good for the window plastic but it was very convenient. I could also use the Bestop saddle bags on the roll bars because the Supertop didn't connect to the roll bars.

I have to admit though that for both fit and finish the Sunrider is the best top that I have ever had on a Jeep. The first week that I had the Jeep we had some heavy downpours and I did not find any leaks.

I haven't used the sunrider setting yet but it appears to be easy to set up.
 
#11 ·
Right now, I am trying to put it back on now but I cannot do it. I can get either the back snapped back on or the front latched hooked up but not both. I am going to the dealership tomorrow to try to get some help getting it back on. Does anyone have any tips or advice for putting the top back on?
You're not doing something right, it's definitely a process that lasts only a few minutes.

I had a ton of trouble until I realized that I wasn't operating the front latches correctly. I wasn't extending top piece/handle of the latch all the way up before sliding the hooks under the latches. Doing so extends the hooks forward, allowing them to get under the latches easily. So I was thinking that the hooks didn't reach, when in fact I was just doing it wrong.

Once I realized that, it's been a piece of cake ever since. If you click in the latches above the doors into the holes on the metal tube, then you know the front latches are positioned perfectly to be latched in. If you still can't get them on, then you're not operating the latches properly.
 
#12 ·
First I install the door surrounds

I throw the whole top forward, makeing sure the clips are locked in then do the latches. Then I bring the top back and zip in the windows.

I tuck the side window into the door surround, starting from the bottom and working my way up. I've found if you start the door surround higher then pull down as you go up, it goes in easier. Then I install the bottow of the side window, starting from the from then work my way back.

Repeat of the other side.

Now for the rear corners, I've found that if you pull down on the top corner of the top, you can get the corners at least an inch below the channel and it's easier to get the corners in.

Finally I unzip a bit of the back window on both sides and install the tail gate bar.
 
#13 ·
I am so glad i am not the only one who has had this issue, in fact if i don't have a second person to help me put the top back up i won't put the top completely down and just use the sun roof. I have a 2012 2 door JK. I was hoping there was a trick to it that i could use to be able to put the top up on my own which would make so many more opportunities to use my jeep with the top down. This Thread has been very helpful, thank you to all who have posted and made suggestions on how to put the top up, i am hoping these will help me too!! :)
 
#14 ·
2014 JK Sahara 2 door here.

1st time took me about 30 minutes to get the soft top on. Yesterday was the 2nd time I brought it back up, about 15-20 minutes. Mine is new and it's still cold, so very tight. I expect I can do it in well under 10 minutes once I do it a few more times.

Yes, the front latches are tricky when you're not used to them and it seems like they don't reach until you use them correctly so they extend. I have the toughest time with the side windows, getting them to seal at the door and zip correctly.

Robert
 
#16 ·
The op lives in Ohio according to his profile, I would be willing to bet that it isn't better than 70 where he is located. At that temperature the soft top isn't very pliable, and probably needs to sit in the sun or a hot area so that it will soften enough to allow the material to stretch well. I remember the first time I put my top on, it was 75 degrees out and when in pulled the sail panels down it ripped one of the sunrider side clips off of the top frame. After that I let the jeep sit in the sun, loosely latched the header latches ( making sure that the sunrider clips didn't latch) and stretched from the sail panels.

my advice is to heat the top up in the sun and/or turn your heater up full blast to warm the top.

Frogy
 
#17 ·
It helps to get the latches in the front hooked on the metal loop where they attach, but not clamped down until you have the top attached in the back too. If you have trouble attaching the sail panels (I think that's what they are called) in the back corners, push down on the top of the frame at that corner to give the slack you need. Then go back to the front and clamp it down.

If you can't get the sun rider part locked into place (usually my problem), then reach behind the plastic door surround and make sure the piece of the top frame that angles over the door is pressed right up against it. That's usually the problem for me in that spot.

It took me 4 or 5 times before I was quick about it, just keep trying :)
 
#18 ·
For me I latch the top at where the sunrider folds back. Once it clipped there you can then easily clip the front latches until your ready to fully close them. I usually do this prior to tucking the rear sail panels in.
 
#21 ·
if you roll the window up you'll scratch it from the plastic grinding against itself. I just take my windows off and throw them in the garage, separated by the paper that came in the soft top box.

I did buy the window bag from quadratec that is supposed to have cloth sections to separate the windows. Havent even taken it out of the box so cannot comment on it.
 
#22 ·
First couple times I had issues putting the top up. Once it gets stretched and broken in it's a lot easier. As for the windows. Gave up on caring. The rear is scratched up from being rolled up, the sides are scratched up from driving through brush. Meh.
 
#23 ·
There have been some pranks on here lately and at risk of setting myself up here (I find it hard to believe it takes anybody 3-4 hours to put the roof on multiple times without checking Youtube), I will offer earnest advice.

This is a process that should take no more than 5 minutes by yourself. I agree with those who open the back tailgate and stand inside. Guide the sides into the slots where they click into place, I then fully lock the front but some here don't. Then, you simply push down on the top in both rear corners and it easy to put those corner pieces in from the bottom.

The side windows couldn't be easier to put on but sometimes the back can be tricky to get the zipper started. This is the hardest part for me.

I hurried once putting the roof on and didn't click on one of the sides and it was the only time the roof leaked on me. Just be careful that everything is buttoned up the right way. The Youtube videos are helpful.
 
#24 ·
My clips have never caught for me. Lately I have been having issues with it being extremely hard to close the sunrider. It seems like the clips are holding the top in place, but when I attempt to hook the clips to the rail, they don't even come close without some SERIOUS man handling them. Then when they are closed, they don't pull the sunrider all the way to the windshield. I have approximately a 1/2" gap, and hear a lot of wind noise. Why am I having this problem? 2010 2-door, stock top.
 
#25 ·
I had an 89 for a few years and do not remember it being so difficult to put the top up. I was politely reminded that I was 30 then and in better shape. I tried the get in the back and toss it up front and it took me 15 minutes after that.
 
#26 ·
Ha! Try it in your mid 30's, in less than stellar shape, with an ankle that was broken that is healing so you still can't apply any weight to it, two completely broken arms that are still healing, and THEN fold your wheel chair up, throw it in the back, and then hop all the way to the driver seat, and drive off in your MANUAL transmission having Jeep. Yeah, that was fun! Thank God it wasn't lifted! LOL :thumb:
 
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