• NAXJA is having its 18th annual March Membership Drive!!!
    Everyone who joins or renews during March will be entered into a drawing!
    More Information - Join/Renew
  • Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.

want to cut the top and try and put a soft top

k.allen90

NAXJA Forum User
Location
kentucky
I just bought another vehicle so my xj is no longer going to be my dd. So now I kind of have some plans for it in mind and I would like some input on what to do and what needs to be done.

I would like to cut the roof off but is there any soft tops out on the market that I could possibly modify to put on the jeep when I would like somewhat of a roof. If the roof comes off, that means the rear hatch would also be deleted to right? I've also heard that if you take the doors off once its flexed a few times that its pretty much impossible to get them back on. Has anyone made any tube doors that they made like the soft wrangler doors? I know it would be possible but how creative would I have to get and would it be worth it to spend the extra money to make 4 tube doors that also have a soft type removable cover? I was thinking about cutting the roof off, modifying my rear tire carrier to act somewhat like a door, finding a soft top from a blazer or old 4 runner and modifying it to fit the jeep. If nobody has tried this then i'm still going to try it and hope that all comes out well. But I would like any input/help.
 
You're going to need to cage the Jeep if you're actually going to do it. Otherwise it will fold like a taco.
 
I figured a cage would have to be added and I planned on doing it when I chop the top. I looked around on google and I've seen pics of people just making like a giant sun roof and it looked pretty good. I know that have kits for that also and the soft top is built in with it and just slides back and front.
 
like this?
IMG_0623.jpg
 
This isnt an original idea to cut the top off and remove the doors like the OP described. Will it fold like a taco without the roof, probably not moving it around the yard or around the block but it does need a cage to be correctly built.

There are so many different ways Ive seen to chop top it. My favorite is on pirate4x4
 
easier mod, cut a whole in the roof and get a hoop made like you would for a cage... well get that put in the whole and weld it to the roof. then on the hoop put the little buttons they use on boat tops and get a boat top maker to make you something and your done!
 
95red are you saying cut a hole in the roof and weld some bars across the top? I do like that liberty top and then I saw the price of it and I think i'll try to do it myself because thats a little pricey. I think i'm going to do it next month, can't afford it right now and the jeep isn't running yet. So once its running and I can get it to the hobby shop i'm goin to start cutting and welding away.
 
Working with a soft top isn't as easy as you think. I spent many many hours fabricating a rear window for my Miata's soft top, and in the end it was an ugly mess. Now that I've sold it I'm glad I don't have to worry about a soft top, and never plan to run any vehicle with one ever again.
 
I know you said it will not be your dd anymore, but do some research on fabric before you do this. The top on mine is like what a sail boat sail is made from. I have put plenty of waterproofing on it. But over time it has sagged, and now collects water and it drips through like its raining on the inside.
 
I have no top or should I say little left of the top. I cut mine about 2 years ago and have loved it ever since. I had a canvas shop ( out behind a porn shop) do the canvas cover for it.

Yes I do drive it every day. Right now it is getting a cage, but never hada problem without it.

Here is a pic

wheeling07-26-09011.jpg
 
Back
Top