The Jeep Wrangler is an icon of rugged off-road capabilities. Even though you can equip a Wrangler with a hardtop, keeping a soft top can be beneficial for many reasons. Review our guide for more details on soft tops for your Wrangler.
Choosing a Soft Top for Your Wrangler: What You Need to Know First
The joy of owning a Jeep Wrangler with a soft top is the ability to quickly and easily enjoy open-air driving, but sometimes, the top can become worn or damaged causing leaks or making it harder to install. If you’re curious about your options a replacement for your Jeep Wrangler soft top, here’s what to look for when shopping for the perfect top.
Do You Need Soft Top for Your Wrangler?
If you travel with the top off more frequently than with it on, switching to a soft top can make removal and storage much easier. You don’t have to clear a space in the garage for storing a hardtop, and you can unroll and throw a soft top on without a second pair of hands. So if you’re looking for convenience and versatility, a soft top might be the perfect choice for your Wrangler.
Soft Tops vs. Hard Tops
Soft tops offer a few advantages hardtops don’t. Because of the material and flexibility, you can put the top on or ride top-down in a matter of minutes. A hardtop isn’t as easily removable and often takes two people. You’ll also need to clear a space to store a hardtop, while you can roll up a soft top and store it right in your Wrangler. Even though soft tops can offer more versatility and be easier to use, hardtops provide more protection and durability.
Jeep Wrangler Soft Top Sizes
Tons of different size options are available for older and newer Wranglers, so the top you choose should match the dimensions of your year and trim level. The newer Wrangler JK (2007-18) and JL (2018-current) trims have a few size options to fit two-door and four-door models, along with extended sizes. Jeep and aftermarket products also fit older Wranglers, including the YJ (1987-95) and TJ (1997-2006), so be sure to choose soft tops according to your Wrangler’s year and trim.
What to Look for in a Soft Top
You have several choices in soft top material, including vinyl, denim, twill, and sailcloth. Vinyl and denim fabric are affordable options, and many older CJ and YJ variations equip these as standard. While these materials both offer a substantial fabric weight, twill, sailcloth, and denim often range between 18 and 23 ounces and provide more protection against noise, weathering, and UV damage. With that said, we’ve compiled a list of top products that feature the strength, style, and durability of these high-quality fabrics.
Best Jeep Soft Top #1: Bestop Soft Top
The Bestop Trektop Glide Wrangler soft top fits 2007-2018 Wrangler four-door models and is a fully retractable, fast-back style featuring:
- 4.4 out of five stars
- Complete system, including hardware
- UV- and weather-resistant fabric
This soft top option comes from the Bestop brand and is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a fully integrative soft top replacement. With no-drill assembly and everything you need for your top included, Bestop makes it easy to install.
Best Jeep Soft Top #2: TACTIK Replacement Soft Top
The TACTIK replacement soft top fits the 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ and features:
- 4.3 out of five stars
- Optional door skins
- UV- and leak-resistant fabric
This top is designed to fit over your OEM hardware and comes in several colors. With marine-grade stitching and DOT-compliant tinted rear windows, TACTIK makes this a must-have upgrade.
Best Jeep Soft Top #3: Sierra Off-Road Soft Top
The Sierra Offroad replacement soft top fits the 2010-2018 Wrangler JK four-door and features:
- 4.2 out of five stars
- Factory-style sailcloth
- Fade-resistant and leak-proof design
The Sierra replacement top fits OEM soft top hardware for the Jeep Wrangler JK four-door. With reinforced, heat-sealed stitching and durable construction, this soft top makes the perfect choice for an affordable replacement.
Our Methodology
We carefully review and analyze cars, parts, and top auto accessories, including Jeep Wrangler soft top ratings, to make the shopping experience easier for you. We provide all our top product recommendations according to the following criteria:
- Customer reviews and ratings
- Product quality
- Ease of installation
To determine which Wrangler soft tops to include on our list, we evaluated products based on real Amazon customer reviews, comparative product prices, and material quality ratings. Each of the soft tops we covered met these criteria. However, it’s imperative to look for soft tops that fit your particular Wrangler and driving habits.
Jeep Soft Top FAQs
How long does a soft top last?
The longevity of your soft top depends on the material and how often your vehicle gets exposed to the elements. Many vinyl and denim soft tops can last as long as several years, and heavier-weight twill and sailcloth can last for around five years. To get the most out of your Wrangler soft top, cover the vehicle in cases of extreme weather and follow recommended maintenance tips for your equipment.
Is a Wrangler soft sop easy to clean?
Soft tops are pretty easy to clean, and you can find specialty products specifically for keeping your Wrangler soft top clean. You’ll want to avoid using certain cleaning products, however, including chemicals such as bleach and ammonia. Also avoid taking a Wrangler with a soft top through an automatic car wash, which could damage the fabric and vinyl windows.
Can you put a soft top on any Jeep?
Most soft tops are transferable across different years of the same generation Jeep Wrangler (YJ, TJ, JK, and JL), but you’ll want to make sure before ordering a replacement soft top. Some aftermarket companies even offer custom-look soft tops including slant back and bikini soft tops.
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