Soft top vs Hard top

russellw7272 · 10-26-2009, 12:33 AM

I have a hard top that needs the seals replacing as well as the sunroof and was thinking about getting a soft top instead. Which is better, hardtop or soft top? Does a soft top leak in any water and does it fold down or do you have to take it completely off?

grats · 10-26-2009, 12:15 PM

Yes, they leak and yes, you have to take it off completely.

russellw7272 · 10-26-2009, 01:06 PM

Ok thanks!! Trying to work out the cost vs benefit!! New seal and sunroof for about $350 or new soft top with hardwear about the same!!

expat1 · 10-27-2009, 03:39 PM

If you fit your soft top on properly, it should not leak at all. The only place I ever found a leak was around "stitch holes"...however...a wee dab of black silicone on eack pin hole seals it up. I have lived through Victoria BC monsoon seasons and Western Canadian winters of 40 below with my soft top and not a problem. Just don't try to remove a 40 below top....

87samurai_dunn · 10-27-2009, 09:42 PM

hard top would be better... but if you do decide to go soft and want to sell the soft tell me

eptali · 10-30-2009, 12:12 PM

Maybe a piece of shit, ebay soft top might have weather issues. I just sold my 94 JL with a "BestTop", and that thing is weather proof, I went through a high pressure car wash before the sale, and not a drop came in.

You can roll the back window up, with a soft top.

whincup · 10-31-2009, 08:59 AM

of course soft tops leak, but if you get a good quality one you wont even notice it. mine is so old u cant even see through the plastic on the back, and the only leak it has is on the top front corner of the doors! so yes, they leak, but very minimal if in good condition

although ive never heard of people taking it through car washes, thats a first eptali

Baratacus · 11-01-2009, 01:41 PM

I had a bestop on mine for 10 years and no leaks at all. Tore a big hole in it with my surfboard fin and had to replace it. I put on the cheapest top I could find and it still doesn't leak. I drive mine through the car wash about once a month and no leaks. Keep in mind that if you sell the hardtop, even a fixer upper will net you about $400-$500 and boom you paid for a brand new high quality soft top plus some extra coin for some new seat covers.

hickdoc · 11-05-2009, 09:39 PM

Soft top hardware, bow and guides etc, could cost you $300 or more. That's what I sold the only ones I agreed to let go for. The Suzuki Salvage guy has those parts sometimes.

Doc

Baratacus · 11-05-2009, 11:21 PM

you can get the replacement parts NEW from suzuki john for about $170. That includes bow, hardware and front garnish for the windshield. You can get the parts used for about $20 from a wrecking yard or off of ebay. You really took someone to the cleaners for $300 for all those parts. Rugged ridge sells their tops with 30mil plastic now instead of the previous 15mil. They are still the best buy for $150-$170.