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Winters coming, and i dont have a good top!

3K views 52 replies 20 participants last post by  WaterDR 
#1 ·
Just bought my 97 TJ last Friday, and the soft top it came with was in poor condition. The worst part is a 12" rip over the passenger door. Most of the zippers are in bad condition.

I have bought some stuff to try and temporarily mend the hole together, but still need input. Thanks to the Morris 4x4, I found that I still have the stock soft top hardware.

So here is my question. After I recently decided that I plan to keep the jeep for the long run, which top should I get? I couldn't find any hard tops with in a decent price range/location. So I'm thinking about going with the sailcloth replace-a-top. The best deal I could find with tinted windows and upper door covers was $660 after 10% off. Does anyone know of a better deal out there?

Thanks!
Rpkittle
 
#2 ·
That sounds expensive, I bought the supertop nx that had all of the hardware included for $610 delivered from Amazon. ( But I have full doors)
If the price is that close, I'd just buy the whole thing and have new hardware instead of 15 yr old stuff. It comes with tinted windows, and the top includes their sunroof option
 
#3 ·
Thanks shoe.

So what I can tell is that I need new upper doors either way. If I got the supertopnx, which sounds very nice, I would have to also buy upper door skins which cost an additional $230. Maybe I'm wrong, but still seems like the sailcloth replace a top is a better choice.

How different is the sailcloth compared to the original replace-a-top? Also what common things break on the hardware? Maybe mine is still in good condition?
 
#7 ·
I just replaced my factory softop with the pavement ends replace a top a few weeks ago. Got it from morris 4x4 shipped for 300 and some change with the tinted windows. Took about 20 min to put on with the factory hardware and the fit and finish is excellent. I couldn't be happier.
 
#10 ·
This might be a winner! whats the quality like?

For this option: Tinted windows and upper door skins: total is $348.19
That's using the "wranforum" coupon code after shipping. I'm going to look up reviews on this top.

EDIT: on amazon for $326 with free two day shipping for prime members like girl friend =)
 
#9 ·
Here is what I'm looking at with today's pricing:
1) Rampage setup: $588 after shipping from Quadratec

2) Sailcloth replace a top with tinted windows and door skins: $660 with coupon code and free shipping from Morris 4x4

3)Supertop NX w/ bestop upper door skins: $939 with free shipping from morris 4x4

I'm starting to think ill just do my best at repairing what I have, and see how long it will last. Is there a certain time of year that tops go on sale? Say maybe the holiday season?
 
#15 ·
Looks good! I don't think you can beat the price. I've read some reviews on JCWhitney and it seems to be pretty decent. Hows the fit? is it pretty snug? I've read a few complaints that its pretty loose on some models and causes more wind noise. I think that was mainly yj's though.
 
#17 ·
It fits really snug and tight.......I have no complaints....I've had on the highway several times and the wind noise is no more than the factory top when it was in good shape....I posted several pics but I guess only one loaded....oh well...hope it helps
 
#20 ·
That's really good to hear! You have me convinced. I think I'm going to order one tomorrow morning. Now I have to decided which color I want. My jeep is the dark green which originally had the spice top as seen in IrieBlue's pic. I thinking you can't go wrong with black. =)

We've had our Jeep since August and it had a new Pavement Ends top put on by the seller. Fits tight, looks good. Seems to be decent quality too.

Only problem is I don't know what color it is, Spice or Dark Tan :)
Looks like the same color as on my current top. I would say its spice =) In my mind, Spice is more brown than the dark tan color.
 
#22 ·
Rpkittle said:
That's really good to hear! You have me convinced. I think I'm going to order one tomorrow morning. Now I have to decided which color I want. My jeep is the dark green which originally had the spice top as seen in IrieBlue's pic. I thinking you can't go wrong with black. =)

Looks like the same color as on my current top. I would say its spice =) In my mind, Spice is more brown than the dark tan color.
VIN said it came with Dark Tan. Everything is Spice now. They are so close it's hard to tell...
 
#30 ·
Hard top is a waste of money IMO. And if your jeep didn't come from the factory with a hard top you would also have to get an install kit to make the rear defroster, wiper, and fluid operational.

Both are equally warm with the heater on and both are equally cold when they've been sitting overnight.
 
#31 ·
Good to know! Thanks for the advice. And I'm hoping to be moving to Texas next summer, so I really only have one more bitter cold winter in Ohio. I think it would be better to just get the soft top, as I don't think i'll ever use a hard top in Texas.
 
#32 ·
I'm in Ohio...a soft top will be just fine. Our heaters work amazing (and if yours doesn't, something is wrong) so you won't get cold. Just be gentle on the windows on cold days. I hear it's easy to punch holes in them so don't do that. lol

Hard tops are nice...reduced wind noise, no worries about broken zippers, rips, or hazy windows...but unless you always have a second person around...driving topless is a lot more difficult especially when one day it's bright and sunny and the next it's going to rain all day (such as it is here in Ohio). With a soft top...when it's sunny, top goes down. When it's going to rain, top goes up (I don't usually bother with the windows...I just don't like my DD getting POURED in--a little water coming in never killed me though).
 
#33 ·
Thanks for the info! I'm going to take your advice and skip on the hard top. I live near Cleveland, so i do get a lot of lake effect. And I know what you mean about the Ohio weather lol. I'm going to try and find that deal on amazon and order right away!
 
#34 ·
I'm in the Texas panhandle as far north in texas as u can get....we do get a little winter weather here but nothing like up north....and the further south you get the warmer the winters are.....we only get about one or two good snows here a year and its usually gone in a couple of days.....in some parts of the state down south u can run topless almost year round
 
#35 ·
Good to know. I'm planning to move to Austin area, so I've heard they get almost nothing. Up here in Ohio is a different story. I first moved here 7 years ago this October, and it was only three days of living here I saw my first snow. It was 14 inches of snow on October 5th of 2004. Boy was I freaking out! lol
 
#38 ·
Double_Trouble said:
I like the hardtop as an option. I guess it depends - is this your daily driver or a toy?

Mine didn't come stock with a Hardtop, so I don't have the wiper hooked up and there is no defroster. It's a heck of a lot easier to scrape the glass windows.

YMMV
It's going to be my daily driver as soon as I sell my other car. Is it rough on the soft top to use a brush to wipe of snow? They seem to be pretty fragile
 
#40 ·
craigslist always seems to have good deals on soft tops.i had my hard top on for last winter but i dont think i am gonna even bother putting it on this winter.i may just sell it if i dont use it this winter.if your going to buy new,i would look into the rampage bowless soft top.
 
#41 ·
I am in dallas Texas, I have a safari top on mine. I have had my soft top off since March and I won't be putting it back on until December. Only time the doors are on is when it is raining. In Austin you will do about the same. Make sure to get a Safari or a Bikini top. Even if you do a build it your self mesh top using solar screen. Trust me no top when it is 105 to 110 out side can suck even with doors off. Our winter driving is much different than Ohio. I know you are used to snow but down here we rarely get actual snow. When we do get precipitation in the winter it is in the form of rain, freezing rain, and sleet. The roads are quite flat and with a good ice storm it can turn the entire city (not just a couple of streets) into one big sheet of ice smooth enough that hockey players and figure skaters complain about how rough the rink is. While it can be fun it can also take a block and half to stop sliding from 20 MPH
 
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