Do you like HARD or SOFT? "Tops" that is..

mingez

mingez

New member
So, I'm debating whether I should keep the hard top, or buy a soft top. I could sell the Hard top (which by the way is a targa top) for a pretty penny. But being a new Wrangler owner, I'd like to hear your experiences/opinions on the matter.

Pro's and con's about both. I know the obvious stuff, like the hard top is heavy, and the soft top is noisy. But is there something less obvious I might be missing?

Thanks!

(yeah I searched, but search is no good)
 

I wanna get rid of my hardtop. I would love the ability that the soft top provides to be able and fold the top down or zip out the windows at a moments notice. With a hardtop, you lose that flexibility, and you gotta have a place to store it. I think I am going to sell mine and my full hard doors. Want light weight and flexibilty.
 
OT - Bob Villa Lied to Us

Go soft all the way. Pretty much what laneiac said is the good stuff about soft tops. Only thing i like about hard tops is the added security factor.
 
Hi Ian,

I have three tops for the "Bubbacon:" soft, bikini and hard.

I seldom use the full soft top because I prefer the binkini top during good weather. I can take the bikini top off the Jeep or put it back on the Jeep in minutes.

The hard-top and the metal full-doors serve me well during our cold, snowy winters. (Ice scrapers, road salt and plastic windows do not mix well.)

The full soft top does makes a lot of slapping noises, but the hard-top rumbles. Pick your poison on the noise question.

I can only suggest that you try your hard-top and a bikini top for a while.

What the heck? The hard-top is money in the bank until you make your choice.

Regards,

Gadget
 

My soft top flaps, and my hard top whistles... bikini top? no noise but cold in the winter. If it came down to one top, I would go with the soft. I would get a good one that is Quiet... ? Good luck with that though. The good thing about the hard top is it holds in the heat better during the winter, I will be switching in a month or so.
 
I loved my soft top year round but if I already had a hard top I would definitely rock the hard top in the not so nice weather and bikini top in the nice weather. Considering your in NM I gotta figure its always pretty nice (atleast compared to Central NY). Go with the Bikini
 

I just bought a sailcloth top a couple of weeks ago, and I love it. Compared to the old canvas top its 10 times quieter. And in the add for it, I saw where it is supposed to be quieter than a hardtop. Never had a hardtop so I couldn't tell you from experience. As long as you don't have big holes in your soft top, the heat stays in well with a soft top. Here in Alabama our winters aren't the bad, and I expect NM winters aren't either, so I would go with the soft top.
 
Definately soft top if you have to chose. I have both and leave the soft on for all but about three months of the year (Dec, Jan, Feb). That is what I did last year. I may see how long I can go with the soft top during this winter. Memphis winters aren't too bad.
 
Dumb

Hardtops are nice and pricy. If one came with your jeep then cool. You can sell it and get some pretty good money. I like the soft top. Just because it is easier to store and it only takes one person to put on or take off.
 

Soft all the way! All the above! I know its been stated already but I love the easy and convinance of the soft top. Like going into the fall...can have it up for the chilly ride to work...take it down for a pleasurable ride home!

Do wish I had a bikini top though......
 
I used a soft top all winter, and it would always stay plenty warm (with the heater on very low it would still stay very warm) even way up in the mountains in snow storms!! No top during summer of course...I never really used the bikini that much.

Or you could try going with no top all winter!! I used to leave my top off in the middle of winter when going to school (it rains a lot in Oregon by the way)--it was interresting
 

If I lived in a warmer climate I would run a soft top all year. Most people up here in pa like hard tops in the winter. That said, I run a soft top all year, and in the winter I bundle up.
 
I put my jeep with a hard top and loved it in the winter, but once the weather got warmer i hated it. I just bought a pavement ends flip top this summer which is fairly cheaper than most soft tops. As everyone said its great to have the flexability to be able to take it down quickly. My preference is hard top in the winter and soft top the rest of the year.
 
Well, mingez, I thought that you were dead set on the pink surrey top! What gives?!?!
Seriously, I'm a soft-topper all the way. My heater will run you out of there even on the coldest days. The only drawback was mentioned previously by Gadget - snow, ice, salt, and plastic windows don't mix. But I have a little canvas carport so I don't get much of that. Can't beat the versatility of a soft-top, in my humble opinion.............especially the pink stripey ones!!! :lol:
 

Wow, so, you all have opinions on this? Shocker!! LOL.

Well, okay, so now this begs the question: Which top is best? Pavement Ends top is super cheap, but why? I'm always cautious of the lower priced stuff. Do you like the PE soft top? (those that own it)

What about half tops? The sunrider by bestop.

Bestop vs. Pavement Ends vs. ???

Gimme some 411...
 
Bestop vs. Pavement Ends

BESTOP
Fabric: 18 oz. Polycotton
Windows: Solvay 4mm
Zippers: YKK (scoop count)
OE Specs: Yes
ISO 9000: Yes
Warranty: 2 yr.
Built: USA



PAVEMENT ENDS
Fabric: 15 oz. Polyester
Windows: Solvay 2mm
Zippers: Ideal (non-scoop count)
OE Specs: No
ISO 9000: No
Warranty: 1 yr.
Built: import
 
A little late I know, but go soft. Especially on a TJ they arent THAT loud, especially if ya get sailcloth. All those guys with the old jeeps are just mad cuz they have loud soft tops ;) j/k. And as mentioned before, the heat will about run ya out even with the soft top in the winter. Given the choice of only one top it would be soft top without hesitation for me.

Nathan
 

I had a Bestop soft top and loved it. Never had anything else, so I can't really compare it to anything though. All I know is you would be very happy and couldn't go wrong with one.
 
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