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Author Topic: Fitting a soft top to aTJ  (Read 4310 times)

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ikebaddog

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Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« on: May 18, 2016, 11:04:12 AM »

Hi all, I'm just about to fit a soft top for the upcoming sunshine!!!
But, do I have to drill and tap the body to fit the two rear brackets??
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General Confusion

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2016, 05:44:40 PM »

The screw holes should already be there as they come from the factory with a soft top as standard.
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thorna

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2016, 06:50:48 PM »

The brackets fit to the sports bar. There should be slots sewn into the padding to allow them to
Poke through. Or maybe you mean the brackets which mount either side of the tailgate which hold the window bar; either way as above the holes will be there.
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suppersready

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2016, 10:11:49 PM »

No drilling required .... all will fit to factory mounting points
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suppersready

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2016, 11:30:36 PM »

Dependant upon make and style of top ......  you may also benefit from the use of your other half's hair dryer
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JamesH

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2016, 09:06:03 AM »

Is that the trick for stretching it? It's new to me and so far has led to much swearing!
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wildwood

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2016, 09:16:46 AM »

Hang it in the airing cupboard.....( if people still have those?)

Or if the weather returns hang it over the garden table at midday.

Rich people could possibly take it into the sauna :hysterical:
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JamesH

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2016, 10:00:57 AM »

Living in my cold garage isn't helping then!
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Lornaben

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2016, 10:12:02 AM »

When I fitted mine, I draped the top over hoops with all the zips done up and the doors fitted and put a fan heater in the back of the Jeep. After an hour it was very easy to stretch and fit  :icon_super:

suppersready

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2016, 10:27:04 AM »

Is that the trick for stretching it? It's new to me and so far has led to much swearing!

Yes as Lornaben has detailed .... a fan heater would be better than the hair dryer i used. If you take it off on a nice day and then try and re fit when it's cooled down you'll have fun again so get it back on before the Sun goes to sleep.
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Jonny Jeep

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #10 on: May 19, 2016, 10:38:12 AM »

If I've been putting my top back up on cold days I've left the engine running, set the heater to vents, and aim them all upwards. Then heat on full and set fan speed on full. Starting the side window zips and using the Velcro to hold them up, and rear window loops undone.

The rear window would unroll itself as it warmed up and the top would be warm enough to be fully fitted within 15 mins.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

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suppersready

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #11 on: May 19, 2016, 02:32:29 PM »

I'll remember that one ...
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ikebaddog

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #12 on: May 19, 2016, 03:15:20 PM »

No screw holes on mine, just pot marks, are your holes ( oooeeerrr missus ) tapped, or are the bolts nutted on the back?
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suppersready

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #13 on: May 19, 2016, 04:12:19 PM »

Mine are held in place by two small self tapping screws on each side .... this is OEM fit
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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #14 on: May 19, 2016, 04:22:40 PM »

Mine too. Screws are little bolt headed self tappers.
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ikebaddog

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #15 on: May 20, 2016, 07:23:46 AM »

Cheers all, self tappers it is then
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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #16 on: May 20, 2016, 01:02:33 PM »

I believe I may have a set of brackets and screws in my garage. No good to me any more.........I sold the soft top.
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ikebaddog

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #17 on: May 20, 2016, 05:01:12 PM »

Put them on e-bay, I just paid $30 for a pair
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Snowman

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Re: Fitting a soft top to aTJ
« Reply #18 on: May 22, 2016, 10:27:08 PM »

Two tips from me.
When you want to unzip the windows spray the zips with gt35 (or wd40).
Then run some string the zipper tab and pull the string rather than the tab.

Pulling the zipper tab with your fingers will shred then on the canvas edges, especially if they are a bit cracked.
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