Soft Top vs. Hard Top on a Lifted Jeep

Whether you’re already a Jeep owner, you’re considering making a purchase or you’re just an enthusiast, there’s a good chance you’re aware of the fact that both the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator offer your choice of soft top or hard top. Choosing between soft top and hard top is about more than aesthetics, as it affects your experience on both the open road and the off-road trails you’re likely to frequent. You should put some thought into whether you want a soft top or a hard top on your lifted Jeep, which is precisely what we’re here to help you with today.

Let’s start by discussing soft tops, as they’re generally the more popular option among off-road drivers. Both soft tops and hard tops have their pros and cons, so that’s how we’re going to compare them.

• Pros
  • Having a soft top offers unmatched flexibility and versatility, with the ability to quickly and easily remove the top, opening your vehicle to the elements.
  • Replacing the typical hard top roof of your Jeep reduces the overall weight of your vehicle, which has all kinds of benefits including improved efficiency.
  • One advantage people don’t always consider is how much more affordable it is to replace a soft top in comparison to a hard top, which can be a huge boon to off-roaders.
  • Perhaps the most exciting pro for customizers, there is a huge variety of colors and configurations to choose from — fastback, safari, bikini and so on.
• Cons
  • Without a doubt the most notable drawback to a soft top is the lack of security. It’s far easier to break into a vinyl, denim or twill roof than any other option.
  • You’re also going to experience a lot more wind and road noise at highway speeds, even with the top securely fastened.
  • Lastly, your soft top is going to experience wear and tear much faster than a hard top, especially if you drive it in a lot of inclement weather. They’re just not as durable.

Soft tops have some obvious advantages and disadvantages, but hard tops are a little less obvious. Though now that you know the pros and cons of the other option, it’s easy to gather that hard tops’ are mostly just the opposite.

• Pros
  • Hard tops offer far superior resistance to the elements, including everything from inclement weather, UV damage from the sun and, of course, physical wear and tear.
  • Naturally, having a hard top on your Jeep will give you better peace of mind over the security of your cabin and its contents, plus the vehicle as a whole.
  • A hard top is much more insulated, meaning you’ll have a quieter highway experience and better temperature control for our cold Oklahoman winters.
  • If you plan to eventually sell your lifted Jeep, or at least want to keep the option in mind, having a hard top will typically help maintain the value of your Jeep longer.
• Cons
  • While the hard tops on Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models are still removable, they’re much larger and heavier, which means removing them takes planning and storage options.
  • You also won’t have the same amount of freedom with hard top options, even with Freedom Panels, as they’re much less modular.
  • Lastly, they’re typically the more expensive option, as you’re paying for that durability and longevity that we mentioned earlier.

Whether you’re looking for a different kind of soft top than what you already have, or you’re interested in converting from soft top to hard top or vice versa, we can take care of all your customization needs right here at LiftedJeeps.com. Just give us a call with any questions or to discuss your ideas, and we’d be happy to help.