Super Flappy Soft Top

[BryantJT]

I bought a used (supposedly one year old Mopar top) but in great looking condition soft top for my 06 TJ complete with surrounds, bows, etc.

It fits well but anything over 40 mph and the flapping is deafening to the point in my 10 minute commute my ears ring. I've played with windows cracked vs closed, blower on, off etc, taped up my tailgate vents. I even went so far as making an extra bow out of pvc to mimic the "top prop" product, however that made the flapping worse and at a higher frequency.

The material over the front seats has a lot of vertical travel, but not much less than the sail cloth best top on my brother's JK, however his top doesn't make any noise unless you only have one window open.

Any suggestions?

Also, I can't find any markings on this top. How can I identify it so I don't get that brand again? The only identifying things are super chunky zipper teeth and the zippers have pulls inside and out. Which is the opposite of a coworker's (the guy I bought it from) Quadratec sunrider top on his TJ.

I only use the top for the trail to keep mud out of the interior and if it's raining.

I sold my hard top and don't intend to go back as this is purely a toy, I have a separate daily driver.

 

[Jeffreybomb]

Is it possible that it was originally meant for an LJ?

 

[AndyG]

Man something is wrong . Examine the back bow as it exerts the most tension ...the top may be fastened incorrectly there, and it also may be adjustable where it pivots off the mid bow or assembled wrong.

 

[Chris]

Either the top is much older than a year (and therefore stretched and flappy), or something is not installed correctly.

Post photos please. This thread is literally 100% worthless without them (don't mean to be rude, please don't take it that way).

 

[Jamison C]

It’s also possible that when the top was newly installed it was cold out, like cold cold. I had a friend who did this in January and now that it’s warm out it flaps around because the new material was permanently over stretched.

 

[ImpactOrange]

Make sure the top is attached to the header correctly. Also check the tension straps on the bows and make sure they are still intact and tight.

This vid shows how to probably attach the soft top to the header.

 

[BryantJT]

I had to replace the 2 webbed tension straps as they were frayed and pulling off the rivets. This helped somewhat.

I used the only holes in the top to attach it to the header bar. He had everything dismantled and stored in plastic totes.

I have 2 velcro flaps that seal around the upper bar over the front seats, there's no adjustment really. I've tried aligning the velcro as well as wrapping as tight as possible with only the edges of the velcro touching.

Nothing appears to be bent and the rear upper bar is high enough that I have to have the header bar unlatched to install the rear corner panels.

It's definitely not from an LJ as it's not 10" too long, more like maybe 1 to 3" of slack over the driver's area. The back half doesn't seem to make any noise.

I'll get some pics on my way to work, I also have a video.

 

[BryantJT]

Pics are after replacing the tension straps.

 

[BryantJT]

Pics and vids below. The driving vid is from before I replaced the straps but it's basically the same flapping.

 

[BryantJT]

I tried to get a video this morning but at 68 degrees it was tight enough to be tolerable with the blower on 2 or higher.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Your top looks pretty snug.

I don't think taping up the tailgate vent is helping and may actually be causing more issues.

Do you have any air coming into the body from anywhere?

seals around the doors.

seals above and below the windshield frame.

I'm not sure how many seals there are in the firewall but at least a couple.

there should be two around a manual shifter but you'd probably feel heat.

Missing floor plugs

and last on my list, potential rust holes

 

[TJ2]

I have some loose issue with my son's new top but it is very hot in TX and so, I will try to drive it to Iowa this winter hoping that the fabric will shrink.

 

[BryantJT]

Answers after your questions.

Your top looks pretty snug.



I don't think taping up the tailgate vent is helping and may actually be causing more issues.



Do you have any air coming into the body from anywhere?

seals around the doors.

seals above and below the windshield frame.

I'm not sure how many seals there are in the firewall but at least a couple.

there should be two around a manual shifter but you'd probably feel heat.

Missing floor plugs

and last on my list, potential rust holes

This is a 68 degree morning and it was tolerable on the drive to work, yesterday at 85 degrees it was like it was half disconnected the way it sags and flaps.

It was louder before taping the vent, the blower didn't have much affect on how snug it was.


I don't have any wind noise but I do have an air gap around the small round plug in the driver's floorpan. The door seals aren't super tight but I can't feel anything coming in.

I had the center console out and the lower rubber boot on the shifter is torn but the leather upper is not. I don't feel any air through here either.

If it's cold and/or raining the top is quieter. On a hot day though it's pretty awful. Basically before I buy a new top I'm trying to determine if this one is stretched or just junk or if this is how all TJ tops are.

I had a friend ride with me that has a soft top YJ and he said my TJ is quieter but he has a knockoff top from Amazon so it's not a fair comparison.

 

[BryantJT]

While looking at top options on Amazon I stumbled on an open box/return of a Twill Replace-a-Top for almost half off. I snagged it and will give that a try when it comes in next week.

 

[Hog]

I didn’t see a strap running from the overhead rollbar to the top of the window frame that kinda draws everything tight if my memory serves me correctly

 

[BryantJT]

There's 2 straps running from the mid bar to the rear bar. There's no other place for straps that I can see.

 

[Hog]

It might just be on a Bimini top.. I couldn’t remember

 

[BryantJT]

Ok, now I know what you mean, this came with a Bimini and a hard top and the Bimini had the strap that went to the windshield and to the center roll bar.

 

[AndyG]

It's tight , I'd say the fabric stretched
a good bit or was forced .

I would put pipe insulation around bows where I could and glue some stiffeners to the top of the the seat , like 2-3 strips of black thin plastic front to back , something like a hot wheels track would nearly work.

The twill may be a real winner , it's nice , like a fur coat on a stripper when it's on a jeep, kind of dresses her up.

 

[BryantJT]

Twill is 100% better. Top is nearly tight as a drum and only minimal flutter at 55 mph. There is no way for this one to even contact the same points that the old one slapped against.

This was obviously an open box return, the main bag was open and there was some pet fur on the top material but the instructions and stiffener panels were still sealed. As were the windows.

From a 20 minute drive I'd say this is definitely not worth the $1050 asking price but it's definitely worth the $600 that I paid for it.

For comparison, the other top with windows was maybe 8lbs. This is easily over 15lbs with the top and windows.