Best cab cover?

**armyRN** · 07-31-2012, 01:42 PM

I just moved from WA to TN, and I'm enjoying being able to drive the Jeep without the upper door halves, side windows or rear window. I'm keeping the top on though, so it's like driving with a full length bikini top. But it's a pain taking the windows off-and-on every day. So I want to get a cab cover so when I park the Jeep at night and it rains it won't get wet inside.

I checked on the Quadratec site (no comments - I like Quadratec), and they have a ton of cab cover options. I don't need a full Jeep cover; just a cab cover for the upper door halves and side/rear windows to keep rain out.

So I need a cab cover that'll work with the top still on (see picture below). Anybody using a rain cover that works with this sort of set-up? What's working for you?

**Necromancer_tat** · 07-31-2012, 01:50 PM

Bump!

**jeepinhokie** · 07-31-2012, 01:53 PM

tarp?

most of the covers available are fit to hug the roll bars as you stated. I have a bestop one that covers down the doors and I like it, but only use it with the top down/off.

Jeep Rally · 07-31-2012, 02:05 PM

Same boat. I only use with the top off as they usually fit very tight to the rollbar and with your top on they don't fit correctly. You could consider getting a safari top (simulating your top up/no windows) then there are many tops.

I like this one from Quadratec as it's breathable (same as tent material) but works great with the bikini/safari top on to help prevent pooling of water. And it packs into a very small package.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/pr...+07+&submit=Go

Other is Raingear. http://www.jeepcovers.com/ These things are thick and great at keeping out water. Only thing if you leave on for a few days it'll be damp feeling inside as it doesn't breathe. Just pop open the side for a little bit and let the air get inside. However it really is the nicest cover I've seen but requires some extra space to pack it.

I also have purchased this in the past and it was very nice as well for the price. It still works well, just switched back to the breathable one as I have the carpet out and always run a bikini so I like the packable size better.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/11186_509_07.htm

**keithert** · 07-31-2012, 02:07 PM

It depends on if you want something to keep out a torrential rain for weeks or just a light rain at work. I've had the RainGear cover by jeepcovers.com and the Besttop cab cover. The RainGear cover is a very heavy duty cover that will keep out a monsoon. But it is bulky and hard to install quickly. the Besttop cover is lighter duty but for a quick cover up at work is easier to use. For my current needs the Bestop is better. When I had my old TJ I stored it outside and the RainGear cover was better. I think both have version that will fit over the existing softtop.

BamaRolln · 07-31-2012, 02:48 PM

I park in my garage but I still throw my full cover over the cab to keep the cats out of the jeep. I thought I would order a cab cover for that purpose because it would be smaller and easier to put on. I was WRONG. I just ordered a cheapo smitty one from quadratec and had to send it back because it was way too tight. Some of the threads ripped while trying to get it to go on. It just didn't come anywhere close to fitting properly. That could be because I was trying to put it on there with my safari top on there (similar to you having your full top). Besides that, it was really heavy. If felt 3 times heavier than my full jeep cover and even if it fit well it would have been much more of a pain taking on and off than just using the full cover I already have. If you are going to leave the top on I think you may have to use a full cover because those cab covers are meant to fit tight and probably wont work with your top still on it.

You could probably get by with a lightweight cover because your top will be keeping the rain out for the most part. The cover will just be adding some protection to the sides from blowing rain. Something really heavy will just end up being a pain to use.

Lucille92 · 07-31-2012, 04:08 PM

I have a Rain Gear brand cover. Covers the doors and doesn't let really any water through. They are really thick too

**Sundowner** · 07-31-2012, 04:22 PM

[QUOTE=keithert;13950061]The RainGear cover is a very heavy duty cover that will keep out a monsoon. But it is bulky and hard to install quickly.../QUOTE]

Actually, that's not quite accurate.

The RainGear cover is bulky, yes, and it will certainly keep out a monsoon...but it isn't hard to install quickly. Mine takes about a minute to put on. The trick is realizing that you actually don't need most of the straps in order to hold the cover on somewhat tightly...you only need the rear ones. I took my rear pairs of corner straps and looped them together under the rear tail lights; once the front is pulled down over the windshield the makeshift rear "loops" hold it tight. Every other strap on the cover can be cut off and it will still work excellently in 99% of all conditions; the size, weight and fit of the cover hold it on very, very tightly. Replacing the rear corner straps with heavy bungee cords would make it even faster to install and take loose, and would prevent any potential damage to your paint.

I've been about three seconds from doing the strap-cut modification to mine several times, now, and I just haven't done it. It would cut down on the bulk of the cover by a slight bit and would make rolling and unrolling much easier...but since I have someone that's making me an ultralight cover from cuben fiber and silnylon, I haven't worried about it yet. That one will be a "trail" or "travel" cover and will take up about as much room as a small water bottle, as opposed to the LARGE bulk of the RainGear cover.

**Crasher** · 07-31-2012, 05:46 PM

How would the Raingear one work for covering a a TJ on a trailer and going down the road 65 mph behind a motorhome? I've been looking for something heavier than what most of them are. A custom made one with snaps will cost me $500. It would only have to make an 1800 mile trip twice a year and then it would be used as a stationary cover.

**Sundowner** · 07-31-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crasher

How would the Raingear one work for covering a a TJ on a trailer and going down the road 65 mph behind a motorhome? I've been looking for something heavier than what most of them are. A custom made one with snaps will cost me $500. It would only have to make an 1800 mile trip twice a year and then it would be used as a stationary cover.

It will work perfectly for that... the heavy straps will come in handy for that kind of use.

**TJDaveX** · 08-01-2012, 04:59 AM

With all the windows off of the soft top, it only takes seconds to fold the top down.

Then, you would be able to use any rain cover you wish. Are you sure you are not over-thinking this?

Sorry you had to move out of WA. Best of luck to you in TN.

06philaTJ · 08-01-2012, 10:47 AM

I'm guessing you run with the windows out all the time probably because you don't want to cook in the sun during the day. The best solution I found is a spiderweb shade trail top, which fits under the softtop when up since it attaches to the roll bar. It actually keeps the interior cooler than running with the windows out IMO and I've driven on an open highway (no shade) for 4 hours on a 95 degree/sunny day without getting sunburnt.

I just have a bestop trail cover that I throw on at night (fits over the soft top folded down) and leave my soft top down with the windows in a storage bag in the back of my TJ. I do occassionally run with the windows out but only if its going to rain.

**armyRN** · 08-01-2012, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJDaveX

With all the windows off of the soft top, it only takes seconds to fold the top down.

Then, you would be able to use any rain cover you wish. Are you sure you are not over-thinking this?

Sorry you had to move out of WA. Best of luck to you in TN.

Maybe; I just thought I can't be the only one that had this issue. I appreciate all the good responses so far, and once I get internet access at home (just moved) I'll order something. The Raingear one specifically has two versions for the TJ; one for topless, and one for top still on. But before I order I'll make a few phone calls to check on the others as to if they'll fit with the top still on.

**Sundowner** · 08-01-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armyRN

Maybe; I just thought I can't be the only one that had this issue. I appreciate all the good responses so far, and once I get internet access at home (just moved) I'll order something. The Raingear one specifically has two versions for the TJ; one for topless, and one for top still on. But before I order I'll make a few phone calls to check on the others as to if they'll fit with the top still on.

I can verify that the RainGear tops are cut differently, as well. If they still have the option with longer door-covering panels, get it...that makes your life easy, strap-wise. I got the topless option because my Jeep's top comes off in March and goes on in early November...but come to think of it, I won't have that issue much longer! Ha!

BamaRolln · 08-01-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJDaveX

With all the windows off of the soft top, it only takes seconds to fold the top down.

Then, you would be able to use any rain cover you wish. Are you sure you are not over-thinking this?

My soft top is completely off and stored hanging up in the garage from March-Octoberish but speaking for someone who throws a cover over the cab after each use I can answer that question. Because it should only take seconds to throw the cover on and pull it back off and go. Having to let the top up/down is going to double the effort and time no matter which way you look at it.

My cover is a full cover but is mainly used to keep two cats out of the jeep and is enough trouble that I'm considering throwing the cats into a bag and off of a bridge.

Having to put the top up/down with each use might just drive me over the edge

I'd really like to find a good/lightweight cover just for the cab that I could carry around with me to throw over my safari in case of rain. Right now I just don't drive the jeep if there is much chance of rain.