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what is better hard or soft top

3K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  Pylonpounder 
#1 ·
i recently baught a jeep with a hard top on it what is better a hard top or soft top... im thinking of getting a soft top and getting rid of the hard top... or would that be a mistake...especially when winter rolls around again
 
#4 ·
I would personally not recommend selling your hardtop so soon after getting the Jeep. Wait a few seasons to make up your mind. Especially if you've got a place to store the hardtop. This is a harder decision if you're an apartment dweller.

There are a lot of people here who run soft tops year round, and a lot of people who think using the hardtop in the winter is the smart move.

Another option for you is to get a Bikini top for summer time. Way less complicated, way less expensive than a full soft top; you still get sun shade and some level of protection from weather.

(yes, we sell these, so this is marketing, but it's still true :rolleyes::)
 
#6 ·
I really wanted a hard top when I bought my Jeep a couple of years ago and it was the only option that my Rubi didn't have. In hindsight, I'm glad that I only got the soft top as it's a better option for me. The soft top isn't all that noisy and it does a good job of sealing in the heat (at least enough here in SoCal) and keeping the elements out. The hard tops are big, bulky, and expensive . . . too big to remove by yourself, a PITA to store, and too expensive to take out on the trail where it might get damaged. I really didn't think I'd like the soft top, but after a couple of years, I'm very happy with it. I'm probably going to look into a Viking top when my stocker wears out.
 
#7 ·
i agree with geoff i wouldnt rush into selling the hard top just yet.

used ones arent always the easiest thing to find and new ones cost way too much, i think 2000ish.

if you like taking your top off alot, then i would look at getting a soft top.

i personally love my soft top. when ever i 1st got my jeep i thought i would hate it, so i went and bought a used hard top and full doors but i ended up selling them after about a month. i just like taking my top off too much and its too hard to take it off and on with a hard top.
 
#8 ·
Ok, I bought my jeep with a hard top. Went to the badlands busted out the rear window, which was goin to cost me $800, never fixed it and i still have it in my garage. I bought a soft top off of ebay for $400 and have enjoyed it since then. it wont cost much to replace parts on a soft top and the ease of taking it off is great. Get one, but don't sell the hard top. its useful in the winter.
 
#9 ·
I only have a soft top and i love it. During the winter the plastic seals in all of the heat so the inside isnt that cold. It takes about 10 minutes to take it off/ put it on, i bought a black supertop with tinted windows a couple days ago and i love it.
 
#10 ·
i took mine off after first year. too much weight. gas milage is better and sunny days are much nicer with the top down. the hard top also made me a bit clostraphobic. it's much easier to exit a top down yj than a hard top one.
 
#11 ·
Keep the hardtop, You may want it... but I say try out a soft top. I love mine. I could never deal with having a hard top..it just isn't jeep to me. I've had my top down 4 days in a row now, and that wouldn't be possible with a hard top. Plus if you do it right, you can even get the stock one to fold behind the third brake light nicely and stay there while you drive around, so you can put it back up quickly (ish) for rain. I run mine year round without any problems. The last time I put it back on back in the fall I didn't do it quite right so there were lots of gaps and stuff to let the heat out, and I still ended up turning the heat down most times. And now that it's warm I finally got to fixing it, so it really heats up and stores heat now.
 
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