BliZZard911

Trading in my 2014 JK for a 2015 JKU. The JKU comes with a hard top only so I'll be looking to pick up a used soft top.

What years will fit the 2015 JKU?

Also, is there anything I should look for problem wise on the 2015 JKU before doing the deal?

resharp001

You can throw any soft top on that as long as you have the proper corresponding hardware to go with it. Obviously, the newer tops are better as the designs improved over the years (ie, spring assist, etc).

Those '14/'15's mainly had issues with radiators and oil cooler housings....at least that is what comes to my mind first. Nothing you're really going to see doing a good once over though.

BliZZard911

I guess what I'm asking is if someone is selling a 4 door soft top with all of the hardware included, what years will fit my 2015 JKU?

resharp001

I think you mean "soft top" .... but literally all of them. You can put a soft top from an '07 jeep up on that....and everything else through the last run of the 2018 JKU. Since they don't use a center windshield clamp....that is not an issue like it is with the hardtops.

karls10jk

Avoid the 07-09 soft tops as they used a different door surround that will make the soft top painful to use. I believe around 11/12 they widened the rear window so you'll want that feature but the hardware is all the same, just the material changes.

As far as soft top material goes, buy twill. I've had a much of the regular ones and then dry up in the sun. The twill just doesn't wear as quickly as the old sailcloth. Starting in 15, I think, they went to an easy open/ fold assist on the 4dr soft tops. The difference is a spring loaded bracket on each side in the rear, about oval shaped. I can't say if it's helpful or not as I didn't have much practice with the 4dr top except a couple times before wheeling.

BliZZard911

So I can pick up a 2009 soft top with all of the hardware including the door surrounds. Will I have any issues?

resharp001

you''ll have no issues. make sure you get the brackets for the roll bar as well. Your happiness will just depend on the condition of the top itself.

karls10jk

I would avoid the 07-09 at all costs. They clipped in over top of the doors and that makes for a less than pleasurable soft top experience. They're also typically only offered in the sail cloth material which means that you'll likely rip the soft top over top of the doors after a few years of clipping and unclipping at the door surround. I think the only time I'd consider the 07-09 is if I were looking to quickly unload the jeep at a dealership or insurance company.

resharp001

I agree with Karl that those early tops are POS. The snapping into the door surrounds is a pain. I've also had an ~'11 soft top (pre-spring assist) and an '14+ soft top with spring assist. I'm not certain that one is better than the other IMO, except that a newer one is probably going to be in better condition. I only value soft tops as trail tops for longer wheelin' trips. I'm not sure the actual spring assist feature is that big of a deal. What is nice about those tops though is how they mount into the rollbar bracket. You can just set the whole top in the bracket and then bolt it down whereas with the older non-spring assist tops you have to make 4 separate connections to hook the frame arms to the bracket. TBH, that sounds like more work, but I kinda think it's a bit easier (you can buy quick-connect pins). With the spring assist tops, if you remove the top completely, you have to monkey around with this strap that locks the arms in place so the spring doesn't expand them when removed. That is a terrible explanation and probably hard to understand until you do it and see it in person.

Best of luck in your search. In my area (dallas/fort worth), you can a trail quality soft top for ~$100-$150, a very average soft top for ~$200-$250, a nice soft top $300-$350, and usually the used premium twill soft tops are $700-$800.