Gerund
Member
Guess it's good I have a soft top then.
Love having the back off.
Should I buy a used hard top?
- Thread starter Kathy
- Start date
Love having the back off.
Just do what a lot of us do here - get a hardtop and a soft top! You may think storage is an issue but you just wait till my room mate and I are carrying the hardtop up 3 floors of stairs to store it inside my apt complex.Guess it's good I have a soft top then.
You have a reliable source for the Mopar hard top wiring, switch, and relay installation kit for her model year TJ? A link would be great. I know of someone who has been looking for one for several years now. I have installed one and as a very savvy electrical/electronics guy, there's a lot more to it than some would guess.
From what I understand on a 2000 TJ is that the MOPAR part was discontinued -> MOPAR 82205621AB. When searching the web I was able to locate this part in stock at this authorized Chrysler parts website: https://www.moparpartsoverstock.com/p/__/WIRING-PACKAGE-Enclosure/6864387/82205621AB.html.
You're right about it being more difficult than some would assume. Its hard to judge by instructions whether someone is capable or not of the installation, certainly one to this extent and I would definitely give it a try if I needed to install it.
Here are the instructions I was able to locate for her TJ's model year and hardtop wiring kit installation instructions which should for the part number listed above even though its not explicitly stated in the pdf: http://www.morris4x4center.com/pdf/82207078.pdf.
I can't guarantee the seller or the instructions provided are too accurate to any extent without confirming it with someone who has installed it on that particular TJ. I can only do so by verifying the installation instructions and the MOPAR number/kit with someone from Chrysler to ensure the project would have all the tools and documentation to properly undertake.
Be wary, many sites that claim discontinued parts are in stock wait until after the order has been placed to cancel the order the next day, confirming only then that it's actually m out of stock. This has happened to me several times.
X2, I got burned last year when I tried to buy a cover piece for my steering column. They took my money and refunded it 2 days later when they couldn't deliver (even though their website said they had it).
Yeah sadly you won't even know until you try to make the purchase. Regardless hopefully the post above was somewhat helpful in terms of the installation instructions for her particular jeep if she found a kit and wanted to undertake it. That website was my reasoning for listing it as "not that difficult" to source since it was found on the first google listing searching the PN, however as you said it may not be reliable source which negates my reasoning.
I was really lucky when I bought my 98 as it was prewired for the hardtop wipers/defrost. Not something I was thinking about when I was looking for a Jeep and really should have considered it.
I lucked out too when I bought mine and it had a Dana 44 rear diff with disc brakes. Total newb!
Kathy, the hard top is a deal if you want one for the winter, and you have a place to store it in the summer. You have full doors, so you don't need the sliders. You could offer a bit less since you don't need those. As far as the wiper & defroster on the hard top, I can probably count the times I have used those over the years on three fingers...maybe. But I don't live in a place where frost is a big issue.
Wisconsin winters can be brutal and frost and thick Ice build up can be a regular occurrence.(why am I living here?)with that being said I guess it has been a convienence more than a necessity. I can take one of my other vehicles on a real bad weather day.
I've decided I'm going to buy it and might get the sliders also seeing I'd like half doors maybe someday. If not, he said he would sell me just the hard top for even less. Thank you all !
Love my hardtop. I have the wiring harness but never felt compelled to install it. I also have a soft top, but never use it. Like @Chris I greatly prefer hard top. I use a Harken Hoist in garage to remove and store. Takes 15 minutes to take off/on.
I'm just a top on or top off guy. There is no in between for me whatsoever. If there is even a slight chance of rain in the forecast, I put the hard top on or drive our Subaru. If the forecast is 100% sun, then it's top off, doors off!
Good choice. Never a bad idea to pick up extra parts, especially when they cost next to nothing. I am trying to arrange a deal to get my old TJ half doors back from the guy who bought my '97 with both sets of doors, and never used the half doors, just stored them in his garage where they sit to this day. If I can get those back, I would then be in the market for some half upper doors...you just never know. You will be glad you got the hard top, guaranteed.
You gotta love online sale sites. Was setting up to go get my hard top today as he wanted and he messages me back saying he sold it an hour after we talked . No words .
When I bought my TJ brand new in 2005, it came with the dual top option. In the winter, I used the rear defroster and wiper all the time. It was nice to have. The problem I had though was when warm weather hit, I wanted that soft top. I always had to get a couple of guys to help me lift the hard top off. I would store it in my father's pole barn.
When I got married, dad wanted to buy a large tractor. A John Deere. So, I had to make a decision. Run the hardtop all the time, or sell it. I had no other place to store it.
So I chose to sell it. It was gray anyway, and I now had a black and white theme going on with my TJ. I ended up selling the hardtop, and bought an AR15 with the cash
I've looked at some hardtops here recently on craigslist. I can never find a decent black one, so I thought of trying my hand at painting. Haven't found the one yet.
Anyway, since I have used the rear defroster and rear wiper on the hardtop before, I would miss that ability if I were to buy a hardtop that didn't have it. But, I don't think it would be a deal killer.
When I got married, dad wanted to buy a large tractor. A John Deere. So, I had to make a decision. Run the hardtop all the time, or sell it. I had no other place to store it.
So I chose to sell it. It was gray anyway, and I now had a black and white theme going on with my TJ. I ended up selling the hardtop, and bought an AR15 with the cash
I've looked at some hardtops here recently on craigslist. I can never find a decent black one, so I thought of trying my hand at painting. Haven't found the one yet.
Anyway, since I have used the rear defroster and rear wiper on the hardtop before, I would miss that ability if I were to buy a hardtop that didn't have it. But, I don't think it would be a deal killer.
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