Opinions please 71 with Hardtop??

I have a 71, it is black and orange ren II. I have a guy who will sell me a hard top and doors for $350 in good++ shape. My question is am I selling out to go with a hard top? I dont want to look like some gay old man. Thanks, also is 350 to much??

 

There is nothing wrong with looking like a happy old man in a Renegade. Price is reasonable if it is in good shape.

 

One of the big reasons for a hard top is that we have a 8 month old girl and think it will keep heat better, maybe not be so noisy?? I dunno...

 

From my experience, it will be far more noisy, as every noise will echo/resonate. Heat is subjective. My black super-top feels much warmer to me in the winter than my white steel hardtop did. There was less draft with the hardtop though.

 

metal, an its white so I will be re-painting anyhow. I was thinking I would Rhino line the thing. If I rhino in and out it will add to the weight but would cut noise a ton and insulate as well. Im steering towards buying it and after a drive or two if I dont like it I can toss it. my biggest concern is loss of the sporty look. I dont want to have people asking what my mail route is.....

 

IME they change the balance of the Jeep a lot. I wouldn't add any weight to it, since it's up high exactly where it will make the most difference.

I drove a CJ-6 with a full Meyer Cab for a few years, and it's less drafty than the soft top. I'm not sure that it's any quieter... probably warmer if you plow.

It's a fairly rugged and manly look, not gay at all

 

No one has ever asked me if mine was a postal, and I doubt anyone will with your Renegade either. If they know that little about Jeeps, it's not worth worrying what they think.



I've never had a softop on mine, only hard top or bikini top, so I can't compare for you. I did glue carpet on the inside of mine and it doesn't seem too noisy or cold. There is some door rattling, but I think that can be minimized with some weatherstripping in strategic places. I do like orange and black together, and think on an orange Renegade it would look best if painted black, JMHO.

 

we don't drive old JEEPs to conform. That's what YJ's are for

 

I do get the mail truck thing all the time. Actually, since I painted it black I really havn't gotten it too much any more. Whites killer though. People don't know what to think. My response was always, "Listen smart guy, guess who made mail trucks? JEEP. Guess why? Cause the mail HAS TO get there." I think it takes the "sporty" look away, but I couldn't care less. I love my hard top more then anything. It echoes, but dosn't rattle, and I really don't notice a weight difference with it on or off. Maybe my springs arn't soft enough? The metal is awsome offroad. It knocks branches right out of the way with no fear. (I've had soft tops get ripped off like sardine cans) And if you get pinned against a tree, you just throw some spray paint on it and your good to go. It's very durable, definitly a jeep item. I hear what your saying tho, and the answer is a CJ with no top will never look better...so it probably will take the look away. Who cares, its not a YJ, you've got my respect.

 

Boy the YJ's sure get blasted here! Im going to get the top in the morning. your comments are right on so I guess i will see! if someone will now point me to the tip page for loading pictures I will gladly put my jeep as my avatar, and give the YJ owners a reason drool over old steel. Also, if people think it looks like a postal truck, they wont get so upset when they see there old lady leaning in my window as I coast by!!! TY

 

Thanks for opinions. it made up my mind im getting it

 

My 1970 CJ6 has always had one on it. When I painted took it all a part, used foam tape on all joints, and camper tape for the bottom, new weather strip in doors, By doing this it made it less noise.
Make sure you get the hinges for the doors that fit on the body and wihdsheild frame.
Yes I get some strange looks but also a lot of thumbs up.

Andrew

 

Also try get the trim panels that attach to the windshield frame. They create a "door jam" along the sides of the windshield frame. If you don't get them you'll have about a 3/4"+ gap between the door and the windshield frame.

 

We really don't have a problem with YJ's here.... we are just teasing. If I had money, a forgiving wife and space, I'd probably own a YJ/TJ as well.

 

AMEN.

 

Ok so I got the hard top, all the gear etc. its really good, but the door hinges seem in an odd place. the bottom one is normal i think behind "jeep" and in front of door sill, but the top one is long and seems like it would interfere with the mirror. normal or should i shop around for some that look right. hmmmmm.......

 

Those sound like the correct hinges. You must have gotten the same top I used to have, the door windows roll up and down and the doors are really heavy? I was dumb and traded my top years ago when I bought a new soft top. Wish I still had the hard top for the winter. Don't forget to post some pics! This is the only pic I have of my jeep with the hard top, many years ago.

 

Here's a picture of my DS top hinge if it helps: