My favorite soft top hack

[AndyG]

Honestly I thought a “hack”
was a bad carpenter- in my day we called it a good idea.

So, for a 3rd hand installing the side windows, lift it up for more reach to the zipper, stick it to the velcro and then move on to the zipper, start it, slide the door surround and tub channel plastic in , pull it loose and zip it up. This keeps it from flopping around as you try to start the zipper.

 

[PRNDL]

I do the same thing

 

[MikekiM]

That's how I've always done it.

 

[AndyG]

The day I purchased my first TJ the guys knew a lot about them and they walked me through the process of doing the top- I got home that evening and wanted to put the top back up and of course I didn’t remember a thing they said but that - I was so excited to hit the road in it-

So here I am and the family is excited about the new toy and I’m trying to put the top on and I don’t know the order to do things and man it was a struggle - And of course here I am trying to look like I’m large and in charge in front of the family thinking this thing doesn’t even resemble a CJ top - I was lost as last year’s Easter egg.

Because we have different age groups on here I think that it may be lost on a lot of people just how drastically improved the TJ is- And the YJ was absolutely another level above the CH in fitment and comfort to.

Looking back now the CJ tops were so bad it was unbelievable

 

[AndyG]

I saw the video on doing it that way 17 years ago.

People need reminded- just like they have church every Sunday

 

[TheBoogieman]

People need reminded- it just like they have church every Sunday

You caught me before I deleted that. I hadn't installed a soft top in 15 years, until a week ago. Luckily I watched a video.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

The day I purchased my first TJ the guys knew a lot about them and they walked me through the process of doing the top- I got home that evening and wanted to put the top back up and of course I didn’t remember a thing they said but that - I was so excited to hit the road in it-

Looking back now the CJ tops were so bad it was unbelievable

No one showed me anything about the Bestop on my TJ. I had so much trouble putting it back on the first time, it's only been completely off a more couple times in 4 years and that was only after some you tubing. Luckily I did find the rear velcro trick for the side windows but I still seem to have some problems tucking those windows into the door surrounds especially the 90 degree corners about 4 inches above the bottom edge. I seems like either the corners on the plastic are too low or the corners on the windows are too high but they're off almost the whole summer anyway.

Somehow I do remember my (pre CJ7 style) CJ5 soft top with it's 1/4" steel rods around the doors. Even with the two dozen or so good old fashioned snaps all the way around the bottom from door to door, I could have that top and the "unhinged" doors back on in just a couple minutes during heavy rain while drinking beer. Of course that may not be the case today now that I'm 30 yrs older.

 

[AndyG]

No one showed me anything about the Bestop on my TJ. I had so much trouble putting it back on the first time, it's only been completely off a more couple times in 4 years and that was only after some you tubing. Luckily I did find the rear velcro trick for the side windows but I still seem to have some problems tucking those windows into the door surrounds especially the 90 degree corners about 4 inches above the bottom edge. I seems like either the corners on the plastic are too low or the corners on the windows are too high but they're off almost the whole summer anyway.

Somehow I do remember my (pre CJ7 style) CJ5 soft top with it's 1/4" steel rods around the doors. Even with the two dozen or so good old fashioned snaps all the way around the bottom from door to door, I could have that top and the "unhinged" doors back on in just a couple minutes during heavy rain while drinking beer. Of course that may not be the case today now that I'm 30 yrs older.

Great post- That was probably our mindset- If you’re too drunk to put the doors on you don’t need to drive.

Man I had the biggest fight with my TJ top that day- When I look at how good the tops work and how they don’t damage the body and how well thought the system yes I’m just so impressed- and thankful.

 

[RobertJ]

I've been doing this since my first TJ in '97. I didn't know it was a hack but more common sense.

25 years later, it's still a PITA (especially in cold weather) though. My first special ordered TJ in '97 came with a ~15 minute video on using the top. It was suppose to be much easier than the YJ. I've never touched the top on a YJ, so I can't say for sure that it is.

We bought a lake house up in PA, and my Sahara gets parked in the garage from this point forward up there. So in the Summers the top will just stay down. I hope to only have to mess with it a few times a year now.

 

[RubiconRic]

Nice. My favorite hack is to use a bungee to pull the zipper.

 

[edblack1972]

The first time I put my soft top on it took me two hours. Buddy said oh its real easy, self explanatory... but now I do the same with the windows, makes it so much easier.

 

[C.J. Roberts]

I have a bowless top, but for the sides, I zip them on before I put the top in position on the roll cage, then work my way forward, saving clipping the sides into the tub for last.

 

[Fishtaco]

Never had a soft top on. I will let you know with much swearing week after next lol

 

[cliffish]

I've been doing this since my first TJ in '97. I didn't know it was a hack but more common sense.

25 years later, it's still a PITA (especially in cold weather) though. My first special ordered TJ in '97 came with a ~15 minute video on using the top. It was suppose to be much easier than the YJ. I've never touched the top on a YJ, so I can't say for sure that it is.

We bought a lake house up in PA, and my Sahara gets parked in the garage from this point forward up there. So in the Summers the top will just stay down. I hope to only have to mess with it a few times a year now.

I took the top off 2 years ago and has not not been back on since.

Where in PA is your house?

 

[Kid Mechanic]

Bikini’s are easy to take off. I never put one back on.

 

[Jamison C]

Honestly I thought a “hack”
was a bad carpenter- in my day we called it a good idea.

So, for a 3rd hand installing the side windows, lift it up for more reach to the zipper, stick it to the velcro and then move on to the zipper, start it, slide the door surround and tub channel plastic in , pull it loose and zip it up. This keeps it from flopping around as you try to start the zipper.View attachment 321034

This my favorite hack is managing to get the entire top tucked away.

This guy with his oddly soothing voice taught me how to do it right. Go to 15:35 on how to make it look nice and neat.

 

[AndyG]

This my favorite hack is managing to get the entire top tucked away.
View attachment 321121

This guy with his oddly soothing voice taught me how to do it right. Go to 15:35 on how to make it look nice and neat.

Cool! That looks good and the boots they sell to put over them look good too -

 

[tr21triton]

Bikini’s are easy to take off. I never put one back on.

yep I'm always glad to help take them off, but she's on her own when it comes time to put it back on !

 

[Fishtaco]

Bikini’s are easy to take off. I never put one back on.

One horror view in the mirror while the wife was out?

 

[Fishtaco]

This my favorite hack is managing to get the entire top tucked away.
View attachment 321121

This guy with his oddly soothing voice taught me how to do it right. Go to 15:35 on how to make it look nice and neat.

Fuck thats one big dog turd on the right!