Soft tops on jeep wrangler create the look and style that you want. They symbolize freedom and encourage the enjoyment of the great outdoors to a higher degree. One of my first purchases for my jeep wrangler was a new soft top. I was limited in knowledge about jeep wrangler soft top items so I enlisted the help of a friend who specializes in paint and bodywork.
I asked my friend, and several Jeep wrangler owners if they had a recommendation for the best soft tops for Jeep wrangler that I could share with my readers. Their response was a list of fantastic products that they have on their own vehicles. They also shared some buying guidelines and tips that I included for you.
7 Jeep Wrangler Soft Tops Comparison Table
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7 Jeep Wrangler Soft Tops Review
1. Bestop Black Diamond Soft Top for Jeep Wrangler JL
Slide in and out of your Jeep Wrangler 2-door that was manufactured between 2007 and 2017 using these zipperless sides and rear panels.
This soft top for the jeep wrangler will cover all of your needs and desires. It has a flip-back panel directly above the heads of the driver and passenger so you get that freedom of topless fresh air movement while you ride on the beach. Soak up the sunlight and keep everything safe using the zippered pockets on the top that keep everything in its place.
This soft top improves the appearance of your Jeep and it is very easy to install. You do not need drills or alterations to your vehicle. Installation is performed in less than an hour without the help of professionals are costly tools.
The cloth of the top is thick enough to dampen the noises from outside the vehicle. It comes with everything you need to install, and it will provide you with many years of durable service.
2. Smittyb Black Diamond Affordable Jeep Soft Top
This amazing replacement top has tinted windows to help protect your interior from sun damage. It also has seams that are heat-sealed so they prevent leaking or air infiltration through the seams.
This jeep wrangler soft top is a vinyl-coated fabric that is tough and durable. It is weather-resistant and the window materials are approved by the Department of Transportation as having the correct amount of visibility and protection.
The zippers that hold your jeep wrangler windows up or allow them to be folded down are self-correcting so you are going to have fewer instances of the zipper not tracking properly. The self-correction technique also allows the windows to last longer and maintain proper shape and positioning.
Installation is a snap because it perfectly aligns up with the original factory hardware and framework on your Jeep.
3. Pavement Ends Replay Jeep Wrangler Soft Top
Pavement Ends Replay soft top jeep wrangler has the soft fabric top, the side and rear windows, and the upper door skins required on your soft top Jeep. The unit uses the hardware that is already in the position to attach the new covering. That means installation is an easy process that does not require expensive or hard-to-use tools.
The fabric this top is made of is fade resistant so it stays looks better for a longer period of time. All of the materials used on the top and the windows are approved by the Department of Transportation for use on a street-legal vehicle.
The top only weighs twenty pounds and it has zippers that are designed to resist jamming and sticking. It is designed to fully attach to the bow that locks down behind your windshield. It can also easily be removed for a day of driving on the beach or soaking up the sun.
4. Bestop Black Sailcloth Expensive Jeep Soft Top
This affordable replacement soft top has both side and rear windows. These windows are crafted from materials that the Department of Transportation says are suitable for clear visibility and protection from common road debris. It is also a soft top and upper door skins are included on vehicles that require them.
This is a perfect replacement top for a Jeep Wrangler manufactured between 1997 and 2002. It uses the existing factory hardware so it is easy to install and fits without any drilling or alteration of the vehicle or the top.
Maximum UV resistance is designed into the fabric so it is not likely to fade, crack, or become distorted due to exposure to the sun or the heat. It is weather-resistant and can tolerate high humidity, wet conditions, and the extreme cold of the northern states.
5. Bestop Supertop NX Jeep Wrangler Soft Top
One of the fantastic features of the Bestop Supertop NX jeep wrangler JK unlimited soft top is the fold-back section over the passenger seats of the vehicle. You get the freedom of the wind in your hair and the fresh air without having to totally remove the top from the vehicle.
To make the top easier to install and easier to remove the manufacturer designed a set of quick-release bow knuckles and adjustable bow tensioning so your top always fits perfectly. The thick fabric stops the wind and rain from getting inside and easily folds back to allow the sun and air when you want it.
The rear window of the top is tinted for UV protection. It is specifically designed to fit the Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited edition manufactured between 2007 and 2018.
6. Toapcayr Bikini Top Mesh Sunshade Jeep YJ Soft Top
If you really want the freedom of fresh air, but you would like to retain the comfort of a little shade from the sun, then this mesh bikini top is the right choice for your ride. It is a direct fit for the Jeep Wrangler TJ manufactured between 1997 and 2006 and the Jeep Wrangler YJ manufactured between 1987 and 1999. Let your hair down and turn the music up!
The mesh bikini top protects the interior of your Jeep from the harsh UV rays of the sun. You still get light, fresh air, and wind in your hair but your seats and upholstery will not get faded and cracked from the sun sucking the moisture from them.
You are not going to need any tools to make modifications to your vehicle so the top will fit. The top has Velcro and nylon buckles that adhere it to your roll bars. It goes on quick and easy and comes off just as quick and easy.
7. Rampage Factory Replacement Jeep Soft Tops
Replacing the soft top on your Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited manufactured between 2007 and 2010 has just gotten easier. The Rampage soft top for jeep is a factory replacement that requires no changes to your vehicle and uses the existing fasteners and hardware
The side and rear windows can be easily removed by using the zippers that hold them in place. You have several options when using this soft top because you can remove the entire thing and go topless or remove the windows and have the breeze along with UV protection and protection from some road debris.
All of the zippers are self-correcting so they are easy to close and have fewer incidences of malfunction or hanging up.
Things to Consider Before Buying Jeep Wrangler Soft Top
Before buying a soft-top for your Jeep wrangler you need to understand the different types and features of soft-tops. Then you can compile a list of the best jeep wrangler soft top features you like the most, and compare the tops you see against your list. This will help you get a soft top that you love, that fits well, and that will be more suited to your driving style.
Material
Vinyl
This is the thinnest material used to create a soft top. It appears to be glossy and many people say it feels like plastic. This material was primarily used on older Jeeps. The vinyl does not do a good job of blocking the road and exterior noises. It is weather and UV-resistant material, but the interior of the Jeep will be colder in the winter and hotter in the summer with this type of top in place.
Denim
The denim tops are pure fashion statements. They are weather resistant because they have a vinyl coating on the underside to help them stop moisture, wind, and UV rays from penetrating the vehicle. They do very little to block out exterior noises.
Sailcloth
The sailcloth is more weather resistant because they have two vinyl layers of protection. They reduce the amount of wind and road noise more than denim or vinyl. The upper layer of these tops is made from a polyester/cotton material so it has a unique appearance.
Windows
Some of the soft tops come with side windows only, some come with rear windows, some of them come with tinted windows, and others do not. The biggest thing you want to make sure of is that the windows are crafted from a material that is approved by the Department of Transportation for visibility and protection.
Twill
This is the thickest soft top material. It provides the quietest rides and the most insulation of any of the soft top varieties.
Frame
These tops either come with an aluminum frame that secures them in place or they are frameless and attach to the Jeep using a series of rails.
Model Fit
The biggest part of your soft top choice will be the make and model of vehicle the top was intended to be used on.
Jeep Wrangler Hard Top vs Soft Top
Soft tops and hard tops each have special benefits that make people like them more than the other variety. The biggest determination for whether a soft or hard top is best is your personal preferences and how you use your Jeep.
Hard Tops
- More durable
- Last longer
- Protect the interior of the car and the rider more completely
- Easy to clean
- Harder to remove so going topless requires more time and preparation
- Takes up more storage space when it is removed
- Is heavier than a soft top
- Allows you to securely lock your vehicle and protect against grab and go theft
Soft Tops
- Easy to remove so you can go topless at the drop of a hat
- Stores in smaller spaces so you can even store it in the vehicle
- Not as warm in the winter and does not let the vehicle get as cool in the summer
- Harder to clean than the hardtops are
- Temperature variations cause the materials to stretch and shrink
- The zippers can stick, jam, or completely fail while you are putting the tops of the windows in place
- The windows are not as clear as glass windows
How to Install Jeep Soft Top?
Installation requires that you use the existing fasteners and fastener methods of the previous soft top that came on your vehicle. Unfasten the old top and discard it. Place the new top in position and stretch it across the frame of the vehicle.
Match the fastener on the new top to the existing fastener on the frame of the vehicle and attach using these fasteners. It is normally easiest if you start at the back of the vehicle and work your way up to the front of the vehicle. You might want to enlist the help of a friend so they can fasten one side of the top while you fasten the other.
You will need to tug the top into position and hold the top firmly with one hand while you secure the fastener with the other hand.
How to Fold Down Jeep Soft Top?
Folding down the soft top requires you to locate the latches that are securing the front upper section of the top to the Jeep. Usually, you begin with the fastener located on the number 6 bow on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Then more across the vehicle and locate the fastener on the passenger side.
Now you are going to begin to fold or roll the top up and unfasten any latches or catches as you come to them. When you reach the end. you will either completely remove this section of the top to tie the section in place with the ties that are attached to it.
Different Types of Jeep Soft Tops
Framed
Framed soft top offers an aluminum frame to support the material of the top. The framed top provides you with a strong and secure method of attaching the top. It is harder to retract or remove.
Frameless
The frameless soft top uses a series of rails to be secured to the vehicle. When you want to remove the entire top, it will take you longer than if you were removing a framed top. It requires a greater amount of storage room and ensuring a secure fit can often be problematic.
Bikini
The bikini top is a soft top that only covers the very extreme top portion of the vehicle. These tops do not have doors and windows and they are often made from mesh materials that are not waterproof. They allow you to have some UV protection and some cooling shade over the seated area.
FAQs for Jeep Wrangler Soft Tops
Though we tried to cover all questions you have on your mind when buying the best soft top for jeep wrangler. But there are few certain questions people asked when they buy soft tops for their jeep wrangle. We tried to answer those questions here for you:
How Do I Know Which Soft Top Will Fit on My Jeep?
You must go to the manufacturers’ site and check the specifics for the top. The manufacturer will tell you the exact makes and models of Jeep vehicles that the top is compatible with.
What’s the Life Expectancy of My New Soft Top?
The life expectancy of your soft top is determined by how you drive your vehicle, how often you remove the top, is the top stored in a garage when not in use, and the typical weather elements the top is exposed to on a regular basis.
Why Won’t My New Soft Doors Seal to My Soft Top?
The most common reason why this occurs is when you are installing the top you are lying the plastic piece located on the side of the window against the pillar instead of inserting the plastic piece properly into the pillar. The window should be inserted into this piece and then zipped into place.
Conclusion
Now we hope you get an idea of how to pick the best soft top for jeep wrangler. If you have been considering a bikini top to use the next time you go to the beach or the lake we suggest that you check the compatibility of the Bikini Top by ToapCayR. It straps on using nylon and Velcro fasteners so it is easy to install, easy to remove, and protective of your interior while giving you the fresh air you crave.
If you are looking for a soft top with a fold-back section that gives you the joy of a topless ride without you having to remove the entire top, we suggest you look closely at the Supertop NX by Bestop. It gives you all of the benefits with fewer of hassles.
