[hardwarp]

Hey guys....i took the hard top naturally off during the summer seasons. Winter is coming and its time to take that new hard top out of storage and put her back on the rig.

I just had a quick questions, I am sure its a dumb one.


Here it is anyways:

Can I just take down my softop and fold it up as if I were too normally and then just put the hardtop on? Or do I have to remove the softop all together to get the hardtop on. When I bought it the hardtop was on and the softop was in boxes...so not sure...thought I would ask.

[nj666z]

Can you do it? Yes.

Should you?
Think of it like this. You know how the straps holding up the rear window in older tops when the read window is rolled up generally scuff up the rear window and leave a permanent mark? This is from the constant friction on the material due to vibration. Similar vibrations will occur and scuff up the top as it is folded down in the rear of the Jeep over time. The same place will get rubbed...and similar results from scuffing to rubbing a hole...so I've been told.

They are only shipped like you received it from the factory and every DC instruction notes NOT keeping the soft top rolled in the rear with the hard top on.

Take it out. You'll be happier you did for the lifespan of your top and for the extra room not having it in provides you.

[COwheeler]

IMO it's better just to take the soft top off; it's only a few torx screws on the roll bar. I believe Jeep recommends not to have them both on and they only do it for the initial sale with the dual top option. Also with it off, you have more room in the Jeep for items and less chance of messing up the top. Hope that helps.

[Chipper]

There are no stupid questions...

I noticed that the new Jeeps with the dual top option are delivered with the hardtop on and the frame for the soft top also on. The "skin" however is removed and shipped in a box.
You could,(if you wanted), carefully fold the softop and put the hardtop on but you'd risk damaging the softop....but yes..it is possible.

You might consider leaving only the soft top frame on under your hardtop.

[Rob99]

plus it'll be in the way if you ever need to put anything in thru the back

[TXST8tj]

the soft top won't get any more damaged than when it is folded down when the hard top is not on. in fact, it will probably hold up better while the hard top is on, if you leave it on. it won't be exposed to the elements at all. nothing will be hitting it or anything anymore than when you just fold it down for some open air. i think the biggest reason to take it off completely (and i did) is because it does get in the way of putting stuff back there when the hard top is on. it doesn't really take up any space in the garage so why not, it take all of 2 minutes to take it off.

[A&BSport]

I just switched tops this past weekend. It's so simple. The door guides come off with just unscrewing those two handles and just slide off. Take off the four screws on the frame by just using a flathead screwdriver as a prybar after you get the screws out. also remove the back window rail just by twisting...you don't have to unscrew anything back there. It took ten minutes at most to get the soft top off. It took more time to dust off the hard top and sweep for spiders underneath than to complete the switch. One recommendation is when you put the hard top on the frame, push it as far back as possible so that when you close the doors, your door isn't rubbing the hard top.

[Jerry Bransford]

I would just take the soft top off. You'll spend less time removing the soft top (only four screws) than you will getting it folded compactly enough to fit under the hard top. Plus having the soft top in place under the hard top just means a reduced ability to carry anything of any size behind the rear seat.

[04JeepTJ]

If you're storing it for the winter then take it off, clean it up and store at least the sailcloth + windows inside so you don't get any mice eating thru it.