A hard top or a soft top

I'm sorry I don't have any pics. And I'm not really all that sure on how he did it. I just know that he made a railing that attached to the sides and rear, looked like some kind of channel. Then a peice with the snaps slid and locked into the channel.

 

He did it so there weren't any holes drilled into the jeep for a cleaner look.

 

Well it looks to be that a full soft top is unnecessary for the Jeep. I have decided on the bikini top, with half doors. For inclement weather when I am not driving: http://www.jeepcovers.com/catalog/cj5_jeep_cover_4075855.htm

I guess the hard top will find a cozy spot in the garage at home till the fall. I have a friend who is very good at interior customization, so maybe he will cut me a deal on a head liner to improve the acoustics/insulation of the hard top for the winter. It would be awesome to have him install an overhead map light in that baby too, but we will see.

Today I took the doors off the Jeep and left the hard top on, and it was much quieter. I will be working to dampen the rattling of the windows in the door.

Thanks to everyone who offered their opinions and comments... I think I will be happy to have the hard top come winter!

 

The last thing I would worry about are the snaps. I think they will outlast the fabric / windows.

I guess I should explain why I do not like Bestop and their rail system. I had the supertop with the rails on an 83 CJ7 and I found the top always used to come out from under the rails and would flap in the wind. If I let it go the whole top would eventually work itself free. So I would have to pull over and reattach it every 10 minutes.

The second reason I do not like them is one time I was driving down the road about 40 MPH with the doors off and the top just all of the sudden came out of the windshield channel and the roof ripped opened like a sardeen can tearing it from the sides. It was absolutly the strangest thing. Bestop customer service told me to pound sand no replacement.

I did not install this top the po did so who knows, maybe I just got a defective top. But that is my personal reasoning. Oh and they are real expensive.

 

The 74 CJ5 I inherited from my Father in law has the old Kayline snap top on it. The snaps are great, and if I remember what he told me, that tops been on that jeep at least 10+ years. The doors are in pretty good shape too...the windows are the real problem...and the UV damage to the seams on top that you get here in CO @ 9K feet asl. The only thing that is making me start to look at a new soft top is that the seams for the part of the top over the door that wraps around the "door frame" with the velcro has started to peel away as the stiching has gone, from all my taking the top on and off. I too was thinking bestop, due to the rail system, and the fact I loved the rail system on my old 92 YJ.
Good luck, and let us know what you choose!
-Hookah in CO

 

Check with a local upholstery shop. If the fabric is in good shape, they can restitch the velcro and maybe replace the windows. If you get a new snap top, the snaps might not line up and you'll have to punch more holes (argh!) - at least with the rails, you'll only have the original holes.

BTW the mechanics at the Jeep dealer would never drill holes for the top snaps; instead they would punch them with a hammer and scratch awl. The punched holes are much stronger, since the metal turns inward and reinforces the snap screw.

 

For those wondering what option I chose...

I think option 1 will be the best choice for me. I already have so many projects lined up for the Jeep, I think it will be smart to save some money on getting a whole new soft top.

A bikini top, doors and a cover comes to only ~300 bucks, while a new softop will run ~500 for a STC top and ~650 for the Supertop. Besides I really don't think I'll mind taking the hard top off and on a few times a year.

I can put the money I don't spend on the soft top towards other things like getting the seats recovered or the tub fixed + painted properly. If after a year or two of trying it this way and I find I'd rather a full soft top, I suppose I could always go that route.

 

Hard top for the winter and bikini for the summer would get my vote.

Thats a nice hardtop and door combo you have there. I'd hate to see that go.

 

Top? Doors? I don't understand...

Tim - just look at your two opening pictures and the answer should be obvious. You have a fabulous looking rig either way, but it's almost July! Why mess July up with a top or doors? Keep the hard top for when you're on the road and you can see your breath in the air. Summers, or when you're wheelin', go with picture #2.

 

Trash the hard top... by the way what is your adress again?

I have been looking for a hard top Metal or Fiberglass for my 74 CJ-5 project