Soft top for winter or buy a hard top?
10-28-2013, 11:07 AM
#11
I'm sticking to the soft top. The heater is plenty strong enough and I don't usually have any passengers in the back so not too worried about heat retention.
In fact, I'll have driver window down most days with the heat blasting. Just the way I like it.
In fact, I'll have driver window down most days with the heat blasting. Just the way I like it.
10-28-2013, 05:50 PM
#14
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I have run both. The hard top is better in the winter, but as others have said the heaters are more than enough. Also, hardtop is better for large accumulations of snow sitting on them.
10-28-2013, 06:15 PM
#15
JK Junkie
newhampshire winters !
soft top fine just don't let 3 feet buid up on it go knock it off my 2011 sport now I hve a 2012 rubicon same thing soft top all the way 
10-31-2013, 11:33 AM
#18
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The problem with the answers to these types of threads is that everyones situation is different.
What part of the country do you live in?
Do you park in a garage at night?
If so, does that garage have room for a hoist?
Do you have a 2 door or a 4 door (harder to retain heat in a 4 door)
Do you often carry young passangers? (infants, toddlers, ect?)
Do you commute to work every day? Highway speeds?
Do you carry a lot of cargo where you would normally have to lift the rear window?
I often park outside.
I have a hoist in my garage...so swapping tops isn't all that hard.
I have a 4 month old.
I live in the burbs of Chicago.
Hard top in winter for me...
What part of the country do you live in?
Do you park in a garage at night?
If so, does that garage have room for a hoist?
Do you have a 2 door or a 4 door (harder to retain heat in a 4 door)
Do you often carry young passangers? (infants, toddlers, ect?)
Do you commute to work every day? Highway speeds?
Do you carry a lot of cargo where you would normally have to lift the rear window?
I often park outside.
I have a hoist in my garage...so swapping tops isn't all that hard.
I have a 4 month old.
I live in the burbs of Chicago.
Hard top in winter for me...
10-31-2013, 03:29 PM
#19
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to the OP:
I live in the mountains of PA, where the winters do occasionally get pretty bad.
My '97 TJ had only a soft top.
My '07 came with dual tops, but once I took the hard top off, I didn't put it back on til 4 years later when I sold it.
My 2014 was ordered with a soft top only since I knew a hard top would be a waste of money.
I made it through all those winters with just a soft top. You will be fine.
...and no, I do not keep it in a garage.
I live in the mountains of PA, where the winters do occasionally get pretty bad.
My '97 TJ had only a soft top.
My '07 came with dual tops, but once I took the hard top off, I didn't put it back on til 4 years later when I sold it.
My 2014 was ordered with a soft top only since I knew a hard top would be a waste of money.
I made it through all those winters with just a soft top. You will be fine.
...and no, I do not keep it in a garage.
11-03-2013, 08:04 AM
#20
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I have a question for those who experienced winter conditions like where I live. I am from North Dakota ( ICE BOX of the US) my old jeep (TJ) was a hard top. Winter weather never bothered that top. I now have a JK with a soft top, At night my jeep is always garaged (nonheated) at work it sits outside, Many days in the winter the temps are -20 to -30 degrees. Will the factory soft top survive the extreme cold? I only work 3 miles from home, all city driving. The Soft top is factory and in great condition. I was looking at Bestop and I see they have a new twill material top for replacement that says it can handle extreme cold and a lifetime warranty. Was thinking about getting that next spring, but wanted to go through this winter with the top I have now. What are your opinions on Soft tops in extreme cold climates?