Hardtop: to buy or not to buy?

[Fonz54]

Hi All,

I have been looking for a hard top for some time now. I found this one yesterday on CL. No too far but the top is Tan, I want black. I could paint it myself but with the rainy season coming on I am not sure I can get it done. Guess I could do it in the garage but the boss might not be too happy about having it in their for a few days since she will not be able to park her precious in there. It also needs struts (not a big deal) and the passenger side rear window is broken (destroyed). He is asking $800 for it. I would offer him $500. What do you all think - to buy or not to buy and wait for a black top to show up? Assume I would have to get a gasket kit as well.
Thanks - Fonz

https://slo.craigslist.org/pts/d/paso-robles-parting-out-2002-jeep-tj/7225594701.html

 

[Hopper]

Buy it and paint it in the garage. Tell your wife it wont stink up the entire house for a week or two

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I bought a new Mopar hardtop and ran it off & on for 5-6 years before selling it. It was too much of a PITA to remove/reinstall as I like to run without the top most of the time. Not to mention the hard top pours water over the door openings when raining just like the soft top does, it's no better in the rain as the soft top is in my opinion.

 

[voodooridr]

What does a replacement side glass cost (plus seals) plus paint plus a 2 hour drive to Paso to fetch it?
Might turn out to be an expensive rabbit hole

 

[Fouledplugs]

Could buy it and take your time restoring it...

 

[Bloodlines33]

Even $500 seems a little steep for a hard top with broken glass. Plenty of tops start at $500 in good condition around here, probably sell for less. I just replaced the struts for $21.99 from Amazon, took 2 minutes.

My experience: So far, I have enjoyed the hard top this fall due to less noise and more security. I run the soft top all summer. As Jerry mentioned, you will not enjoy frequently remove/install of hard top. I do it 2x a year (spring & fall) and don't really look forward to it. Mine is factory tan on a green sahara but black probably looks better on a red jeep.

 

[reservoir dog]

I had a CJ7 with a hard top , it was off and in my way more than on the jeep.

 

[Chris]

A hardtop in California? Naaaa

Maybe somewhere else, but California is a state I wouldn't bother with a hardtop personally.

 

[skrelnik]

That starting price seems very high for a hard top in that condition. I would look elsewhere.

 

[glowell222]

First, I think $800 is a bargain. If you can get him down to 5, it's a no brainer. Also, that color looks good with red, and I wouldn't be in a hurry or feel bad about not getting it painted this year. Best to do it in good time because sometimes when you want something bad, that's exactly how it ends up. Anyway, welcome to the forum, and nice ride.

EDIT: I didn't see the pic where the side window was out on that hardtop. So $800 is not a bargain. $400 is more in line, and aside from windows, I would suggest that you ensure that the rear wiper works. You will also need new rear gas struts and it's likely that the rubber gasket on the bottom of the sides needs some love, and I would check very thoroughly for cracks at the front by the latches and all the way across the top between the area where you would normally have a corner at the rear of the doors (we have that big curve there).

 

[Fonz54]

I bought a new Mopar hardtop and ran it off & on for 5-6 years before selling it. It was too much of a PITA to remove/reinstall as I like to run without the top most of the time. Not to mention the hard top pours water over the door openings when raining just like the soft top does, it's no better in the rain as the soft top is in my opinion.

Thanks Jerry - I have one year old new BestTop sail cloth. Really like it but noisy as all hell on the freeway. Here on the Central Coast the weather dictates the amount of time the top is down. But I really like it when I can take it down. Do you have full or half doors? I have to believe that full doors have to reduce the noise factor with a soft top to some extent. Just removing the door uppers quuiets things down.

 

[Fonz54]

A hardtop in California? Naaaa

Maybe somewhere else, but California is a state I wouldn't bother with a hardtop personally.

Thanks Chris you guys are making me rethink my idea of getting a hard top.

 

[Fonz54]

First, I think $800 is a bargain. If you can get him down to 5, it's a no brainer. Also, that color looks good with red, and I wouldn't be in a hurry or feel bad about not getting it painted this year. Best to do it in good time because sometimes when you want something bad, that's exactly how it ends up. Anyway, welcome to the forum, and nice ride.

EDIT: I didn't see the pic where the side window was out on that hardtop. So $800 is not a bargain. $400 is more in line, and aside from windows, I would suggest that you ensure that the rear wiper works. You will also need new rear gas struts and it's likely that the rubber gasket on the bottom of the sides needs some love, and I would check very thoroughly for cracks at the front by the latches and all the way across the top between the area where you would normally have a corner at the rear of the doors (we have that big curve there).

Thanks

 

[Fonz54]

I had a CJ7 with a hard top , it was off and in my way more than on the jeep.

I had CJ7 hard top as well. Wish I still had it.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Thanks Jerry - I have one year old new BestTop sail cloth. Really like it but noisy as all hell on the freeway. Here on the Central Coast the weather dictates the amount of time the top is down. But I really like it when I can take it down. Do you have full or half doors? I have to believe that full doors have to reduce the noise factor with a soft top to some extent. Just removing the door uppers quuiets things down.

Interesting, I felt my Sailcloth softop was pretty darned quiet. Interior noise level-wise I really didn't notice much difference between my Mopar hard top and Sailcloth soft top. I had both half and full doors, all OE style TJ top and door combinations work together.

 

[Fonz54]

Interesting, I felt my Sailcloth softop was pretty darned quiet. Interior noise level-wise I really didn't notice much difference between my Mopar hard top and Sailcloth soft top. I had both half and full doors, all OE style TJ top and door combinations work together.

Thanks - if I were able to pickup some full doors there is not way I would get rid of the half doors. Really like the half doors when the top is off. I did by a spider shade top that really helped reduce the noise level. Are you still running a sail cloth top?

 

[bobthetj03]

I run a factory soft top, full doors in the summer, and a hard top in the winter. If you have a way of removing the top and storing it, a hardtop is definitely quieter on the freeway drives.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Are you still running a sail cloth top?

Yes, I wouldn't run anything else other than my Safari-length bikini top.

 

[GEEP4ME]

Don't discount a tan top on a red Jeep.

But if you want black, then cool too.

But price the replacement glass first and think about the labor side of it. $800 is too high if it is the wrong color and waaaaay too high if it also has broken glass.

 

[Fonz54]

Don't discount a tan top on a red Jeep.
View attachment 203291

But if you want black, then cool too.

But price the replacement glass first and think about the labor side of it. $800 is too high if it is the wrong color and waaaaay to high if it also has broken glass.

Thanks. Your TJ looks great!