Hard top rear clamp only?

Imagineer

Imagineer

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Mar 29, 2016
Messages
120
Location
NE Ohio
I have an opportunity to purchase a hard top for very short $$, The only way to get it home is to drive my TJ out there, remove the soft top and install the hard top for the ride home (+/-45min). The front latches are junk.

How stupid is it to have a hard top held to the tub using only the bolts along the rear sides?
 
Imagineer said:
I have an opportunity to purchase a hard top for very short $$, The only way to get it home is to drive my TJ out there, remove the soft top and install the hard top for the ride home (+/-45min). The front latches are junk.

How stupid is it to have a hard top held to the tub using only the bolts along the rear sides?
Click to expand...

Roll your windows down, take a ratchet strap and wrap it through both door window frames over the hardtop, roll the window up as much as possible, and drive home.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ColoJeep, macleanflood, Gilaguy23 and 2 others
I would go with only 2 bolts, but I woudn't go hard & fast without the front latches. Ratchet strap is a pretty good plan, although you'll have to Bo Duke it to ingress/egress.

You have a plan for replacing the latches?
 
Imagineer said:
The front latches are junk.
Click to expand...

If you plan on rehabbing the top and keeping/using it, why not buy the replacement cam latches now, take them with and install them for the ride home....unless the bolt plates are jacked up inside the top or something of the sort...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Snukulu
hear said:
You have a plan for replacing the latches?
Click to expand...

Yes, eventually.

"why not buy the replacement cam latches now, take them with and install them for the ride home"

I don't know if the front header rail is in good enough shape or not. besides, it's too damn cold to mess about outside.

"you'll have to Bo Duke it to ingress/egress."
I think I can loop the truck strap over the top of the window frame and wrap it around the roll bars, thus allowing the door to open & close.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ColoJeep, hear and chili_pepper
Imagineer said:
I don't know if the front header rail is in good enough shape or not. besides, it's too damn cold to mess about outside.
Click to expand...

Fair enough on the header rail, though if that is in bad shape, the top might not be worth it for any money. You must know.

Totally understand the cold, it can feck off already for my money. 🥶
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: hear and Snukulu
Remember:

1769450827714.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavidBT, Snukulu and chili_pepper
hear said:
Remember:

View attachment 668782
Click to expand...

It's ok... I like annoying projects.

To keep me from being bored this summer, I've got an idea of how to cut the rear of the hardtop and angle it forward (similar in profile to the Bestop I have on the Jeep now. That project will involve some fiberglass work so if the front rail is buggered, I can graft in replacement metal and glass over.
 
Ok, the seller just forwarded this picture of the inside of the front rail of the hard top. I was expecting to see a set of pivot latches for holding the roof, but it appears to be a 2-piece clip and a bolt to tighten.

I'm not at all concerned about the rust, but I am concerned this might not be a TJ roof. I've not previously seen where a TJ roof was held down with a bolt-on clip.

Are there any tell-tale signs that this might be a YJ roof?

hard top crop.jpg


hard top clip.jpeg
 
It's a moot point now. The little fugger selling the cap straight up ghosted me.

Time for the rant . . . what is up with all these a-holes on Facebook Marketplace, who post something for sale, then don't respond?
 
  • Sad
Reactions: JMT
Imagineer said:
It's a moot point now. The little fugger selling the cap straight up ghosted me.

Time for the rant . . . what is up with all these a-holes on Facebook Marketplace, who post something for sale, then don't respond?
Click to expand...

Don't worry, it was a YJ top any way. Vents are wrong for a 97-02 TJ HT. FB Marketplace makes it easy for ghosting. Most of the time they do not respond because they are already engaging with a more promising buyer. Sometimes they just don't respond because they are bad sellers. Most sellers on MP are terrible sellers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT
I used to try to respond to every person on FB MP who said they might be interested. I’d get lost with who’s who when there were 10 or more people. I started just replying to the first 3-4 people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tronner
Top Bottom
Back