The best Automotive Tops & Roofs: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Love these! Jeep rain gutter extension.

https://www.amazon.com/JeCar-Extension-Accessories-2018-2021-Gladiator/dp/B08LCXQ24P/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=38F6OKP3N9CL5&dchild=1&keywords=jeep+rain+gutter+extensions&qid=1612069435&sprefix=Jeep+rain%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1-spons&amp...

I just picked up a 2020 JLU a couple of month ago and yeah, the rain gutter problem still exists. I'm in New Brunswick and we get a fair amount of rain here too.

There is an aftermarket solution from JeCar on Amazon called the JeCar Hardtop Rain Diverter ABS Drip Rail Extension. I ordered them, but haven't had the time to install them yet. So I'm not sure how well they'll work. From the looks of the photos on Amazon they extend the rain channel around to the windshield and deposit the water there.

Not bad for only $30.35 CAD.

As for the Freedom top, I haven't had mine leak so far, and it seems fairly tight.

Cheap but good option is the rampage trail top. It's frameless. Get the sailcloth version, it's actually as far as I can tell the thickest soft to material out there. $345 right now on Amazon. I got mine on a warehouse deal open box for even cheaper.

Rampage Jeep 109735 Trail Top Frameless/Bowless Sailcloth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042TK10E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MAO3zb3DQ9JFD

There’s one called the tail veil on Amazon that looks kinda cool.

I have this one for our minivan, which is great if you don’t need a lot of space

Explorer 2 SUV Tent

It was definitely a rad time, and the water is a bit lower than normal so if your planing to tube it’s perfect right now. This is what I picked up on amazon Explorer 2 SUV tent . Looks like this one is out of stock right now but there is another THATS like $140 and fits an element also.

The thing sets up in minutes!

Couple tips:

-If you’re going to remove both back seats to sleep, a full size blow up mattress works perfectly (my wife and I slept great)

• go to a 99 cent / dollar store and buy a bunch of window shades, make a stencil of every window including sun roof. Had these up during the day while out and kept the car 20 degrees cooler (was 101 when we went). Also worked great for privacy shades at night.

-get a battery powered fan, one that can flip to the ceiling handles, makes a HUGE difference overnight

I'm not 100% sure, I am pretty sure it was a Bestop - it uses the windshield channel and ideally the door surrounds. I bought the Jeep used and dealer said it had 2 tops, but the windows were gone so the let me pick out a top for it. It's been 10 years and I don't remember which brand and I just looked and no name on it. I use this in the Spring or for longer trips if I don't want the hard top, otherwise I've got my mesh top on most all summer.

Did some searching and found two that are close, my guess is my model is out of production;

Bestop 5259435 Black Diamond Safari-Style Bikini Top for 2010-2018 Wrangler JK Unlimited

This one is for newer Jeeps, but like mine uses the door surrounds - which I do go without sometimes.

Header Extended Safari Cable Style Bikini® Top Jeep 2018-2022 Wrangler JL; Requires soft top door surrounds

I’ve driven hours long trips with out the doors and roof, I’d rest my foot on the little peg that the doors slides onto. Moving blankets are your friends and lots of them (also maybe pool noodles or something similar) if you want to store the doors in the bed. But I leave everything at home. I personally wouldn’t keep the doors in the bed because of the little keeper (the little black bar that holds the door open at certain angles) if that goes into the door I’ve heard it’s a pain to get it back out. What you could also do is leave the roofs at home and keep the doors then take them off at the beach house. While running no roof use this Shadeidea sunshade I got it off Amazon and you don’t have to take it off to put the roof back on. Mine came with a gift which was a passenger grab handle storage bag

ive seen alot of good reviews about this specific softop, its the one im probably gonna go with as well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DR14U0K/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_ZC09K2FH6REBNF1TTQ1W

theres also a youtube video on the installation process and his review

https://youtu.be/gQDugrNblQM

good luck! 👍

Depends on how you want to fix it. The most common "cheapest" fix is tape. People have cut out and glued in new plastic and glass windows but results always suck and the glue always fails. The cheapest replacement top is this one from amazon. A lot of people have bought and installed that one and had great results.

The most common cause for plastic windows to fail like this is because people are putting the top down when the window/top is cold. When the window and top are cold, it really doesnt like to fold and will kink causing a concentrated stress point. Causing it to break. If you insist on putting the top down when its cold. Run the heater on full blast for a little bit and when you put the top down. Stop half way and karate chop any kinks to make it fold neatly.

Two likely possibilities, either the the weather stripping and seals on top (happens to both soft or hard tops) need to replaced. try these. Or the cowl drain is clogged. This at the drain right in front of the windshield. If that happened it can leak down the ac unit and leak into either side floorboard or rear floorboard. You’re best bet is to sit in it and have someone spray a hose all over the car.

I had this same leak. It's from the freedom panel foam being old and compressed and it leaking down the pillar. What fixed it for me was buying this foam kit like this and replacing the foam. It was where the panel fits into the channel on the pillar.

https://www.amazon.com/1990-2005-Complete-Convertible-Replacement-Plastic/dp/B00DR14U0K took about 6 hours just because i took my time to do it properly! the top was given to me by the previous owner. he bought the top but didn't install it himself because he was too intimidated by it.. honestly though i definetly recommend changing it before winter! a little bit intimidating but very doable, and you'll be so happy you did it lol

I just bought the Bestop Trektop NX Glide - so far I’m really happy with it! The installation wasn’t too bad, but I recommend finding some videos because the instructions leave a little to be desired for some steps. :)

I went with a Bestop unit that has the header built in and cables that hold the top into the rain gutters of the door surrounds. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009EVOKBQ

Since you have a hard top you probably don't have door surrounds, there is a different model that doesn't use the cables and doesn't require the surrounds. Door surrounds don't have any utility with the doors off obviously, I prefer the look of surrounds on and the cables make putting the top on a little faster. There are models that attach to a stand alone header too, tons of options.

I would also recommend a dust cover for the cargo area. Won't stop a thief, but it keeps your stuff out of sight.

I suggest the Rampage frameless top for this situation.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031WGQBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_K7JSxb7JZ5HED

Its pretty quick on/off and is cheaper than getting a top plus frame.

Any soft top will also need a wind shield channel, the door surrounds, and tailgate bar.

https://www.amazon.com/1989-1997-Complete-Convertible-Replacement-Plastic/dp/B00DR14U0K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469896015&sr=8-1&keywords=miata+soft+top

I was really trying to find a soft top in my local area but either nobody had one or they were already super damaged.

I just picked up one of these for camping in my Subaru with a similar setup, seems like it will work well for ventilation and easier access through the hatch:

Explorer 2 SUV Tent: http://www.amazon.com/DAC-DA-E2T-Explorer-SUV-Tent/dp/B0001WTY0E/

Rampage Frameless, and you get a bikini/safari out of it, and no stupid frames to deal with. also in the $400 range.

Quadratec

and even cheaper on Amazon

Dont forget to buy the header.

I've been running this for about a year now with no complaints. I really like the look too. Plus, you can zip off all the windows and they store in the top itself, converting it into a full length safari top. Its cheap too!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042TK10E/ref=asc_df_B0042TK10E1918297?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B0042TK10E

I just bought this one Haven't gotten it yet. I guess the quality can be hit or miss(read good reviews then people on wrangler forum told me it may not be the best.

I got my first soft top on craigslist for 250 with the frame. That is always a great spot to check.

This is the top I bought. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0031WGQBQ

The best part about this top is that it can easily turn into a bikini top. You can store the windows in the actual top so if you were away from home you could easily put the windows back up. At most it has taken me 15 minutes to take it off, 20 to put it back on. Now I put it up and take it down in under 10 mins.

I can't really tell you about the road noise because I can only compare to the hard top. Personally, I don't think it sounds too bad on the highway, average Jeep noise. And insulation is awesome. As I mentioned, when it rained, I experienced no leaks. Now, I've only had the top for a month now so I'm not sure about longevity and how it does in the winter. But so far I have no complaints.