Lowering a TJ Soft Top

Lowering a TJ Soft Top

A jeep just isn't a Jeep with its top on. I know there are several Jeep owners that run all summer with theirs off. However there are a few Jeep owners that have a Hard top on and either havn't put their soft top own yet because it has to be hard to lower and raise or they haven't made the move over to owning a soft top. Then there are those who are new to Jeeps or simply new to their Jeep. If you've never seen one go up or down Ive got a show for you.

In order to lower your soft top your going to need some warm weather and about 10minutes of your time. I used to require the aid of somebody to help me, but Ive since learned how to do it all by myself. First this first go around I recommend having somebody avilable simply to help you lower it into place and you will see how easy it is the next time you lower it.

Tools:	Time:
None	10-15 minutes of your time.

Now Im not following any written directions when I do it this way. Im simply repeating what works for me and I have done for the last 4 years. Some Jeep owners may loosen the velcro that holds the soft top material to the bows to aid in lowering. I do not. Its up to you to try and maybe it will work better for you. The only thing I will recommend is lowering and raising the soft top when the weather is warm because the material will be more flexible and will store tighter. I have given examples on how to do things on one side only. Once you do one side its the exact samething on the other. Simply do the drivers side first then walk around and do the otherside. If you have any questions or comments about this install visit

First open your door and make sure there is nothing below which your soft top can snag on when you fold it inside	Open up the flap just inside your window. You will see a zipper head.	Unzip your zipper just even with the stitching just above your rear window. There should be two stitch lines just above your window. One for each zipper to stop at.
Now flip back the rear window tucked into the black lip. It might be tough so pry your hand underneth it to wiggle it loose	Now with your rear gate still open and both sides unzipped and unsecured.	Slowly roll the window up inside of itsself from the inside of the Jeep. The two tabs that held the rear windo to the gate will first be rolled up inside of itself.
Now if your TJ is like mine you should have a snap that is tucked up inside the very top of the rear windows edge.	Unsnap the snap and rap it around your rear window on both sides of your newly rolled up rear window.	Rear window is rolled up and now secure. Some Jeep owners like to remove the rear window and store, but Im to lazy an like to have it ready to roll down at a moments notice.
Along the rear edge of either side window there is a strip of velcro. Pull it apart and you will expose the zipper.	Do the same with the top of the window.	After you expose both sections of zipper by pulling apart the velcro unzip your window all the way towards the front of your Jeep.
Your window will practically fall out from underneth the lower lip securing it into place.	Just above your door there is another spot to which the soft top is held into place. Simply slide your hand underneth it and pry it up.	There is two pieces per side do not forget the front half.
This is what it looks like when you have both sections loose on the drivers side as well as the passenger side.	Just underneth your flip down sun visors are a clip securing your header. I know your wanting to flip this up at this point. However DO NOT flip it up as of yet.	If you look I have my hand on the top of the soft top. Im applying a slight bit of pressure so the rear bows under stress.
Unsecure the lower half while pressure is being appllied.	Now unhook both sides.	After both sides are unhooked make sure when your top starts to lower it self that the hook does not catch on your windsheild weather striping.
Slowly walk towards the rear while supporting the top and make sure it does not drop down on its own.	With the top sagging a bit take the two sections you applied top pressure down to remove. You know them last two pieces you had in the rear. Now take them two pieces and tuck them under the rear bow that will fall first and slide them as far as you can forward.	After you slide them two pieces forward roll the rear window up as high as it will go up into the top and slowly lower the rear down.
Continue to lower your top down.	Make sure you keep the rear window rolled up at the top of the top while you lower it to its resting place.	When you lower the window all the way down the next bow will want to fall. Hold it up and press and shove the already seated material around the curved edge of the tub so it compacts as tightly as possible.
Keep going and keep tucking	Keep tucking	Now your gettng really close. Ok just above my hand there is a rigid piece of plastic. Remember them two pieces you had to disconnect just above the drivers and passenger door? As they fall they will either stay stiff or they will create their own natural V shape well more like a sideways V shape. Thats what you want them both to do. Aid them if they do not want to on their own.
This is what it will look like just before it falls into place.	Just before it falls in place make sure you have tucked all of the soft top material around the roll bar and as low as possible.	Continue to tuck and lower at the sametime trying to displace any and all of the material as it comes to its final resting place.
Now near the very top there will be a section of softtop that is rather bunched up. I like to pull it as far forward as I can.	Now take that material you pulled all the way forward and roll it over. It serves a few purposes. It gives the bows the farthest room to set down. It acts like a little mini cover when your back seat is in and others are trying to pear into the back of your back seat.	Side profile of your top lowered down.
The rear of your soft top.