Jeeps are highly coveted cars due to the unlimited possibilities it offers not only for outdoor adventures, but also customization. You can go as far as removing car doors and choosing whether you want a hard top, soft top, or none at all.
However, both tops can serve great purposes in different seasons thus creating a huge demand for both. To respond, we now have Dual Top Group Jeeps.
What is a Dual Top Group Jeep?
One of the huge selling points of Jeep is that they were almost entirely customizable and soon people discovered the benefits of having both the soft top and hard top.
So to address the increasing demand for both, Jeep began to offer a Dual Top option that included both the soft top and hard top in the purchase of their vehicle. Saving people a lot of time, money, and effort.
Previously, soft tops came pre-installed right beneath the hard top but this quickly became an issue because the soft top would eventually get damaged underneath. As of now, soft tops came separately packaged with the hard top pre-installed onto the vehicle.
What are the Advantages of Having a Dual Top Group Jeep?
Many consumers began clamoring for the use of both tops because of the different purposes they serve as well as their many benefits for the changing seasons.
Plus, going for the Dual Top option right away when purchasing your Jeep saves you a ton of money as opposed to purchasing a hard top and soft top separately.
Hard Top
The sturdy, solid hard top is a welcome addition to the Jeep especially for those who live in areas with cold, harsh winters.
It is great for keeping insulation and heat inside the car because of its solid build plus it can handle the weight of the snow and whatever other elements nature may throw at you with little to no problem.
Plus, not only does it provide a clean, polished look, it is also a much easier top to clean without much concern to damage. It even comes with a rear window wiper and defroster that makes clean-up much easier.
Overall, this is a much sturdier, durable top that provides a little bit more security than what a soft top would give you.
However, this top is much harder to remove. It is usually quite tricky to get it down by yourself and is considered, more often than not, a two-person job.
Also, most of the people who purchase Jeeps also do so because they want to feel more exposed to the outdoor air which is kind of sacrificed in this choice of top. The closest you can get is removing the Freedom Panels but it’s not quite the same as riding with the top down.
Soft Top
As expected, the much more breathable soft top was a much better choice of top for the Jeep during the heat of the summer.
Appearance-wise, this top also offers a more adventurous look that is an extremely popular with Jeep owners.
As an added bonus, you can easily open up the front or take the top half or fully down to turn your Jeep into a convertible allow the fresh, outdoor air of your road adventure fully hit you. And you can do this as much as you want without having to remove the frame.
On the other hand, this top is quite noisy and while it can be bearable for the occassional road trip, it can be quite annoying for daily commutes.
Since it is made up of softer material that allows you the full outdoor experience, it can be more vulnerable to some unwanted elements or potential security threats that may come up.
The windows are also sensitive and can easily scratch or take up space inside your vehicle when you remove them as you take your top down.
What are some Challenges of Having a Dual Top Group Jeep?
While having both a soft top and a hard top can be quite beneficial for many Jeep users, it can also be quite tricky.
The main challenge of having a Dual Top Jeep is installation. In order to install one top, you would have to uninstall the previous top that you were using making the switchover quite labor intensive. In fact, it may even require the assistance of one or two additional men.
As previously mentioned, the hard top can be a pain to install and an even greater pain to uninstall. Aside from that, you would have to worry about where you are going to store the hard top when it’s note in use.
The soft top is slightly easier when it comes to installation and storage as you have the option to fold or roll it up and place it somewhere until you need it again. However, if you do plan on utilizing its convertible properties, you need to have an area in your vehicle where you can store its removable windows.
Some people opt to install their hard top on top of their soft top and Jeeps ordered with the Dual Top option actually used to come shipped like this. However, this goes against manufacturer suggestions and can cause great damage to the soft top inside.
Do I Really Need a Dual Top Group Jeep?
It depends mainly on where you’re located and what you plan on doing with your Jeep. Technically speaking, you don’t really need a dual top but having both can have a ton of benefits such as the ones listed above.
If you’re good with just one kind of top or no top at all, then there’s no pressure to get both tops.
How Do I Swap Between the Hard top and Soft Top?
The switchover from the hard top to the soft top can be quite challenging the first time around but with continued practice, it should eventually take you less than an hour to complete the switch.
On an added note, It is also suggested that you do this with a friend as the hard top can be quite heavy and may be dangerous to take down by yourself.
Removing the Hard Top
- Remove the freedom panels located above the driver and pasenger’s seat by loosening the hinges from inside the car so you can easily pop them out and place them inside the case provided.
- Remove the one on the driver’s side first.
- Remove the one on the driver’s side first.
- To disconnect the back portion, remove the bolts that secure them first. (8 in total)
- 6 bolts can be located inside and on the sides of the top. (3 on each side)
- 2 bolts can be found outside and on the top of the hard top. (1 on each side)
- Don’t worry about interchanging these bolts. They are all the same.
- Unplug the quick disconnects and store them in the pre-installed compartments.
- Put the rearview mirror up and close the back door.
- Grab the sides, pop the top off and move to a designated storage location.
- Adjust your grip if necessary.
- Have someone assist you during this step as the hard top can be quite heavy and attempting to lift it on your own can lead to potential accidents.
To reinstall the hard top, just do everything in reverse. If you’re storing your hard top outside, make sure to thoroughly clean it before placing it back on your vehicle.
Installing the Soft Top
- Install the front door rails and rear door frames by lining them up with the holes meant for the screws. Fasten securely.
- The rubber seals should be flat to avoid water and other items leaking into your vehicle.
- The rubber seals should be flat to avoid water and other items leaking into your vehicle.
- Remove trim pieces located on each side of the back portion of the Jeep and attach the hinge plates in their place.
- Install the rear retainers on each side of the back of the vehicle.
- Lift the soft top and place onto the back of the Jeep.
- Lock the lift assist mechanism and secure the hook and loop fasteners around the linkage.
- Lock the lift assist mechanism and secure the hook and loop fasteners around the linkage.
- Make sure that the lift assist mechanism is linked in place with the metal soft top brackets and secure.
- Place the side link into the guide track on the side of the rail.
- Carefully pull up the soft top and secure in place by locking the latches in front.
- Install the side and back panels by sliding them on and securing them by clicking them on and securing the velcro (or zipper for older models)
- Install the side panels first and do the back panel last.
To uninstall it, just do everything in reverse. While this can be done alone, it is also suggested that you get help for this portion so that you can ensure the right amount of pressure and seal on all sides of the vehicle at once.
Conclusion
Dual Top Group Jeeps offer the best of both worlds by coming with both a hard top and a soft top. This modification speaks of the versatility of this vehicle with each top offering its own unique function and benefits. As a result, both casual drivers and adventure lovers continue to sing praises of their ability to customize their car to fit their needs.
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