Hardtop to Soft top swap!!!

[TeeJay]

Hello all at Jeepz,

I have a '00 TJ and I am thinking of changing my Hardtop to a Soft top. I found a guy who agreed to make the swap with me. The problem is that he has an '05 TJ... My question is will we be able to do the swap without any problems to face? What are the deffirences if any between a '00 and a '05 tops?

Apreciate your help on this guys. I have searched and asked everywhere for an answer but came up empty handed! I even asked at the Jeep Dealership and they said that the tops wont fit on each of our cars. I wasn't convinced with their answer and want second opinions.....

Cheers,

TeeJay

 

[Ken72]

I think that the years for tops are '97-01 and '03-05.
I'm not sure what the difference. It may be the round corners around the doors.

 

[TeeJay]

I think that the years for tops are '97-01 and '03-05.
I'm not sure what the difference. It may be the round corners around the doors.

Ouch! :-(

 

[Utah_jeepster]

Ken is right there are slight difference between 01 and 02 tops.
There is a change around the window and corner radius of the door.
If your hard top is in good condition I would recommend that you sell it on E-Bay, here or some other jeep board and take the profits and buy a best top with hardware, then you could pocket the extra change and buy something else for your jeep.

BTW welcome aboard Jeepz.

 

[TeeJay]

Ken is right there are slight difference between 01 and 02 tops.
There is a change around the window and corner radius of the door.
If your hard top is in good condition I would recommend that you sell it on E-Bay, here or some other jeep board and take the profits and buy a best top with hardware, then you could pocket the extra change and buy something else for your jeep.

BTW welcome aboard Jeepz.

Not a bad idea... how much should I ask for if I wanted to sell my hardtop?

 

[TeeJay]

So, what you are all saying is that the switch can't be done??!!

How unfortunate :"(

 

[Green97TJ]

They changed the doors?? I didnt realize that, I thought the only problem would be the latches on the windshield. They are more narrow on 03 and up.

 

[Utah_jeepster]

part of the windshield frame as well

 

[TeeJay]

I donno... The door frames look the same to me!

But what if we switched the latches on the windshield, would there still be a problem? is there a problem in the diameters???

 

[TwistedCU]

I donno... The door frames look the same to me!

They're not. It won't work.

What UJ was suggesting would be the best thing. Your hardtop is worth more used than a new soft top. You should make enough off of it to buy a new Bestop Supertop and have cash to spare... just like the man said.

Search eBay and watch a few of them sell and you'll see what I mean. If you wait until Fall you will get a little more for it.

Check out 4WD.com or quadratec.com to see some replacement tops. I am sure that if you polled Jeep owners that better than 90% of us would recommend a Supertop since you will need the hardware too.

 

[mud4feet]

Very interesting thread.............I've had much the same questions myself. I went looking at Bikini and Safari tops figuring TJ's would all be the same..............NOT!!!! Something changed around '02 and I've yet to figure out what that is.

 

[Green97TJ]

Very interesting thread.............I've had much the same questions myself. I went looking at Bikini and Safari tops figuring TJ's would all be the same..............NOT!!!! Something changed around '02 and I've yet to figure out what that is.

A couple things changed in 03 Mud. One is all the plastic around the inside of your windshield, which is partly why the 03 and up have narrower latches (I believe). And Id guess that the windjammers probably changed a little also to accommodate the larger diameter roll bar padding on the 03 and up.

 

[jfrabat]

So, what you are all saying is that the switch can't be done??!!

How unfortunate :"(

Even if it could, I would not recommend you do it... You would defenetly be getting the short end of the stick. Comparing apples to apples, a new hardtop will run you at least $1,500 (without upper doors; maybe less if you find a good deal, but ussually around this figure), where as a new soft top will not reach $1,000.

A used hardtop on eBay ussually retails for at least $600 (ussually around $800 if it is in good condition; maybe a beat up one for $450), where as a new Bestop Supertop with hardware will run you about $575.

Now, me, I bought a hardtop because it is more secure while using my Jeep as a daily driver, and I do have a good stereo set up. It is also more civilized to drive as my daily mode of transportation (better temperature and sound insulation, and less noise because there is no fluttering). But I kept my soft top for the summer, and for when I plan to go offroading (lighter and much MUCH more fun!). Just some food for thought...

Felipe

 

[TeeJay]

They're not. It won't work.

What UJ was suggesting would be the best thing. Your hardtop is worth more used than a new soft top. You should make enough off of it to buy a new Bestop Supertop and have cash to spare... just like the man said.

Search eBay and watch a few of them sell and you'll see what I mean. If you wait until Fall you will get a little more for it.

Check out 4WD.com or quadratec.com to see some replacement tops. I am sure that if you polled Jeep owners that better than 90% of us would recommend a Supertop since you will need the hardware too.

Aha, i c... Thank you guys so much for all the info and advice. Apreciate it

 

[TeeJay]

Even if it could, I would not recommend you do it... You would defenetly be getting the short end of the stick. Comparing apples to apples, a new hardtop will run you at least $1,500 (without upper doors; maybe less if you find a good deal, but ussually around this figure), where as a new soft top will not reach $1,000.

A used hardtop on eBay ussually retails for at least $600 (ussually around $800 if it is in good condition; maybe a beat up one for $450), where as a new Bestop Supertop with hardware will run you about $575.

Now, me, I bought a hardtop because it is more secure while using my Jeep as a daily driver, and I do have a good stereo set up. It is also more civilized to drive as my daily mode of transportation (better temperature and sound insulation, and less noise because there is no fluttering). But I kept my soft top for the summer, and for when I plan to go offroading (lighter and much MUCH more fun!). Just some food for thought...

Felipe

You are totally right!

 

[Utah_jeepster]

Now if your are still bent on getting a soft top....my 01 soft top is a perfect switch

 

[TeeJay]

Now if your are still bent on getting a soft top....my 01 soft top is a perfect switch

I would love to but unfortunatley i live in Kuwait and your far away in Utah

Unless you would handle all the shipping charges But thanks for the offer anyway


Cheers,
TeeJay

 

[Utah_jeepster]

I would love to but unfortunatley i live in Kuwait and your far away in Utah

Unless you would handle all the shipping charges But thanks for the offer anyway


Cheers,
TeeJay

Tell you what you pay the shipping of the hard top and I will pay the shipping of the soft top, mounting hardware...and I will throw in my Bikini top and safaria top:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: