Soft top installation - I'm going crazy! Someone please help.

[Stockli]

The duratracs are amazing. The noise level concerns are exaggerated, imho. These are really good tires.

Make sure you rotate them. Out here in CO The wind and roads ate them alive. I rotated every 5k

 

[TJ2]

I like it a bit noisy on mine, and so I have KO2.

 

[bobthetj03]

Can't be any noisier than half worn out KM2's. I was impressed with them when they were new, but not so much now. I suspect the DT's will get noisier as they wear, just like any other semi aggressive tread tire will. The level of noise will be subjective.

 

[psrivats]

Make sure you rotate them. Out here in CO The wind and roads ate them alive. I rotated every 5k

That's what the tire place recommended as well and I plan to take it there since then do it for free.


QUOTE="bobthetj03, post: 185508, member: 2432"]Can't be any noisier than half worn out KM2's. I was impressed with them when they were new, but not so much now. I suspect the DT's will get noisier as they wear, just like any other semi aggressive tread tire will. The level of noise will be subjective.[/QUOTE]

Quite possible and I expect that to happen as the tread wears out. I still think are great tires for the TJ. I'll remember to post my impressions post ever rotation on the forum. But for now I'm very happy.

 

[psrivats]

I like it a bit noisy on mine, and so I have KO2.

It was between KO2 and these for me. It's good to have options, I say!

 

[Stockli]

That's what the tire place recommended as well and I plan to take it there since then do it for free.


QUOTE="bobthetj03, post: 185508, member: 2432"]Can't be any noisier than half worn out KM2's. I was impressed with them when they were new, but not so much now. I suspect the DT's will get noisier as they wear, just like any other semi aggressive tread tire will. The level of noise will be subjective.

Quite possible and I expect that to happen as the tread wears out. I still think are great tires for the TJ. I'll remember to post my impressions post ever rotation on the forum. But for now I'm very happy.[/QUOTE]

They were great. I had them on an XJ and they were the best snow tire I ever had.

 

[Drizit]

I had about 40 or 50k km on mine when I sold em. Didn't notice any significant increase in noise. That was on a JK so quite a bit quieter environment than a TJ.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

 

[Jeffreybomb]

I've been told that as long as the treads are under an inch apart from one another, it should be a relatively quiet ride. Any wider than that and it's noisy as hell.

(That's 2.54 centimeters for our Canadian friend @Drizit up there.)

 

[JJinQC]

OK, the weather was too good this weekend and I decided to put the soft top on. I removed the hardtop yesterday (got the PO's storage cart with the Jeep) , and holy crap, that was too much fun. I've never thought driving could actually be this much fun.

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However, I need to put the soft top back on atleast until I clear out l space in my garage next weekend. I'm having a WHALE of a time with this thing. It feels like it's too short to fit. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong but can't figure out what. I did let it sit in the warm sun for hours and that did not help.

If I attach the bottom back side then the top doesn't reach the windshield. And vice versa if I attach the windshield side, there is no way I can stretch that thing to attach to the bottom lip. I watched enough videos, tried every which way and cannot figure it out. In the photos below none of the plastic/ rubber bits are tucked underneath anywhere.

I've attached some close up shots of the back area. There is a black webbing strap attaching the back horizontal frame to thet middle one and I cannot figure what it's for. Didn't seem removable so I did not try.

Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong? Have I attached the frame to thet center rollcage bar wrongly? The YouTube videos made it seem very easy and yet I'm really struggling with this. Would really appreciate some help!

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When it is difficult to install the soft top due to the coldness of the material. One trick that I used for years is as follows:

Rreferring to the nice image provided by member Tj2,

The U shaped thin rod no.1 is resting on the no.4 L shaped side rods using two half moon plastic supports contacting the rod where the arrow of no 4 is pointing.

1. Pull the U shape rod no.1 on one side so that the plastic supports do not rest on the no. 4 rods. That will cause the no.1 rod to lower a little. The plastic supports will miss the associated rod in the same direction ex. right side to the right of the right rod no.4 and left side to the right of the left no. 4 rod.
2. Attach the front of the top by closing clamps no.7. It should now be easier.
3. Raise the rod no.1 so that the plastic supports are back in position resting on no.4 rods. It might be difficult but much easier than clamping the front without using this procedure.

 

[Texas-TJ]

I like it a bit noisy on mine, and so I have KO2.

You think KO2's are noisy?

 

[TheBoogieman]

You think KO2's are noisy?

• Jun 28, 2018

They are by now.

 

[Texas-TJ]

• Jun 28, 2018

They are by now.

@TheBoogieman - Did you know that Red McCombs passed away a week or so ago?

 

[TheBoogieman]

@TheBoogieman - Did you know that Red McCombs passed away a week or so ago?

Wasn't he 95 or so?

 

[Texas-TJ]

Wasn't he 95 or so?

Yes sir, 95