Hard top vs SOT

[CAMEL2R]

I need this on mine. My list keeps growing

LOL, I hear you. It actually helps with heat & cold, but not so much with sound. It's still loud at speed. But I'm half def from military vehicles and concerts, I never used hearing protection so it's not that loud to me. haha

Not to mention it makes the inside look finished.

 

[Dirty Dog]

LOL, I hear you. It actually helps with heat & cold, but not so much with sound. It's still loud at speed. But I'm half def from military vehicles and concerts, I never used hearing protection so it's not that loud to me. haha

Not to mention it makes the inside look finished.

I haven't actually measured sound levels, but I think the SOT makes less noise at speed than the oh-so-popular windscreen light bar.

 

[CAMEL2R]

I haven't actually measured sound levels, but I think the SOT makes less noise at speed than the oh-so-popular windscreen light bar.

Oh yeah. My buddy has one and it's ugly loud. He recommended I NOT get one.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Oh yeah. My buddy has one and it's ugly loud. He recommended I NOT get one.

To be fair, a lot of the wind noise is related to where the lightbar is aimed. It's mostly wind passing between the windshield and the cooling fins on the back of the lightbar. Squeezing all that air through there causes the fins to vibrate. Basically turns it into a harmonica. Lots of people get those car door edge guards and slip them over the fins. I did that with the bars on both JKRU's and it made a significant difference.

The KC Gravity on Zeus makes a bit of noise too, but less. I suspect it's because the gap between them and the windscreen is larger and the fins are oriented differently.

 

[CAMEL2R]

To be fair, a lot of the wind noise is related to where the lightbar is aimed. It's mostly wind passing between the windshield and the cooling fins on the back of the lightbar. Squeezing all that air through there causes the fins to vibrate. Basically turns it into a harmonica. Lots of people get those car door edge guards and slip them over the fins. I did that with the bars on both JKRU's and it made a significant difference.

The KC Gravity on Zeus makes a bit of noise too, but less. I suspect it's because the gap between them and the windscreen is larger and the fins are oriented differently.

Fair enough. TBH, I'm not a fan of light bars anyway as I prefer to keep the outside clean. I considered the Quadratec inside light bar, but it blocks the top half of the windshield and light bleeds through. Plus, I'm not sure how much usable light it would provide.

My buddies light bar has a cover on it and he never uses it. I guess it's like a winch, it doesn't get used often, but it's good to have if you need it.

 

[Dirty Dog]

My buddies light bar has a cover on it and he never uses it. I guess it's like a winch, it doesn't get used often, but it's good to have if you need it.

I think that is exactly the case. I think most people do most of their wheeling during daylight. But feces occurs. And then you REALLY want to be able to see.

A few years ago, I was running a not-terribly difficult trail with a buddy. They had a mechanical failure that couldn't be fixed right then and there. So we packed everybody into my truck and headed out. I got...overly aggressive... on an obstacle and snapped a front axle. So we had to drive out in 2WD. I was really happy to be able to see.

 

[CAMEL2R]

I think that is exactly the case. I think most people do most of their wheeling during daylight. But feces occurs. And then you REALLY want to be able to see.

A few years ago, I was running a not-terribly difficult trail with a buddy. They had a mechanical failure that couldn't be fixed right then and there. So we packed everybody into my truck and headed out. I got...overly aggressive... on an obstacle and snapped a front axle. So we had to drive out in 2WD. I was really happy to be able to see.

Dang! Good thing you could still roll in 2wd. Do your KC's make noise?

Forgot to mention, I have the AEV 7000 series LED's on the bumper and they are stupid bright. Along with the headlights, fogs & BD 20" light bar in the lower bumper. So far, it's plenty of forward light.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Dang! Good thing you could still roll in 2wd. Do your KC's make noise?

Some, but it's not bad. As I said, I haven't gone out with a decibel meter, but Mrs. Dog and I can talk easily. Above about 75MPH we have to speak up a bit, but it's still not bad.

 

[Dral97]

I like top off when I can but don't like the time it takes to get the hard top off, so the SOT is a great compromise for me. I guess a soft top would be nice, but I'd have to leave it on since I am too lazy to switch from st to ht during the change in seasons. I like to have a hard top during winter to get full use of the rear window hatch. I have a bronco and left the soft top on over the winter and just yesterday was cursing it since I couldn't open up the back window for fear of it cracking.

 

[JoeStef79]

I like top off when I can but don't like the time it takes to get the hard top off, so the SOT is a great compromise for me. I guess a soft top would be nice, but I'd have to leave it on since I am too lazy to switch from st to ht during the change in seasons. I like to have a hard top during winter to get full use of the rear window hatch. I have a bronco and left the soft top on over the winter and just yesterday was cursing it since I couldn't open up the back window for fear of it cracking.

I know what you mean. My '13 Rubicon Unlimited came with both tops and my ST is just hanging from the ceiling in my garage never opened. I am too lazy to switch tops back and forth so I have never had my hard top fully off because i have no where to store it.

 

[Dirty Dog]

For me, the problem with the hard top is that it's just too heavy and bulky. And once you get it off, you're out of luck if you go very far from home and the weather turns. The soft top is too loud, and doesn't really work if you want to install a roof rack. The SOT seems a really good compromise.