PLEASE Help with putting soft top back on!

tcestes · 02-28-2006, 07:24 PM

UUGGH!! I'm about to pull my hair out. I took my soft top off for the first time today, or folded it back actually. This evening I decided to put it back on, but I can't get it to go back on right for nothing. The problem I'm having, is the parts that tuck in at the very back of the jeep, near the tailgate, if I tuck their plastic seals under the lip, I cannot get the front part of the soft top to hook into the windshield. And vice-versa. If I hook the winshield first, the back part won't hook.

What am I doing wrong? I tried tucking both sides of the back under the lip, and pullling the top all the way to the winshield, but I still like a good bit being able to close the clamps. PLEASE HELP!

**RAAB3485** · 02-28-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcestes

UUGGH!! I'm about to pull my hair out. I took my soft top off for the first time today, or folded it back actually. This evening I decided to put it back on, but I can't get it to go back on right for nothing. The problem I'm having, is the parts that tuck in at the very back of the jeep, near the tailgate, if I tuck their plastic seals under the lip, I cannot get the front part of the soft top to hook into the windshield. And vice-versa. If I hook the winshield first, the back part won't hook.

What am I doing wrong? I tried tucking both sides of the back under the lip, and pullling the top all the way to the winshield, but I still like a good bit being able to close the clamps. PLEASE HELP!

You waited until it was cool out or dark didn't you? The cool air shrinks your top. When its nice and toasty out it will be easy to do. Do you have garage you could park it in with maybe a space heater? If you warm up the top it'll go back on.

hoosier724 · 02-28-2006, 07:30 PM

http://www.links4jeeps.com/writeups/softtop/

rhelton04 · 02-28-2006, 07:31 PM

As stated above...when it's cold it can be a bi#$. Just put some weight on those clamps and they'll close.

Achped · 02-28-2006, 07:32 PM

Problem: Top shrunk

Solution: Move to Florida, wait till morning, let UV rays absorb in top, go to re-install top, realize the weather's beautiful, leave it off until the August rains.

**Rocky529** · 02-28-2006, 07:36 PM

Clamp the header to your windshield before you start anything else...BUT do not clamp it down, just hook it into the holes so it holds the header in place... then put in your rear and side windows and the last thing you do is fold down the clamps.

103 · 02-28-2006, 07:36 PM

haha, yeah, like all have said--your top has shrunk. I've been doing a lot of research for a study group I'm organizing and completely missed the fact that the sun had set. It's gonna be fun pulling that thing back on after the gym tonight!

tcestes · 02-28-2006, 07:40 PM

Thanks for the link and the info guys. It was about 72 when I took it down this afternoon, and considerably cooler when I was trying to put it back on. So i'll wait till tomorrow around noon and give it another try.

bluehdmc · 02-28-2006, 07:45 PM

The video I got with my Jeep says to hook, but not close the clamps on the windsheild header, then with one hand on the bow at the rear of the top apply some pressure to pull it down and tuck the back under the lip, then install windows, tuck above doors under lip and then tighten clamps. Of course if your top shrunk from the cold it may be a little tougher. Good Luck!

TJ-Loser · 02-28-2006, 07:45 PM

What helps me is not to clamp the clamps all the way just the lip. Then the plastic pieces in the rear where the windows zip on, then put your windows on, and then clamp the front to the windsheild. Try that to see if that doesn't help.

RockRunner85 · 02-28-2006, 08:05 PM

If its only you trying to get it back on do as said above and just clip the clamps in the header but don't clamp then down until you put the back flaps in.

If you have another person to help, but the back flaps in and have to push up and fowards on the back bow while you hook the clamps in. Works great.

jessasfella · 02-28-2006, 08:46 PM

I took my soft top all the way off ONCE. Never again. Biggest PITA I have ever experienced, Jeep-wise. Ever since I just leave it down, but I don't take it off.

TJ-Loser · 02-28-2006, 08:54 PM

I just sold my hardtop and put my soft top on in about 35 degree weather. Yeah......it sucked big time! I had to put my windows inside for an hour or so to get them back on!

stretch276 · 02-28-2006, 08:56 PM

i took mine off the other day because it finally hit 60 degrees here. two days later when i went out at 630 in the morning it was 24 degrees, talk about a PITA>>>>>

jessasfella · 02-28-2006, 09:33 PM

The first time I installed my new sailcloth top (about a year ago), I had like 6 space heaters in the garage for a few hours, trying to get the temp up. I finally got it to about 60, and that was enough to BARELY get it on.

02-28-2006, 07:31 PM	#4
rhelton04 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cow town Posts: 229 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	As stated above...when it's cold it can be a bi#$. Just put some weight on those clamps and they'll close. __________________ 04 X 31x10.5 Wrangler AT/S RE 2" BB LOD Rocker Guards Black - You mean it comes in other colors? [URL="http://ryan.helton.googlepages.com/home"]Ryan's Jeep[/URL]

02-28-2006, 07:36 PM	#7
103 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 121 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	haha, yeah, like all have said--your top has shrunk. I've been doing a lot of research for a study group I'm organizing and completely missed the fact that the sun had set. It's gonna be fun pulling that thing back on after the gym tonight! __________________ Wishing I had time to find a trail. I'd settle for driving on the beach. :(

02-28-2006, 07:45 PM	#9
bluehdmc Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: north NJ Posts: 420 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	The video I got with my Jeep says to hook, but not close the clamps on the windsheild header, then with one hand on the bow at the rear of the top apply some pressure to pull it down and tuck the back under the lip, then install windows, tuck above doors under lip and then tighten clamps. Of course if your top shrunk from the cold it may be a little tougher. Good Luck! __________________ bluehdmc North NJ 2005 Stone White Rubicon Unlimited White Jeep Club #53 1999 Harley Road King 2006 BMW R1200RT

02-28-2006, 07:45 PM	#10
TJ-Loser Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 6 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	What helps me is not to clamp the clamps all the way just the lip. Then the plastic pieces in the rear where the windows zip on, then put your windows on, and then clamp the front to the windsheild. Try that to see if that doesn't help. __________________ 5.5 superflex 35 BF Muds D44 rear

02-28-2006, 08:54 PM	#13
TJ-Loser Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 6 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I just sold my hardtop and put my soft top on in about 35 degree weather. Yeah......it sucked big time! I had to put my windows inside for an hour or so to get them back on! __________________ 5.5 superflex 35 BF Muds D44 rear

02-28-2006, 07:40 PM	#8
tcestes Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northeast MS Posts: 526 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks for the link and the info guys. It was about 72 when I took it down this afternoon, and considerably cooler when I was trying to put it back on. So i'll wait till tomorrow around noon and give it another try.

02-28-2006, 08:56 PM	#14
stretch276 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 120 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	i took mine off the other day because it finally hit 60 degrees here. two days later when i went out at 630 in the morning it was 24 degrees, talk about a PITA>>>>> __________________ Silver 05TJ RME 6spd teraflex 3T w/procomp ES9000s 15x8 3.75bs procomp RCs 33x12.5x15 bfg mts jks quickers teraflex adj. trackbar