[Kadonny]

This will be the first Spring/Summer with my Jeep. So....I'm trying to decide how I want to run it this summer, top wise, so I need help deciding. Here are my conditions:

1. 2010 Unlimited with hard top (no soft top).
2. Jeep is a second vehicle, but I plan to run it a lot in the summer with "the open air feeling" as much as possible and use it for my daily commute.
3. I live in PA, so mornings may be chillier (spring) than afternoons plus I still have to deal with rain/wet weather. Sun does not get Florida hot here.
4. I have a garage, but it's taken up by other cars (wife's car, classic car). The Jeep will be stored outside over night.

So, here is how I look at my options.

Option 1. Buy a Trektop NX, store hard top in garage via hoist (need to install) but I don't really care for the fastback look of the NX while up.
Option 2. Take off hardtop when the day is going to be nice. Use lift in garage but I'll need to jockey cars to get to the lift for removal and replacement. Also could buy a trail cover for temporary cover if rain.
Option 3. Buy a standard soft top.
Option 4. ?

Also, I like to weekend at the beach, so the drive down and back I'd like the same open air but need to worry about storms.

So, do I just take the hard top off/on based on weather for the day/days? With this scenario I have to worry about possibly getting caught in a downpour. Do I bite the bullet (looks wise) and buy the NX, then I pretty much am covered for whatever weather hits me and I still have the open air? Or do I buy a standard soft top and deal with the drawbacks from that (longer to put up/down, higher cost, bulkier) but then I like the look better.

I need some opinions and I need some hints from people who have run topless or open air for years. What wisdom can anyone provide?

Thank you very much!

 

[GearHead71]

I'm biased since I have a Supertop NX but I would recommend it. It's great since in a matter of minutes I can go from the top folded all the way back to top up and windows in. I have a window storage roll that I made from felt to store the windows in the jeep.

To me, it's the best of both worlds. And I don't think it takes any more time to install then the trektop.

 

[Kadonny]

I'm biased since I have a Supertop NX but I would recommend it. It's great since in a matter of minutes I can go from the top folded all the way back to top up and windows in. I have a window storage roll that I made from felt to store the windows in the jeep.

To me, it's the best of both worlds. And I don't think it takes any more time to install then the trektop.

So the Supertop NX is basically a standard soft top made by Bestop.....correct?

 

[GearHead71]

So the Supertop NX is basically a standard soft top made by Bestop.....correct?

Correct. And the Bestop Supertop NX Twill is equivalent to the OEM premium top.

Bestop actually makes the OEM tops as well

 

[Ruby_The_Rubicon]

Hello, my solution to this is- I have a 2014 JKU Rubicon with leather seats. I do not want them to get soaked everytime it rains but I love the top off. What I am planning on doing is buying the Bestop bikini top and the back piece that goes all the way back to the tailgate. So when it's nice outside I can have my top off (leave hardtop in garage in a hoist nearly all summer) then when it is supposed to rain or about to rain then I'll just through the bikini top up and it will keep most if not all the rain out. Hope this helped a little.

 

[Ruby_The_Rubicon]

Hello, my solution to this is- I have a 2014 JKU Rubicon with leather seats. I do not want them to get soaked everytime it rains but I love the top off. What I am planning on doing is buying the Bestop bikini top and the back piece that goes all the way back to the tailgate. So when it's nice outside I can have my top off (leave hardtop in garage in a hoist nearly all summer) then when it is supposed to rain or about to rain then I'll just through the bikini top up and it will keep most if not all the rain out. Hope this helped a little.

Back piece

 

[Ruby_The_Rubicon]

Hello, my solution to this is- I have a 2014 JKU Rubicon with leather seats. I do not want them to get soaked everytime it rains but I love the top off. What I am planning on doing is buying the Bestop bikini top and the back piece that goes all the way back to the tailgate. So when it's nice outside I can have my top off (leave hardtop in garage in a hoist nearly all summer) then when it is supposed to rain or about to rain then I'll just through the bikini top up and it will keep most if not all the rain out. Hope this helped a little.

Full extension piece

 

[mcgee10]

Option #4 take hard top off and leave it off until Oct. That's what I do. Will you get caught in the rain Yes try not to many times.
Our jeep is 100% recreation vehicle.

 

[spinlock]

Regardless of which option you choose you can't go wrong. Tops and doors really bring out the Jeep experience in different ways. You might want to include a mesh top like SpiderWebShade in your budget too. :thumb:

 

[Kadonny]

Good ideas so far. Thanks. Stil thinking......

 

[PublicNuisance]

I'm in the same boat, except mine is my DD. I'm thinking of the quadratec's Bimini Top Plus, Clearview Windstopper & Tonno Cover combo, or Pavement Ends' Sun Cap Plus, Cab Curtain & Cargo Cover Combo

 

[BlueBabySound]

Don't forget you take your freedom tops if you expect rain, just install when needed.

Just shared this pic in another thread earlier. No carpet, backseat down with cargo liner covering it, freedom tops on. No worries. Except for that dang raccoon snooping around.

 

[Kadonny]

Don't forget you take your freedom tops if you expect rain, just install when needed.

Just shared this pic in another thread earlier. No carpet, backseat down with cargo liner covering it, freedom tops on. No worries. Except for that dang raccoon snooping around.

Wow, great idea....never thought of that.

 

[BlueBabySound]

:thumb:

Pic below from the other thread I referred to (H8SPVMT), this tab folds on the panels to keep the bolts from running thru the top.

 

[panthermark]

I did option 3....with a touch of option 1.

I originally purchased a Trektop NX, but I traded it for an OEM premium top. My hardtop hangs in the garage from roughly May 1st through October 31st.

Premium top + Spiderwebshade = awesome!

 

[Godholio]

I'm biased since I have a Supertop NX but I would recommend it. It's great since in a matter of minutes I can go from the top folded all the way back to top up and windows in. I have a window storage roll that I made from felt to store the windows in the jeep.

To me, it's the best of both worlds. And I don't think it takes any more time to install then the trektop.

100% agree.

 

[panthermark]

One more thing...

I cannot stress how awesome Sunrider mode plus the rear window "flopped" is with the premium top.....especially in the 4 door.

It is almost like riding top down, except you can close (and open) everything up in a matter of seconds. Throw in a Spiderwebshade, and it be 100 degrees out with the sun beating everything, but the Jeep will be nice and cool if left out all day in that mode.

On days that it "could" rain...I can basically drive in that mode until rain actually starts hitting my windshield because it only takes a few seconds to close up the Jeep enough to keep all the rain out.
Stop.
Get out and flip the top forward (don't worry about latching it).
Zip up rear window (it is flopped inward, but still attached to the roll bar and partially zipped).
Get back in vehicle.

From the time you get out the time you get back in, we might be talking 8 seconds.

Once you are back in the (dry) vehicle, you can latch the top shut (I also undo the two front parts of the SWS) and get back on your way.

When I park and it "might" rain, I flip the top forward, and zip up the rear window. I don't even latch the top shut. Unless your Jeep will be facing a +30mph headwind that could blow an unlatched top open.....the top will stay shut, and it is closed enough (without being latched) to keep normal rain out.

I've also given up on using the velcro bar straps unless I'm going on a long highway ride AND I remember to use them. (I don't use them any more because I've gone on several highway rides and forgot to use them...and everything was fine).

Throw in a nice armrest cover (I have the Rugged Ridge one), and a few security products (I have the Tuffy underseat lockbox and Tuffy rear security cover) and enjoy the heck out of summer!

 

[Jedi9]

If you don't want to deal with top or doors the entire summer consider a trail cover. I'd also consider some type of roof over it, when the Jeep's in the carport I don't have to worry about getting dew in it

 

[Kadonny]

I'll need brackets and all for the premium top, so that will set me back about $1100 whereas the Trektop NX is in the $650 range. Hmmm.

 

[panthermark]

I'll need brackets and all for the premium top, so that will set me back about $1100 whereas the Trektop NX is in the $650 range. Hmmm.

Yeah, they are indeed more expensive.

One word....Craigslist!

Ok...more than once source. Check the forum classifieds as well.

I purchased a Trektop NX and never opened it. I was on another forum discussing tops when someone sent me a PM and asked me if I wanted to trade my unopened Trektop for his unopened Premium top. Hells yeah! I even threw in $100 bucks because I felt like it was such an unfair deal.

Basically, a lot of people buy Jeeps off the lot with Dual tops, but they never use the soft top, so they sell them. Just make sure you get the brackets and the boxes from them. In the end I paid a total of $750 for my Premium Top. I think I got my Trektop NX from Bestop Outlet for around $650 shipped during a St Patrick's day sale a few years ago.