Have I already defeated my own TJ purpose?

Fishtaco

TJ Expert
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So ok I wanted a TJ I wanted in order White yellow or red, I wanted half doors and a soft top but I listened to way too many other jeep owners and ended up buying one with a hard top that everyone wants and full doors that everyone wants (its also black) because hard tops are better and full doors are better.

I have the original soft top but once you have the hard top on the soft top is really just a pain in the ass!

I am thinking I will sell the hard top (no storage space ) sell the full doors and buy half doors and get a frameless soft top.

What do you think? I would keep all the original parts but I live very close to a CBD and space is limited plus

We cant legally road run door less or tube door in OZ.

Feels like i have defeated the purpose why I wanted one for which is open top versatility!

I used to have an FJ40 and always wanted to change to half doors but it was a cut job and soft tops have to be tailor made, with the jeep the parts are all available and interchangeable.

I live with close to FL or CA weather only more clear days with a very short winter most would call Spring weather.
 
I sold my hardtop & did the exact same thing. It was nice in the winter, but just turned into a real pain in the ass to remove & store every summer. I went with the Bestop Trektop frameless & really like it.
 
I sold my hardtop even though it was quieter, more secure and generally more useful. But that's not why I bought a Jeep wrangler.

I decided the money I could get for selling it would pay for some decent mods and enjoy the Jeep for the reasons I wanted it.

$1800 later I have no regrets.

I still have full doors and have no desire to change lol. It's my DD.

Start with a soft top and see what you like. I didn't sell my hardtop until a few weeks of soft top use.
 
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I still switch between the hard and soft top every season. If you have a garage, carport, or something else you can rig a hoist to, removing the hardtop is quick and easy. I literally just lash my hardtop to the ceiling and drive away.

However, since my Jeep is far too tall to fit in the garage, I have to switch from 35” tires to 21” tires to fit. Looks rather funny...
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...can-put-on-a-tj-aka-never-skip-leg-day.31168/
 
If I had a garage, I would have sold my hard top in a heartbeat (and used that money to lift it instead haha). I'm literally only keeping it because I don't want the soft top being snowed on in the winter. I'm switching to the hard top probably next week, and I'm super sad about it.

I also have half doors with the bull dawg uppers, which is kind of the best of both worlds. Gives me the full door feel in the colder weather, but super easy to remove when it's warmer. The second summer hits, the doors and top are off as much as possible !
 
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Sounds like you’ve already made your decision. Sell the hardtop and get a soft and then if you still want the half doors after that, go for it! I’m constantly debating getting rid of my hardtop, but I live in NJ where it gets pretty cold/snowy in the winter.
 
Your profile says you're in Washington?

Framless tops suck ass. I hate mine so much I want to throw it in the trash. Some will disagree (and that's fine), but never in a million years would I choose a frameless top over a framed top again, especially after owning both. In my defense, this TJ came with one from the previous owner.
 
I try to buy Jeeps with hard tops, just so I can sell them for more useful mods. I actually liked my frameless Trektop NX top with flip back sunroof option. I'm not a fan of half doors though. I had them on two of my Jeeps. The glass slider uppers weren't too bad, except for the price.
p.s. I never understood the love for hard tops. Even in below zero temps, I have my heat from Hell on low. I'm from VT originally. My soft top held up fine with 3' of snow on it and my hard top was almost as noisy as my sailcloth soft top. Not to mention, I'd rather have someone unzip my window than break out the glass if they want to steal my hand sanitizer, Jeep face mask or high-tech cell phone with holder.:cool:

jeep cell phone holder.jpg


Rubi mask.jpg
 
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I still switch between the hard and soft top every season. If you have a garage, carport, or something else you can rig a hoist to, removing the hardtop is quick and easy. I literally just lash my hardtop to the ceiling and drive away.

However, since my Jeep is far too tall to fit in the garage, I have to switch from 35” tires to 21” tires to fit. Looks rather funny...
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...can-put-on-a-tj-aka-never-skip-leg-day.31168/
You’re Jeep on those tiny tires literally just made me lol. That’s commitment, well done!
 
I hear you brother!

Way back in 1997 I bought a new 97 TJ, I couldn't refuse the offer because it was just over 30G with full & half doors, h/top & s/top, however, the H/top became a permanent ornament in the backyard until I sold the 97 in 2001 and bought a new sport soft top (only) model.

For the record, I still have that s/top and it still keeps the water out better than my frameless Bestop. I love the trektop nx but the OEM top is more practical if you like the full open top experience, it's just a little fiddly getting the side windows back on.
 
I'm switching to the hard top probably next week, and I'm super sad about it.
That's the exact reason I got rid of my hardtop. Going topless is more of a commitment than I liked, with the soft top you can still take the windows off during warm snaps in the fall & spring and put them back on when the temp drops.
Framless tops suck ass. I hate mine so much I want to throw it in the trash. Some will disagree (and that's fine), but never in a million years would I choose a frameless top over a framed top again, especially after owning both.
Lol your opinion of frameless resides deep within the cesspool of hate that you've cultivated on this forum. I just like frameless because my kids can get in over the rear tire without the frame in the way, but it can be a pain in the ass sometimes to get on.
 
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That's the exact reason I got rid of my hardtop. Going topless is more of a commitment than I liked, with the soft top you can still take the windows off during warm snaps in the fall & spring and put them back on when the temp drops.

Lol your opinion of frameless resides deep within the cesspool of hate that you've cultivated on this forum. I just like frameless because my kids can get in over the rear tire without the frame in the way, but it can be a pain in the ass sometimes to get on.

What can I say man, the cesspool of hate runs strong with me 😆

All those angry bird grilles have an effect on the psyche over time 😉
 
Soft top all the way.

They aren't any colder and it gets damn cold in PA at times...
Matter of fact I find them better in the winter as fabric is much easier to warm up than a big fiberglass shell.

Soft tops really changed for the better....way better... when they started using a tongue and groove set up with the rails around the body.
They don't flap like crazy as the old ones with snaps did on the CJ's
 
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As the owner of a Trektop NX, I think - hell no, they are brutal.
Just curious as to why? Chris too? They are easy on and off if you know what you're doing, side windows have way more visibility, 1 minute flip back sunroof option and they don't make your box look as boxy. The only frameless I hated was a crap ass Rampage top I bought years ago. Sailcloth is what they said and I ripped it trying to zip the side windows in. POS IMO.
 
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