Hard Cab Quality

[oldtime]

Looking for opinions on who makes the best quality hard cabs to fit 1953A1 through 1975 CJ5/6 Jeeps.
Half cabs and or full cabs. Deluxe cabs (large windows)
Mainly interested in military Arctic top with sliding windows vs. deluxe models with lockable cabs and roll up windows. Meyers vs. Koenig vs Kelly.

Myself I have owned some Deluxe Koenig half cabs extra and larger windows and Kelly half cabs.
The Deluxe 3B Koenig half visability was very good as was the appearance.
Doors were easily removable for summertime.
(5 screws each)

 

[47v6]

I owned a Keonig half cab for my first 2a. It was very similar tot he one pictured on the 3b above, but the doors were bent to fit the bend in the tub. It had roll up windows that worked well enough.The windshield adapter looked similar to the one pictured above and I always thought it was kind of home made.. What I disliked about mine was that it was heavy and driving around in it was really loud. That was almost 25 years ago now.

 

[Fireball]

I like the Kelly 300/Bonanza on my '69. It seems to be decently built, has really large windows for visibility, doors lift off, and it's easy to disassemble for removal.

Doors off:

Hatch up:

The doors are shaped funny so the window can overlap the body when it's rolled down. That design feature looks a little odd, but allows the largest full roll down windows of any of the old Jeep tops:

I actually have an extra Kelly top with no rust and original paint. It will be going up for sale this year, but it's a long ways to Missouri from here. The one on the right:

 

[oldtime]

47v6, yes I trimmed those lower Koenig doors because of rust.
Fireball love the look of the full Kelly on your 5.
Wow that a lot of windows so visibility must be excellent.
Yeah may be interested in the. full cab later this season. Trying to decide what cab is best.

 

[SFaulken]

I really like my Koenig full-cab, even though it's been years since it's been on the CJ. (Because it's in Montana, and the CJ is here with me in Washington)

 

[Jw60]

47v6, yes I trimmed those lower Koenig doors because of rust.
Fireball love the look of the full Kelly on your 5.
Wow that a lot of windows so visibility must be excellent.
Yeah may be interested in the. full cab later this season. Trying to decide what cab is best.

Fireball simply needs to get it to Colorado. Hopefully Colorado to st.louis will be the easy part.

 

[Allan]

I like the Kelly 300/Bonanza on my '69. It seems to be decently built, has really large windows for visibility, doors lift off, and it's easy to disassemble for removal.

Doors off:

Hatch up:

The doors are shaped funny so the window can overlap the body when it's rolled down. That design feature looks a little odd, but allows the largest full roll down windows of any of the old Jeep tops:

I actually have an extra Kelly top with no rust and original paint. It will be going up for sale this year, but it's a long ways to Missouri from here. The one on the right:

I have what I believe is a Kelly half cab, rear back and oval windows, the door windows are rectangular, not the slanted style, it’s probably mid sixties, fits the intermediates. My question to you is have you ran it without the doors and does it feel like your going to blow out the back window or is it ok to drive like this.
Thanks

 

[colojeepguy]

At this point, it might be a matter of whatever you can find. It's not like you can mail order a brand new one from JC Whitney!

 

[Fireball]

I have what I believe is a Kelly half cab, rear back and oval windows, the door windows are rectangular, not the slanted style, it’s probably mid sixties, fits the intermediates. My question to you is have you ran it without the doors and does it feel like your going to blow out the back window or is it ok to drive like this.
Thanks

It's great to drive with the doors off in the summertime. Definitely doesn't feel like you're going to get blown out of the Jeep.

 

[givemethewillys]

I like the Kelly 300/Bonanza on my '69. It seems to be decently built, has really large windows for visibility, doors lift off, and it's easy to disassemble for removal.

Doors off:

Hatch up:

The doors are shaped funny so the window can overlap the body when it's rolled down. That design feature looks a little odd, but allows the largest full roll down windows of any of the old Jeep tops:

I actually have an extra Kelly top with no rust and original paint. It will be going up for sale this year, but it's a long ways to Missouri from here. The one on the right:

Kelly top is my favorite, I just love the look! That doesn't help the OPs question - but I think they're all pretty similar in quality from what I've seen. Seems like Meyer tops are the most common in my experience .

 

[Oldpappy]

I wish I could find a decent half cab top locally, but most I find are way out West. The ones that do show up locally are usually pretty roached.

 

[Keys5a]

I have a Frankenstein CJ5 that has a pretty decent Konig full top. It is pretty well made, but the doors are an ugly shape and don’t lay flush with the body, similar to Fireball’s photos above.
i also have an M38a-1 aluminum hard top I used to use 40 years ago. Pretty light weight, but never had proper doors for it. I understand they were plywood? Also, the rear panel is fixed (no hatch or external access), and the windows are pretty small, I think the height of the windshield glass, and not very long.
-Donny

 

[garage gnome]

I really like the Myers on snowshoe. It doesn't rattle and I like the look of the doors.

 

[oldtime]

This cab is to be for my friends 1975 CJ5. We both decided we like the look and fit of the full Meyers cab for it.
Secondly I like the look and fit of the cJ-5 Kelly cabs.
He is still trying to find a nice Meyers full cab for the Jeep.
One in good condition with the extra rear quarter windows.

 

[Glenn]

Both Meyers and Kelly are decent tops. I do like the Meyers door design better but I prefer the Kelly visor design at the front.

 

[Daryl]

Meyers were the best fit and finish. Best doors and windows. The ever elusive windshield filler pieces and top hinges that always seem to be missing is the Achilles heel though.

 

[duffer]

Meyers were the best fit and finish. Best doors and windows. The ever elusive windshield filler pieces and top hinges that always seem to be missing is the Achilles heel though.

This is also my opinion. But damn. Any of those full steel hardtops make a CJ handle like

 

[SIDSCJ]

Hop inside your clothes dryer with a pocket full of wrenches....
Go for a tumble and you'll have an idea of what a 50 year old metal top sounds like.
BTDT.

 

[Twin2]

I have the meyers top
it's been off jeep once in 30 years
strange thing is . I bought jeep from it's second owner . the one that removed the top
cause he had a alabama pipe roll bar made and it didn't fit anymore . so a soft top went on
jeep had all the holes for a meyers top . luckly for me I found one shortly after moving back to virginia
guy I bought it from had it stored in his basement garage under house . sold jeep without it
it came with everything including the gas indent filler strip . those two holes were still there . I put bondo in all the holes
top is dated 1966 . but I just had to paint it black
would I ever go back to a soft top . Nope

 

[Fireball]

Hop inside your clothes dryer with a pocket full of wrenches....
Go for a tumble and you'll have an idea of what a 50 year old metal top sounds like.
BTDT.

I find a properly folded towel jammed between the rollbar and top stops about 95% of the booming and rattling:

I've been meaning to make something more permanent, but it's hard to get motivated when the towel works fine.