So, I went to our local dodge dealership after looking into the jeep liberties and seen a awsome jeep wrangler limited. It had chrome front and back bumpers, hard top, kc lights. It wasent the extended one. I do notlike them. It even had side steps. $27000. Not bad really. Here is my question. I dont like the soft tops becuase of the noise and scratches you can get on the windows, not including how easy it is to slice a window and still anything. Here is my question. Since I am not very big, how hard would it be for me to take all this off on a hard top to enjoy it in the summer time? Would I actually need help from someone? Be honest? And how much trouble is it to do all this? Are they safe? Any suggestipns and opinions would be great. Thanks a bunch.

 

stepdad had a 2k1 wrangler. it was a blast to drive and ride in. The soft tops are not that hard to take off if they are warmed up by the sun. If they are cold then it's a bitch to put back on. They are pretty safe. Just use common sense when driving it. I have taken the top off by myself many of times. If you get one make sure you get one with the full doors. What else do you wanna know.

 

Well, i am looking at the hardtops not the softtops. The soft has too much noise and you have to put your fan on just to shove the inside air outward to be quieter. What I would like to know : Is the hard tops heavier? Harder to get off? I am 104 and would be doing this by myself so be hionest if you think I wouldnt be able to do it. For example: Lets say it is summer and it starts to rain and I have to hurry up and get my top back on? Can I do it? How long would it take me if I could? That Purdue Man.

 

The hard tops are made of fiberglass and they have some weight to them. One of my high school friends had the hard top and it took 2 of us to get it on and off because of the size and odd shape that it is in. You won't be able to do it yourself unless you rig up something in your garage so that it suspends the top in the air while you drive off. Also if you buy the jeep make sure you have have one with the 4.0L I-6 and a 5 speed manual. The autos suck and the 4 cyl is crap in the jeep.

 

Man why is it a gal just cant do anything for herself? I dont think I can rig up a suspending type contraption to "grab" the top as I drive off. Oh well. I guess I will have to make some male friends. hehe Thank you for all the information though, it helps me alot to figure out what I really want to do. I like the JL and the JW. So I just dont know which one yet. It takes me a while to think about these things. I dont want the payment, yet I know i can afford it...but.....I like to save my money. thanks again purdue man!

 

my roommate in college had a geo tracker, which i think is a bit smaller than the wrangler, and it had the hard top, also fibergalss. it was fairly heavy, and one of us could get it off, but getting it back on was difficult because it woudl flex as youd try to line it up, so snap it back down.

 

The H/T on the TJ is heavy. You will need at least yourself and someone else to lift it off. If it is to be garaged, you can buy a hoist for the H/T.

I have had open body Jeeps for the past 20 years. Never had I a break-in, softtop or H/T.
I run my Rubicon with 1/2 doors and S/T for 6 months out of the year. I bought a used H/T and full steel doors (had the doors painted) and run this setup in the winter. Most of the summer is spent topless.

HTH

Doug

 

You really can't take the hard top off and on easily. I've got a 99 Wrangler and got the dual top option with it, which I think is the way to go. It's all me and another guy want to do to put it off and on in the spring and fall (3 guys are really needed) and it takes a good 1/2 hr at least depending on how quick you work. The soft top is pretty noisy when up, but you just can't beat a Jeep with the top down for fun. The hard top is nice in the winter, though in cold weather areas (I'm in Chicago)....that's why I like the dual top option.

 

I have a 2003 Sahara with the dual tops. It takes half a football team to remove or install the hardtop. The problem is lifting it. The hardtop is the way to go in the cold though, just get air conditioning. You can't beat topless for the sunny, nice weather though.