Dual -Top Group

Electrified

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 13, 2021
Messages
393
Reaction score
489
Location
Richmond, TX
Current Rides
2022 392 XR, 2015 Ford F250 4-Door, 4-Wheel Drive, 6.7l Powerstroke
Pulling the trigger on a Firecracker Red 392 XR tomorrow and the only thing we haven't decided on is getting the Premium Black Sunrider Soft Top. Living in Houston, we would use ours in the cold months and the hard top in the summer. Anyone have any input on this option? Am I better off doing something in the aftermarket later on?
 
Pulling the trigger on a Firecracker Red 392 XR tomorrow and the only thing we haven't decided on is getting the Premium Black Sunrider Soft Top. Living in Houston, we would use ours in the cold months and the hard top in the summer. Anyone have any input on this option? Am I better off doing something in the aftermarket later on?
Kind of depends if it is your daily driver. I went with the dual top group and have yet to open the soft top box. That being said, it is not my daily driver and can leave it no top and trail doors during spring/summer. If it was my daily driver, I would definitely be using the soft top. Hind sight always being 20/20, I would have left it off. Hope this helps.
Chris
 
Kind of depends if it is your daily driver. I went with the dual top group and have yet to open the soft top box. That being said, it is not my daily driver and can leave it no top and trail doors during spring/summer. If it was my daily driver, I would definitely be using the soft top. Hind sight always being 20/20, I would have left it off. Hope this helps.
Chris
Thanks for the input. It is a 3rd vehicle for us and has been classified as a toy by my wife. We will also drag it around behind the motorhome throughout the year. The soft top would definitely be the second option for most of the year.
 
if you don't plan to have a roof rack, I highly recommend the Sky One Touch. It's a great compromise between the hardtop and the soft top.
 
if you don't plan to have a roof rack, I highly recommend the Sky One Touch. It's a great compromise between the hardtop and the soft top.
Still considering that as well but I have commitment issues. With the dual top option I can go one way or the other if I don’t like my decision but the Sky One Touch is not quite as easy to be wishy washy. I do like that option though! Any issues with it in your experience?
 
Last edited:
The last Jeep I bought the factory dual tops, in five years I used the soft top maybe 4 time's, on the 392 I just went with the hard top, the soft top just didn't get enough use in my opinion to justify the expense.
 
Still considering that as well but I have commitment issues. With the dual top option I can go one way or the other if I don’t like my decision but the Sky One Touch is not quite as easy to be wishy washy. I do like that option though! Any issues with it in your experienc?
I used to live in the Woodlands so I get the need for life support (AC) in the summer :)

But that is one of the best parts about the Wrangler it’s a Lego set. You can go soft top, hard top, One-Touch or both. I went out on a limb and bought the Sky One-Touch top with half doors for my Firecracker Red 392 from the factory because those are the hardest to get aftermarket (think parts and painting). I am planning on buying a BestTop Mopar Twill Soft Top with Tinted windows aftermarket ($2500) which is super easy to find and I plan to switch over from the one-touch top to soft top with matching half-doors for the summer (I live in Ohio now so opposite seasons from you). I don’t want to recommend this yet because I truly don’t know how hard it is to go from One-Touch to soft top but I watched this cool video showing removing the one-touch so I figure I wound just need to add a few pieces of hardware to the windshield to make the conversion. Just one more possibility in this Lego toy we call a Jeep. Good luck with whatever you choose 😎👍
 
Still considering that as well but I have commitment issues. With the dual top option I can go one way or the other if I don’t like my decision but the Sky One Touch is not quite as easy to be wishy washy. I do like that option though! Any issues with it in your experience?
I've only had the Jeep for a week and I've used the top about 5 times given how cold it's been. I can't really comment on the long term reliability, but it seems quality built. I really like how the rear cargo area windows are also removable.
 
I used to live in the Woodlands so I get the need for life support (AC) in the summer :)

But that is one of the best parts about the Wrangler it’s a Lego set. You can go soft top, hard top, One-Touch or both. I went out on a limb and bought the Sky One-Touch top with half doors for my Firecracker Red 392 from the factory because those are the hardest to get aftermarket (think parts and painting). I am planning on buying a BestTop Mopar Twill Soft Top with Tinted windows aftermarket ($2500) which is super easy to find and I plan to switch over from the one-touch top to soft top with matching half-doors for the summer (I live in Ohio now so opposite seasons from you). I don’t want to recommend this yet because I truly don’t know how hard it is to go from One-Touch to soft top but I watched this cool video showing removing the one-touch so I figure I wound just need to add a few pieces of hardware to the windshield to make the conversion. Just one more possibility in this Lego toy we call a Jeep. Good luck with whatever you choose 😎👍
You reminded me of a good point. If you want to ever have the SOT, my understanding is that you need to buy it with the Jeep, otherwise you may not have the wiring for it. However, you can always buy a soft top later.
 
I debated between soft one touch and dual top, I was really thinking dual top. Then the wife made an executive call and decided on skytouch.
I'm a bit worried how the sky one-touch will hold up winter time with heavy snow. Time will tell.
 
I used to live in the Woodlands so I get the need for life support (AC) in the summer :)

But that is one of the best parts about the Wrangler it’s a Lego set. You can go soft top, hard top, One-Touch or both. I went out on a limb and bought the Sky One-Touch top with half doors for my Firecracker Red 392 from the factory because those are the hardest to get aftermarket (think parts and painting). I am planning on buying a BestTop Mopar Twill Soft Top with Tinted windows aftermarket ($2500) which is super easy to find and I plan to switch over from the one-touch top to soft top with matching half-doors for the summer (I live in Ohio now so opposite seasons from you). I don’t want to recommend this yet because I truly don’t know how hard it is to go from One-Touch to soft top but I watched this cool video showing removing the one-touch so I figure I wound just need to add a few pieces of hardware to the windshield to make the conversion. Just one more possibility in this Lego toy we call a Jeep. Good luck with whatever you choose 😎👍
If I was a betting man, if I got the Sky One Touch I would never remove the frame for a soft top. You, cgr, and Bacon392 are forcing my hand on this. 😂
 
  • Like
Reactions: cgr
Pulling the trigger on a Firecracker Red 392 XR tomorrow and the only thing we haven't decided on is getting the Premium Black Sunrider Soft Top. Living in Houston, we would use ours in the cold months and the hard top in the summer. Anyone have any input on this option? Am I better off doing something in the aftermarket later on?
I had the dual top group on my previous wrangler and liked it. That is what I did on my 392. Hard top for Nov-March. Soft Top for Apr-Oct. Or something close to that. The premium sunrider top on my other Jeep held up great to UV light. I like being able to completely remove the top for offroading. Hardtop with headliner is nice and quiet, too.

Nice to be able to flip sunrider on the soft top in warmer months to enjoy open air on the way home. Manual said to remove rear window if driving over 40mph. I forgot to do this on mutiple occasions, but never had trouble.

Spiderweb shade (mesh) was nice to have as well. Could leave installed with either top, but made it difficult to remove freedom panels on hard top (had to reach between spider webshade and hardtop to get to latches. Did not interfere with soft top at all.

Sky touch looks nice, but I think would be noisier than dedicated hard top and hard to remove for offroading.
 
You reminded me of a good point. If you want to ever have the SOT, my understanding is that you need to buy it with the Jeep, otherwise you may not have the wiring for it. However, you can always buy a soft top later.
Exactly. I am sure someone could figure how to add a Sky One-Touch (SOT) top later, but it would take a lot of work tracking down parts and having stuff painted if it’s not from a same color donor Jeep. Seems to me that the SOT and the color matched hard-top are best ordered from the Factory. The Soft Tops and black hard-top can be ordered later.
Then the wife made an executive call and decided on skytouch.
🤣 that is exactly what happened in our family. The wife said you get the V8 and I get the power top.
If I was a betting man, if I got the Sky One Touch I would never remove the frame for a soft top. You, cgr, and Bacon392 are forcing my hand on this. 😂
I want to be clear. I don’t have any real idea how hard it is to take off the SOT, but it’s a Jeep that is designed to be easily configurable moving down the assembly line in Toledo so I don’t believe it is rocket surgery 🤓 but maybe it is. Once I get my 392 I plan on ordering the Soft-Top and swapping it out and running rag-top & half-doors from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. I want to make a YouTube video showing my experience making the switch. Heck, that’s whats fun about a Jeep modding it and making it yours.
 
I had the dual top group on my previous wrangler and liked it. That is what I did on my 392. Hard top for Nov-March. Soft Top for Apr-Oct. Or something close to that. The premium sunrider top on my other Jeep held up great to UV light. I like being able to completely remove the top for offroading. Hardtop with headliner is nice and quiet, too.

I did something similar on my previous JLUR and will be doing the same on my 392.

Run with the hardtop from November to sometime in March. I use a Sunrider Flip Top during these months for any warm spells. Ditched the freedom panels long ago.

Once the softop goes on, I run with it down 95% of the time…maybe more! For me, it’s main purpose is to be able to close when a pop up thunderstorm rolls in. The rear windows live in my garage, except in rare situations such as road trip. With the doors on, windows up, and softop closed, I’m protected from the elements. Heater and AC work great in the JL! The safari style top keeps the rear relatively dry in most situations without the windows. My 392 is a third vehicle, so it doesn’t get left outside all day at work and spends it’s nights in a garage. YMMV

I also have an Alien Sunshade (mesh), but usually hold off for the first month or two in Spring. But when it starts getting hot, (Charlotte) I’ll throw that on to cut down on the direct sun.


If you really aren’t sure, I’d recommend starting off with the hard top and adding the Sunrider Flip Top immediately. Kind of the best of both worlds. If you find you want more, you can buy the exact same softop from Bestop or MOPAR, after the fact, easily.

Congrats and looking forward to seeing pictures!
 
I did something similar on my previous JLUR and will be doing the same on my 392.

Run with the hardtop from November to sometime in March. I use a Sunrider Flip Top during these months for any warm spells. Ditched the freedom panels long ago.

Once the softop goes on, I run with it down 95% of the time…maybe more! For me, it’s main purpose is to be able to close when a pop up thunderstorm rolls in. The rear windows live in my garage, except in rare situations such as road trip. With the doors on, windows up, and softop closed, I’m protected from the elements. Heater and AC work great in the JL! The safari style top keeps the rear relatively dry in most situations without the windows. My 392 is a third vehicle, so it doesn’t get left outside all day at work and spends it’s nights in a garage. YMMV

I also have an Alien Sunshade (mesh), but usually hold off for the first month or two in Spring. But when it starts getting hot, (Charlotte) I’ll throw that on to cut down on the direct sun.


If you really aren’t sure, I’d recommend starting off with the hard top and adding the Sunrider Flip Top immediately. Kind of the best of both worlds. If you find you want more, you can buy the exact same softop from Bestop or MOPAR, after the fact, easily.

Congrats and looking forward to seeing pictures!
I considered the sunrider hard top..How is road noise with it compared to freedom panels? Come off and on easily when changing to soft top?
 
I considered the sunrider hard top..How is road noise with it compared to freedom panels? Come off and on easily when changing to soft top?

Of course it’s subjective, also dependent on whether you have the sound dampening panels in your hardtop (My JLUR didn’t, but my 392 does). I guess “slightly” louder? I drove my new 392 about 600 miles with the Freedom Panels, before getting the Sunrider Flip Top put back on (swapped it from my old JLUR to the 392). I really didn’t notice, but then again my tunes are usually up. 😎

Install is a breeze. Couple extra steps that first time, after that it’s just 6 bolts. Two on each side and two in the back. Simple one person job.


Adding and removing the soft top is the more time consuming task for sure, but at least all but one step can be done by one person.

 
Last edited:
Just to throw a wrench into the conversation. I live north of Houston, I’d like to see one of these in person and get a review.
 
Pulling the trigger on a Firecracker Red 392 XR tomorrow and the only thing we haven't decided on is getting the Premium Black Sunrider Soft Top. Living in Houston, we would use ours in the cold months and the hard top in the summer. Anyone have any input on this option? Am I better off doing something in the aftermarket later on?
We went with the dual top group and LOVE the Black Sunrider soft top! It's way different than the soft top on our 2010 Rubicon, it's more like a bimini top in a boat where you can take the back and side windows out and the roof stays level. It's also fabric instead of vinyl and all three widows are a zipperless a
IMG_2660.webp
ttachment. We live in California and have the soft top on during the spring and summer, hard top on during the fall and winter. If you go with the dual top group, order the window storage bag and keep the packing bag that the soft top comes in, you can use it for storage.
IMG_2426.webp
 
I have the dual top group.
Same with my JK
I’m in Colorado. I run the soft in the summer and hard in the winter.
I considered the 1 Touch. Even the dealer cautioned me as they said about 1/2 have been coming back with issues, leaks, being stuck open, etc.
I haven’t considered anything aftermarket, only due to cost.

My JK, I swapped the tops every season and was about a 1 hour job.
I have a feeling, by looking at the soft top parts, first rum will be about 2 hours. After that, easy easy.
I also have a hoist installed in my garage which makes hard top removal super easy.
 

Create an account or login to comment

Join now to leave a comment enjoy browsing the site ad-free!

Create account

Create an account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Latest Discussions

Back
Top