Q: soft top. ON or OFF in summer ? what do you do ?

I have the stock Whitco soft top and doors that came with my 86 CJ7. It looks the same as the TJ one, it just works better.

It has a zip up back window that rolls up with straps and side panels that roll up with straps to make it a safari top covering both the front and back seat as a sunscreen, just like my owners manual shows.

It snaps all around the bottom and uses a channel on the top of the windshield.

It is sweet and 'fast' to go up and down. I love it and will replace it with the same or get this one rebuilt. Forget those new 'fancy' ones, LOL, I like the easy up and down.

Mike

SB wrote:

I use the soft top in the non-winter and usually drive around with all the windows zipped out for the shade (canopy mode), or folded down. Having it folded down acts as a trunk lid of sorts for my stuff in the way back as well.

...and I can get the top up pretty fast in my 02 TJ (a LOT faster than in my old YJ) if I have to, not counting zipping in the windows, which are very secondary in my view. Flip and clip, worry about the battens and the rear later when I can.

In canopy mode I don't usually care too much about rain unless it is a lot of rain. It dries. Tomes

Cool, that is 'exactly' my top!

Mike

"L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:

Shaggie, you are THAT travis?? In NC? I wondered what happened to you!

I'm the only Travis in NC that matters. ;-) Who are you?

"I can hammer it back into shape later." :wq!

You will learn.

what are those? LOL.

get used to it.

yep.

nope. once it is warm enough, just leave it down until fall. then put it up again. when it gets really cold, put the hard top back on for the winter.

sort of. but not really.

if it gets wet, dont use it until it has had time to dry out (stereo, speakers, cb radio's etc).

Carpet? what carpet? No seriously, the carpet will mildew fairly fast if you do not get it out and dried all the way out. personally, I pulled mine out in the first 6 mo I had my TJ and never put it back in.

your vinyl seats will soak up water as they get older. carry a towel, and or a garbage bag to sit on if they get really soaked and you are worried about wet butt syndrome.

Expect to get wet. I carry a motorcycle rainsuit to wear in weather emergencies when I dont have the top with me. You can carry a small squeegee or some small hand towels with you to wipe the inside of the windsheild (I keep a few towels in the center console at all times just for that reason). Keep a hat and some gloves and clear plastic glasses on hand for those long drives in bad weather that you didnt expect. leave it out in the sun to dry out if you can, or if you have a garage, a drop light in it will help it dry out (not a halogen one, that will fry it).

Way to late for that!!!

=)

No, I guess it doesn't.

But it does mudslide, earthquake, and burn like hell. I think I will take the rain.

Jerry

Is that a little toy Jeep to the left there?

Just a jeeper in NC (Raleigh area)...

I take my top completely off, and leave it off til it gets cold again.

I have a garage so, I park it in there overnight and on rainy days.

I have a 95 Firebird Formula for those rainy days.

But I am moving to a place without a garage this summer, so I am buying a cab cover from a catalog.

Well, some people "top post"...........OOPS, that's another thread.

Tom

rain = mud + slick trails = fun

My neighbor took his top off last summer on his TJ...left it out in the rain, and what do you know the computer fried. Cost him a bunch in towwing and repair bills. (he's not really the type who should have a wrench in his hands.) My suggestion is tkae off the top but get a waterproof cover for when it rains and at night. I just bungee a plastic tarp over the cab area to keep my radio from getting drenched.