It works best on the early models without the tailgate vent. I can't tell a difference on the 06.
Noise level if swapping hard top for soft?
- Thread starter nitrofalcon
- Start date
It works best on the early models without the tailgate vent. I can't tell a difference on the 06.
Soft top with soft uppers > soft top with hard doors > hard top and doors >>> literally any other modern vehicle
Thanks. Almost forgot! I have these little springy doohickies I use on the 01 tj. It'll come handy with the 03.
I was actually wondering. What's the tailgate vent for? My 03 has it but the 01 doesn't.
My wild ass guess is that if you put a soft top on your 03 that it will sound pretty much exactly like your 01 with the soft top.
I may be wrong, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
I may be wrong, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
Hard tops used to have the vents on the left and right sides. They removed the vents from the tops and moved it to the tailgates. The vents let the air out when you close the doors or use the heat/AC with a hard top.
Not necessary on a flexible, leaky soft top.
pretty much all vehicles have a vent, usually it's hidden behind the bumper cover. I'm sure the HVAC fan has to do with it. Jeep originally only thought hard tops needed them and they were in the hard top. At some point they moved them to the gate.
Those vents are what cause the thumping noise when you roll down the back windows to alert you your kid could climb out the window. Standard equipment on all vehicles now.
I guess it is easier to require people get headaches rather than supervise their kids.
We had both tops on a 04 , first a soft then a hard , to be honest HVAC and sound weren't my issue with the soft top . But try commuting on dirt road in the Rockies and you can't ever see out the side quarter or rear windows. The UV eats the Bestop plastic windows fast. The try to open or close the rear zipper in the winter , If you get it open you won't close it again till summer. We got a hardtop and never looked back.
all good points. All my soft tops have lived in insulated garages that never really got below 40 and no UV unless being driven. I wouldn't even consider running a soft top on one that was kept outdoors.
Man, that does sound like a bummer. Those rear zippers are a pain in cold weather.
Another reason why I'll keep the hard top on the 03, since it sits outside. The 01 with the soft top ontheotherhand is always snuggled up in the garage!
I date back to the cj days . We envied hard top guys ….it was a pretty big deal to have one.
I like every TJ top configuration and have most combos- soft upper doors is my least favorite, but the portability of them is cool.
Because I like the top down a lot, full doors and soft top is my go to set up til late spring/ summer, then it’s topless /doorless or half doors and topless or bikini.
Wheeling a hard top is just asking to damage it…. They really are nice otherwise.
I like every TJ top configuration and have most combos- soft upper doors is my least favorite, but the portability of them is cool.
Because I like the top down a lot, full doors and soft top is my go to set up til late spring/ summer, then it’s topless /doorless or half doors and topless or bikini.
Wheeling a hard top is just asking to damage it…. They really are nice otherwise.
Never had any issues with any soft tops or the zippers. Outside all year. Maybe the 98% humidity helps preserve the tops in the summer. 
p.s. My top was over 12 years old when I replaced it 3 years ago. I keep the zippers clean and lubed, so they work smooth in all weather conditions.
p.s. My top was over 12 years old when I replaced it 3 years ago. I keep the zippers clean and lubed, so they work smooth in all weather conditions.
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Never had any issues with any soft tops or the zippers. Outside all year. Maybe the 98% humidity helps preserve the tops in the summer.
p.s. My top was over 12 years old when I replaced it 3 years ago. I keep the zippers clean and lubed, so they work smooth in all weather conditions.
View attachment 547899
I used that crap all the time ! You don't commute on dirt roads do you ?
Never had any issues with any soft tops or the zippers. Outside all year. Maybe the 98% humidity helps preserve the tops in the summer.
p.s. My top was over 12 years old when I replaced it 3 years ago. I keep the zippers clean and lubed, so they work smooth in all weather conditions.
View attachment 547899
1/3 the price with a colorful label.
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