Hard top heat insulation. I need some hint for a friend please

**[ITA]Tsunami** · 11-06-2007, 01:48 AM

So a friend of mine, other Italian, it's falling in love for this jeep thing

and finally bought it's 2004 X. Tomorrow i will install for him a BB and BL / MML with 33 and OME shocks. Right now he is the happiest 55 year old child i've ever seen

. And tonight he ask me to help him find a solution for his hartop.

He complain about the top becaming too hot under the sun. What do you guys sugest me (him)? He would like to insulate it. I know he will stay with the hard top for a long while, he want it for better protection (he is here also with his 5 year old daughter, and he feel better like this, so please answers like "remove top and doors and forget about'em" are not an option, even if personally i prefer that way. And i'm working on this with him, but it is his jeep so, i respect his choice).

Btw, thank you all in advance for the help., as usual

jdflute · 11-06-2007, 02:44 AM

Hi,
I live in the Middle East and so have just taken down my soft top for the winter

. Up until recently I had a hard top which was blisteringly hot. The big difference between the two is that the soft top has tinted window which makes an enormous difference, but imho the soft top does not radiate the heat the way a hard top does and is able to vent the heat far quicker.
I did play around with the idea of a liner for noise reduction such as http://www.californiatops.com/liner_hard.html
but for the next six months the top will be down so I can't be bothered. This sort of thing should provide greater heat and noise reduction.
As far as protection goes (and I assume you mean for safety and not comfort), the hard top is fibreglass which will shatter in a crash and is far more dangerous than fabric, but if you want true safety buy a saloon car.
Weather wise the soft top is noisier at speed but keeps out the rain with no problems (it doesn't rain often but when it does it REALLY RAINS

)
My four year old son begged me to get the soft top the minute I bought my jeep and would be totally gutted if I were to put the hard top back on, which I assure you will never happen

When the sun is really hot the soft top will go back up and provide all the protection that a 4year old and his 4month old brother will ever need.
At the end of the day an open jeep is the ultimate driving experience

Protection from the elements = soft top when it is really hot, hard top only when it is really cold and naked in between

. I suppose the nice thing about the california liner is that you could use it for both situations, never thought about it like that before.
Oh, good call on the OME shocks, I'm getting the OME coils this weekend to go with my 32" BFG's on OME shocks and stabilisers.
Jd

**TheBoogieman** · 11-06-2007, 06:55 AM

Hmmmmm.....hot.....hardtop.......YES I've got it!.A/C! without it nothing will help

I had a Jeep without it so I know that 102 degrees with tinted windows is no help at all.

sbulla · 11-06-2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [ITA]Tsunami

He complain about the top becaming too hot under the sun. What do you guys sugest me (him)?

Maybe, paint it a light color....white, silver, etc.

Sonny
'06 Unlimited

Michael_K · 11-06-2007, 07:48 AM

I did that for sound insulation but it works better as a heat insulation.

HTH,

Michael K.

**spyder6** · 11-06-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theboogieman

Hmmmmm.....hot.....hardtop.......YES I've got it!.A/C! without it nothing will help

I had a Jeep without it so I know that 102 degrees with tinted windows is no help at all.

i donno about you, but my AC isnt strong enough to cool off on a extremely hot day

jecaper · 11-06-2007, 10:54 AM

I went the cheap way and bought a couple of the windshield reflectors from Walmart. I used zip ties and created a thermal blanket that stretches across the top of the soft top from frame member to frame member.

It has reduced the heat by about 20 degrees F and my summer was pretty smooth. It may not be the prettiest solution, but for 8 bucks, how could I go wrong?

Noise was also reduced some, but that is only with the full hard doors on.

vodadub · 12-15-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael_K

I did that for sound insulation but it works better as a heat insulation.

HTH,

Michael K.

Nice job ...
Anyone got any specifications on it?
Whut type of materials are those?

**Knuckelhead** · 12-15-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdflute

http://www.californiatops.com/liner_hard.html

Do not give this guy any money! Bad vendor...

11-06-2007, 07:48 AM	#5
Michael_K Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 982 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I did that for sound insulation but it works better as a heat insulation. HTH, Michael K. __________________ DailyDrivenTJ.com JUST For Jeep TJ Owners Around the World!