HardTops

What's the deal with hardtops? Why do you guys find them so desirable?
I mean, if you had a brand new softtop and came across a nice hardtop for sale, would you buy it anyway?

Just curious on why all the hoopla whenever these things popup.

 

I recently inherited my grandfather's '69 CJ5 4 cyl with hardtop. I would NEVER consider chopping the hardtop. What happens when it's raining heavily and another car splashes you? I don't think plastic doors will do. Besides, the Jeep has side folding seats and it's a great way to bring passengers--and dogs along.

Still remember when I was a little kid my trips to the mountain rivers down *steep* red clay trails with my sister & cousins. My father would drive and my grandfather would sit in front. The hardtop never hesitated. Besides, everybody else around here has a bikini top with fat tires!

 

Heck I won "Best CJ" at a Butler, PA Jeep event...and when asked why my '71 was selected, the judges said it was the hard top! Everyone else had soft-tops.

IMO, I love hopping into the Jeep in the winter when it has a hard top on it. Quieter, more air-tight, and keeps the heat in & elements out better. Not to mention looks! I even wired in an overhead dome light, which you can't do on a soft top. Around here,--unlike so. Cal--time is marked by the changing of the seasons, and a fun rite of time-passage is switching tops.

 

I saw a overhead dome light wired into the roll bar. It was a waterproof boat light. Looked clean. (jeep had a soft top)

I like the looks of the half-cab hard tops. Makes it look like a little truck. From what I have heard with the small cab the heat will burn you out in the winter. guess I'll find out when I get mine on.

 

There were factory ones offered in the 72-75 Jeep, at least some of them, I have one that came out of a 74 model, it fits perfect on the roll bar, curve and all, its basically a chrome stamped steel base that is curved for the roll bar with a corner marker light with a clear lens on it, mounted on the roll bar and the wire run thru the bar and under the dash and was hooked to the light switch to turn it on.

 

yep..... i got both. i insulated both so they are quit AND warm. they definitly make the winters bearable. i like the look too.





i put the half cab on this year, first time in three years. ill post some beter pics of it tommorw

 

as promesed, here is some pics with the half cab.





i like the way it looks now with the rear hoop on as well

 

I found this site while looking for a hard top. I live in San Diego and I'd take a hard top over a soft top in a second. I still don't have one but there's no zippers to mess up, and the windows don't become opaque in the sun after a few years. Plus they look good. You could insulate it. And i suppose you could put a rack on it? The main drawback I can see would be a place to store it during summer.

 

R) R) R) Amen!

 

I certainly don't live in a cold weather climate but I'll mention something no one else has. I been on hunting leases over the years I buy a Jeep and leave it there so I have it and don't have to tow it. You really can't lock a soft top. I like a half top hard top for this purpose even with the bed extender. Hard top really can't be beat for this purpose. They also seem to contro vermin probles if the body is solid. I have a soft top on the one I have here at the house no plans of puting one of the hard tops on it but I don't have to lock it up.

 

Heck I got a hardtop not for any reason except someone gave me one, he told me all I had to do was to go pick it up, yeh it needed a small amount of bodywork and I need to get a new set of locks and some other small stuff but hey I'm dutch and it was free.

 

I needed a top, and it was free.



http://groups.msn.com/ScottShannonMilliner/jeeppainting.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=135

 

sliding windows... nice.

 

Not really the best. The doors look like they are home made. The felt around the windows are worn out and they raddle alot.

 

Beats my roll downs that I can't roll down right now for some unknown reason.

 

I've owned both (Kaylne and Whitco soft tops, Meyer steel cab), and wouldn't own another steel hard top. The cost to handling and performance is too high. Plus, I like to be able to roll up the side curtains or take the top off easily. Clearly an easier choice if you live in the sun belt and/or don't have to drive the CJ every day.

 

I have a hard top on my jeep. I prefer it over the soft top. Alone my quest in restoring/customizing my CJ5 I ended up with three tops and only used one. They are For Sale if anyone is interested. I have over $7000 in the stereo, so its great for security peace of mind.
Here are some pictures attached.