Jeep hardtop back on

Nov 14, 2006 6 Replies

Well I finally had to do it, after 3 years of running with nothing but the soft top I had to put the hard top back on..... I was closing up the passengers side window insert the other day and all the stitching along the top just ripped right out. It had been going in little spots here and there but it finally gave up the ghost the other day and just ripped all the way. The plastic parts that clip under the door panel have been ripping out too. The top lasted for 7 years so I guess that is pretty good. But next summer I will have to purchase a new one. Well at least I have all winter to save up.



Tom



ps, Kate, I used to store my soft to in a spare room of the house, just unbolt all the metal support rods and take out all the windows and it will roll up tight. Then you can just stack the windows against the wall and lay the top down flat on the floor up against the wall. Maybe if I had done that these last to winters mine would have lasted longer....This keeps it out of the way of the mice and things that are in the outside storage areas and you wont have to worry about the critters eating at it.


You can probably have your local shoemaker redo the stitching.

Water is what makes stitches go bad. I have ten years on my OEM soft top. Bestop Replace-a-Top is a good option if your hardware is still good.

Earle

I thought about that, but it also has a couple of holes in it. One right over the passenger seat, and my wife is tired of it leaking on her when it is pouring down rain outside. So I will save my money and get me one of the heavier sail cloth ones that fits the 2000 TJ. Get the black out windows too!

Tom

My hardware is in pretty good shape, I might just look into that.... Thanks,

Tom

Ha, I am still using my vintage 1986 Whitco softtop!

I had to fix some holes last year. Some material from an old soft door I had and some 'shoe goo' fixed it great. That shoe goo also did wonders for some window cracks.

I have some stitches that need fixing. I am going to use tent seam sealer on them after.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >

" It had been going in little spots here

My '99 one just finished going that way too. I got a full factory almost-new one on Ebay for $400 after a little waiting and searching. With tinted windows this time, too!

Good luck. Matt

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