Soft top on TJ Poison Spyder roll cage

[Her Jeep]

I would like to install a soft top (preferably a frameless top) on my 05 TJ. Has anyone here done this?
I usually only use a Bimini top, but I’ll need a full top to pull the Jeep behind my RV.
Obviously some modifications will be necessary, and it will be easier to remove some material as needed, than to add material to the top in places.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I did exactly that - but it is a lot of work to get a frameless top to fit. My cage started out as a Poison Spyder cage, which does not work with a frameless top. You have to cut off the rear portion of the cage, and rebuild it to mimic the outer dimensions of the stock cage.

Cut the cage:

...and rebuild the back half:

So it can be done. I do love the top.

 

[AndyG]

I would like to install a soft top (preferably a frameless top) on my 05 TJ. Has anyone here done this?
I usually only use a Bimini top, but I’ll need a full top to pull the Jeep behind my RV.
Obviously some modifications will be necessary, and it will be easier to remove some material as needed, than to add material to the top in places.

Have you considered a trail cover / top just for towing ...would need strapped down. May be a good temp solution.

 

[AndyG]

I did exactly that - but it is a lot of work to get a frameless top to fit. My cage started out as a Poison Snyder cage, which does not work with a frameless top. You have to cut off the rear portion of the cage, and rebuild it to mimic the outer dimensions of the stock cage.

Cut the cage:

View attachment 199464
View attachment 199465

...and rebuild the back half:

View attachment 199466

So it can be done. I do love the top.

View attachment 199467

Be sure we get a build thread on that beauty.

 

[Wildman]

Be sure we get a build thread on that beauty.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/nashville-tjs-build-continued.42035/
He's sort of started one. He has a great thread over on Jeep Forum.

https://tinyurl.com/y65c8we3


I use my trail cover when I am towing my Jeep. And yes you need to put a strap over the front of it.

 

[Her Jeep]

I was hoping that I would be able to have an auto upholstery shop modify the top to fit the cage. Making the cage fit the top, is probably the best thing to do in the long run. Makes replacing tops quite a bit easier. You sure do some nice work.

How about a vacation in Florida this winter? My Jeep could really use your help

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I was hoping that I would be able to have an auto upholstery shop modify the top to fit the cage. Making the cage fit the top, is probably the best thing to do in the long run. Makes replacing tops quite a bit easier. You sure do some nice work.

How about a vacation in Florida this winter? My Jeep could really use your help

I looked at getting the top modified as well, but went the cage route instead for just that reason. I would hate to have to do a custom top every time I cut it or busted a zipper...

 

[JeepingJimmy]

Hello, since you look like you have experience with Poison Spyder cages, I thought I would ask it here. I need some guidance on removing my current sport cage. I have a 2006 Rubicon TJ and have a new pre-welded Poison Spyder cage. The question I have it that the cage mount by the B pillar at the bottom where it attaches to the bucket seems to have some sort of weather treatment sprayed on. I removed the bolts but cannot seem to remove the cage. Do you have any advice on removing the cage?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

You have to get in there with a screw driver, a putty knife, a chisel, or something along those lines and just scrape it out. It’s seam sealer, and it is a pain to get off. Heat helps, but it’s not necessary.

 

[JeepingJimmy]

Thank you, I just wanted to check just in case there was some kind of trick. I was able to get the seam sealer off as well as the old sport cage. It was good I did since I was able to get some surface rust off before it got bad and before putting on my new Poison Spyder cage. Now I just need to find a good local welder to weld on some gussets and seat belt bungs.

Take care, Thank you again.

 

[03TjRubi]

I did exactly that - but it is a lot of work to get a frameless top to fit. My cage started out as a Poison Snyder cage, which does not work with a frameless top. You have to cut off the rear portion of the cage, and rebuild it to mimic the outer dimensions of the stock cage.

Cut the cage:

View attachment 199464
View attachment 199465

...and rebuild the back half:

View attachment 199466

So it can be done. I do love the top.

View attachment 199467

I have an old three ETJ Rubicon. With the poison spider roll cage.

I did exactly that - but it is a lot of work to get a frameless top to fit. My cage started out as a Poison Snyder cage, which does not work with a frameless top. You have to cut off the rear portion of the cage, and rebuild it to mimic the outer dimensions of the stock cage.

Cut the cage:

View attachment 199464
View attachment 199465

...and rebuild the back half:

View attachment 199466

So it can be done. I do love the top.

View attachment 199467

I have an 03T Tj Rubicon with a poison spyder roll cage. I would like to install the same time that you did. I am assuming the front half portion didn’t need any modifications. The back half had to have the shape of a sport bar. Is that correct?

 

[03TjRubi]

I did exactly that - but it is a lot of work to get a frameless top to fit. My cage started out as a Poison Snyder cage, which does not work with a frameless top. You have to cut off the rear portion of the cage, and rebuild it to mimic the outer dimensions of the stock cage.

Cut the cage:

View attachment 199464
View attachment 199465

...and rebuild the back half:

View attachment 199466

So it can be done. I do love the top.

View attachment 199467

New to this forum. I have an 03 TJ Rubicon that I bought with a poison spider roll cage. I would like to put a frameless top on there with the freedom flip back option. I see that it can be done with modifications. Any details on how to do this?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I have an old three ETJ Rubicon. With the poison spider roll cage.

I have an 03T Tj Rubicon with a poison spyder roll cage. I would like to install the same time that you did. I am assuming the front half portion didn’t need any modifications. The back half had to have the shape of a sport bar. Is that correct?

New to this forum. I have an 03 TJ Rubicon that I bought with a poison spider roll cage. I would like to put a frameless top on there with the freedom flip back option. I see that it can be done with modifications. Any details on how to do this?

Post #2 above pretty much says it all. What I did was cut off the back portion of the cage, and then installed the top. I bent two loops to mimic the rear down bars of the stock cage, and then pieced them in from the inside until everything fit. The other bars I added for strength - but those two outer bars attached to the main down bar (C-pillar) determine the fit of the top.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

This is how I determined where those tubes needed to live. I experimented until it was tight.

Then cut the actual pieces to fit.

The top would have fit with just these two pieces. Everything else was icing.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Here is a better picture of the top on the rig as it sits now.

 

[WabashWrangler]

I did exactly that - but it is a lot of work to get a frameless top to fit. My cage started out as a Poison Snyder cage, which does not work with a frameless top. You have to cut off the rear portion of the cage, and rebuild it to mimic the outer dimensions of the stock cage.

Cut the cage:

View attachment 199464

View attachment 199465

...and rebuild the back half:

View attachment 199466

So it can be done. I do love the top.

View attachment 199467

Hey Nash... Would you mind sharing the specs for your bends on those rear elbows. I'm in three same boat w/ a custom roll cage. Thx!

ww

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Hey Nash... Would you mind sharing the specs for your bends on those rear elbows. I'm in three same boat w/ a custom roll cage. Thx!

ww

I’d be happy to, but I have no idea. What I did was buy the top first, and then built the back half of the cage to fit in the top. It took a bunch of trial and error. I run padding on all of my bars, so I had to account for that as well.

 

[Drumguy999]

I'm going to be another one of those guys and bump this thread

I don't suppose you readily have any pictures of trying to fit it on with the roll cage prior to modifying it? I really want a frameless top for mine, but i'm curious just HOW much it doesn't fit the poison cage prior to cutting anything.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I'm going to be another one of those guys and bump this thread

I don't suppose you readily have any pictures of trying to fit it on with the roll cage prior to modifying it? I really want a frameless top for mine, but i'm curious just HOW much it doesn't fit the poison cage prior to cutting anything.

It's not even close...

 

[Drumguy999]

well i would say so! haha thanks for the help!!