Bulldawg Hardtop Fitment

[WestKyJeeper]

I finally got my Bulldawg Hardtop delivered and installed. It's definitely awesome! I love the windows and the sunroof is my favorite part. I installed it my self and a couple buddies.

The only issues I'm having are the doors are very stiff to open and close, the driver door is extremely hard to open. I have to get in on the passenger side and push the door open. It seems the seal on the hardtop is contactng the actual door itself where it curves near the top of the door (picture #2). I have moved it a few times to try and get it right but no luck. I can't move the hardtop toward the rear of the jeep because the bolt holes on the tub wouldn't line up correctly and it wouldn't mate up to the windshield seal at the top. Maybe the seals will break in soon but I feel like I'm going to break the door handle off before that happens! Any suggestions?

There are 8 bolts and wing nuts that secure the hardtop to the tub of the jeep. I am only able to get 6 of them secured. The two that are furthest to the front, near the roll bar, there isn't enough room for the supplied wing nut to fit into the space. I am going to try to pick up something at a local hardware store and get these on.

 

[lBasket]

I finally got my Bulldawg Hardtop delivered and installed. It's definitely awesome! I love the windows and the sunroof is my favorite part. I installed it my self and a couple buddies.

The only issues I'm having are the doors are very stiff to open and close, the driver door is extremely hard to open. I have to get in on the passenger side and push the door open. It seems the seal on the hardtop is contactng the actual door itself where it curves near the top of the door (picture #2). I have moved it a few times to try and get it right but no luck. I can't move the hardtop toward the rear of the jeep because the bolt holes on the tub wouldn't line up correctly and it wouldn't mate up to the windshield seal at the top. Maybe the seals will break in soon but I feel like I'm going to break the door handle off before that happens! Any suggestions?

There are 8 bolts and wing nuts that secure the hardtop to the tub of the jeep. I am only able to get 6 of them secured. The two that are furthest to the front, near the roll bar, there isn't enough room for the supplied wing nut to fit into the space. I am going to try to pick up something at a local hardware store and get these on.

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What did bulldawg say when you asked them about this

 

[WestKyJeeper]

What did bulldawg say when you asked them about this

They would get back to me when they open back up after new year.

 

[jrfuda]

You should try adjusting the door - remove your mirrors, loosen all six hinge screws where they attach to the door, and move the door away from where it seems to be contacting the hard top... tweak so it has a somewhat even reveal all the way around. You may have to adjust the striker a little as well.

I had to to something similar when I first installed my bulldawg hard half door uppers - I had to tweak the hinges on the half doors and the door strike to get an even reveal all the way around - took a couple of tries to find a spot where both my full doors and half-doors would both work and look right. The hinges mostly effect the reveal around the perimeter and the striker effects how tight to the body the rear of the door is pulled against the tub. You can also bend the barrel of the hinges like you would a door in your house to tighten or loosen how tight the front of the door seals against the tub and top.

I think just tweaking your doors a little will fix it since the hard top is probably not as forgiving as the soft top was.

 

[Wheeling diver]

You might have to adjust your doors to the fit the top.

 

[WestKyJeeper]

You should try adjusting the door - remove your mirrors, loosen all six hinge screws where they attach to the door, and move the door away from where it seems to be contacting the hard top... tweak so it has a somewhat even reveal all the way around. You may have to adjust the striker a little as well.

I had to to something similar when I first installed my bulldawg hard half door uppers - I had to tweak the hinges on the half doors and the door strike to get an even reveal all the way around - took a couple of tries to find a spot where both my full doors and half-doors would both work and look right. The hinges mostly effect the reveal around the perimeter and the striker effects how tight to the body the rear of the door is pulled against the tub. You can also bend the barrel of the hinges like you would a door in your house to tighten or loosen how tight the front of the door seals against the tub and top.

I think just tweaking your doors a little will fix it since the hard top is probably not as forgiving as the soft top was.

I will try this thank you!!

 

[suicideking]

Agree with adjusting the doors.

Sounds like half doors with soft uppers would also solve the problem.

 

[Mike P.]

@WestKyJeeper, any updates here? I just came across an ad from Bulldawg and I'm curious on your current opinion. Can you share some more pics of the sunroof? Are you glad you got the sliding windows for the rear? And did you end up tweaking the doors or did you solve that interference in a different way?

 

[WestKyJeeper]

@WestKyJeeper, any updates here? I just came across an ad from Bulldawg and I'm curious on your current opinion. Can you share some more pics of the sunroof? Are you glad you got the sliding windows for the rear? And did you end up tweaking the doors or did you solve that interference in a different way?

So the top is really nice overall I’m happy and I don’t regret it. I’ll see if I have some more pics of the sunroof and the interior.
My likes are
- the look and functionality of it
- the sunroof is great with the rear sliding windows. Open up both and you get a lot more air inside than just having the windows down.
-It seems to be quieter than the OEM hardtop.
-Install was pretty easy with a couple buddies helping lift it. It’s heavy!
My dislikes
- the rear glass has to close after the rear gate so if you have a spare tire it can be tricky. But no a big deal for me personally.
-there is a small leak around the windows and windshield frame. The windshield frame may just be an old seal. I know the tops and jeeps in general aren’t leak proof by any means but still kind of sucks. I have armorlite flooring so I don’t have any issues from it.
- The driver door did get a better figment around the top when I loosened the bolts near the door and messed with the door a bit. Still tight but I can at least open it with a little effort. It seems to be getting better as time goes on maybe the seal is wearing in.
- it took 9 months from the time I ordered it until I had it in my driveway.

Overall it’s awesome and I’m ready to get a roof rack on it.