The Jeeper’s Guide to Shopping for a Soft Top

As a Jeep owner, I’m of the opinion that unless you’re neighbors with Santa or study the habits of emperor penguins, you NEED a soft top for your Jeep. I’ve written my local congressmen countless letters about putting this into law. Sure, hard tops are sturdy, secure, and quiet, but have you ever been in a topless Jeep? Do you even nature, bro?

But I’m guessing since you’re here, you probably don’t need too much convincing. What you may need are a few pointers when you’re looking to purchase. There’s a few different styles, options, and materials you’ll need to know about. The Engine Block is here to help you shop, swap, and drop the most iconic of Jeep accessories: the Soft Top.

Framed Vs. Frameless Soft Tops

One of the bigger initial decisions to make when selecting a Jeep soft top is whether you’ll want a framed or frameless top. If your Wrangler came from the factory with a soft top—it is of the framed variety, and that’s why you’ll hear it often referred to as a factory top. For simplicity, we’ll just be calling it a framed top in this section.

A framed top typically has more structure and rigidity than a frameless option, as it is kept in place by a metal skeleton that attaches to the roll bar. This style makes it much easier to fold the top all the way back to get that open-air feel.

Frameless tops (see image) have no full framework assembly, so they attach directly to the roll bar with only a few extra rails. This lack of overhead structure makes it more difficult to achieve an open roof area, but easily allows for removal of rear window panels to get that bikini-top look (open sides, covered top).

Soft Tops are ever evolving and top manufacturers are solving age-old problems with each new iteration they release. We recommend reading up on each top you’re considering, as one frameless can vary wildly from another. That being said, here are a few general benefits and drawbacks of each style.

	Framed Top Pros and Cons		Frameless Top Pros and Cons
✓	Framing adds Rigidity	✓	Quick Individual Panel Removal
✓	Can Keep Frame and Replace Material	✓	Can Easily Replace Individual Panels
✓	Increased Headroom for Rear Passengers	✓	Generally Cheaper
X	Frame adds Cost	✓	Angled ‘Fastback’ Design adds Sporty Look
X	More difficult to Install and Fully Remove	X	Usually a Bit louder at Higher Speeds
		X	Less Headroom for Rear Passengers
		X	More Panels to Remove and Store

Even More Styles to Choose From

If you’re looking for a something a bit different or perhaps a second or third top option for your Jeep, there are options beyond the typical full-coverage top. Here are a few:

Bikini Top

Like we mentioned before, Bikini Tops keep the cabin of your Jeep top covered, while letting unlimited fresh air flow in from the sides. They’re easy to install and look great. However, they aren’t ideal for anything other than warm weather, so if you live in an area that has distinct seasons, you’re going to want another top to supplement it. And while you and your front seat passenger will be shielded overhead, many Bikini Tops will not provide adequate coverage to any backseat occupants—especially in two-door models.

Sunrider/Flip Tops

These tops are a versatile option for those who don’t necessarily crave a completely top and side-less Jeep experience, but still want to let the sun in. The panel right above the driver’s head can easily be folded back, not dissimilar to a sunroof or convertible. And if the weather gets iffy, a quick pull can return that panel right back to where it was. It’s a great choice for any area where the weather can turn in an instant.

Half-Top

While not as common, a half-top chops off the space above the rear cargo area giving your Wrangler a right-angled truck-like appearance. You may even convince people you have a short bed Gladiator! Certainly, this comes at the price of some rear overhead space, but if you rarely load up your Jeep with equipment or don’t buy groceries for the entire month ahead, it’s a neat little choice.

What Material?

Just as Jeep soft top designs have expanded over the years, so too have the materials crafting them.

Vinyl

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? If you had a CJ, or Civilian Jeep Wrangler this is the material you remember. Lightweight, shiny, and dare we say…not the best fitting option. We’re not hating, but looking back on the vinyl tops of yesteryear, they do have a bit of a trash-bag look to them.

They have a light fabric weight—18-23oz. typically—so while that means they may be a little easier to mold and work with, they let in a good deal of outside noise at highway speed. On the positive side, they withstand the elements pretty well and a quick wipe-down will keep them clean.

Vinyl tops aren’t a super popular choice with modern Jeeps, but they do exist. If you’ve got anything from a TJ on back, options are a plenty, with many being a more muted matte finish. Better material exists, but for older Wranglers, sometimes a vinyl top just completes the look.

Denim

Another thinner, more affordable option, denim was standard fare for the soft tops of the YJ and TJ Wranglers. They also come in with a typical fabric weight of 18-23oz. Not unlike your favorite pair of jeans, a denim top consists of a polyester/cotton blend with an element-resistant protective coating. While heavier more durable fabric is available, if you’re looking to replace just the material of your framed top, denim is a relatively inexpensive way to do so.

Sailcloth

Now we get to one of the two heavy hitters on the current market. Sailcloth appeared on the early 2000s TJs and quickly became the dominant option. With multiple vinyl and cotton/poly layers, sailcloth tops offer a nice bump in fabric weight—25-30oz.—keeping the cabin much less noisy than comparable vinyl and denim tops. Sailcloth also offers superior UV and abrasion protection, as well as resistance to folds, wrinkles, and creases that plague thinner material. Sailcloth was such a giant leap forward that many TJ and JK owners ran these soft tops year-round, especially in less-than-ideal climates.

Twill

An often-used fabric on exotics and premium convertibles, twill is the pinnacle of soft top material. Typically constructed as two twill layers sandwiching a premium rubber compound, twill tops tip the scales at a 30+oz. fabric weight. While that may be the most robust, they are easier to work with and often softer than their sailcloth counterpart. As you’d expect, the beefier material also means the best road noise minimization and insulation. If you’re looking for the ultimate in soft top performance, and have the coin to spare, twill is the way to go.

What Color?

Sure, we’ll help you out when it comes to a style and material, but here at The Engine Block we’re not about to take any potential crayons out of your box. Black is the obvious choice and looks great on anything. And we’re really digging the resurgence of the tan top that the JL ushered in. It was a popular option on the YJ and TJ, but seemed to fall out of favor with the JK. While we think a tan top may look odd on a few colors, it’s a timeless and rugged choice.

Blue and grey were also fringe choices in the past and are a bit rarer these days, but can be a welcome breath of fresh air in a sea of black. Aftermarket manufacturers also offer various shades of red as well, a bold choice that may only work well with a few exterior colors. In addition, if you look hard enough, you’ll find a few places that will build you a custom soft top in the color of your choosing, so paint matching is possible.

Whether you go conservative or out-of-the-ordinary, we’re here to fully support whatever you paint on your canvas (or twill…or sailcloth…).

How to maintain?

Cleaning and protecting your top is essential to keeping its vibrancy and functionality. Ol’ faithful—mild detergent and warm water—has been an effective method for ages and still works great on modern tops. But if you want the ultimate in defense, specialty products (often made by the top’s manufacturer specifically for the material) are the pinnacle of protection. They may cost a bit more than Dawn and water from the tap, but your soft top is an investment—and a couple of bucks for a cleaner engineered to work with your specific top is money well spent.

TrailFX Soft Tops

If you’re seeking quality and functionality at a fair price point, look no further than TrailFX. TrailFX Soft Tops replace a factory hard top or damaged soft top using easy-to-install OEM-style hardware. All applications feature antimicrobial and UV-treated black diamond fabric with heat sealed water-resistant seams, and pressed-polished windows. Backed by a limited 3-year warranty, TrailFX Soft Tops ensure you can experience more and adventure further in a Jeep styled as uniquely as you.

More recently, the company added a Mesh Bikini Top and Slant Back Top to the lineup. Check them out — along with TrailFX’s other great product offerings — at www.trailfx.com.