What is the most attractive thing about traditional jeeps? According to most people, the convertibility jeep offers that’s amazing. If you want, you can cover the entire jeep and uncover it.
You can turn your jeep into a mini bedroom and dining room as well. However, for doing all this stuff there are some adjustments which you have to make. The hardtop is one of them.
In summer you might not need a hardtop but in the rainy season, you definitely need one. Besides that, would you need the hardtop or not that depends on the temperature of the weather as well. So to cope up with all the situations you need to know to put on or remove the jeep hardtop.
We might cover the hardtop putting on process in other article but in this guide, we are going to show you how to remove jeep hardtop easily. This guide is designed in a step by step so that you get the entire process simply.
Here you go!
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Step by Step Guide on How to Remove a Jeep Hardtop
Removing a jeep hardtop is a very easy work to do if you know the right way. You are going to need some tools in the process which the jeep should provide you. Go below!
Step 1
As mentioned earlier, you are going to need some tools. If you are the first buyer of the jeep, then there must be a stock of tools. Small tools will be on a very small pouch in folded form.
You will get a door and roof removing the instruction card as well in the pouch. If you are the second buyer of the jeep, you might not find it because old owners keep such tools.
That being said, it is still worth checking. In the pouch, you will get a small ratchet along with Torx 50 and 40 accessories and a socket for windshield wiper nuts.
So before doing anything, you have to look for the tools. If you don’t find that in your jeep then you might have to purchase, they won’t cost you much and you will be needing them in the future as well. Investing in them won’t be a bad decision.
Step 2
Not sure if you know it or not. Every jeep molds a plastic tray of small holes underneath the cargo floor. And this is for keeping the nut and bolts during any process so that they remain in order.
Otherwise, there are a lot of stories of losing the nut, bolts after removing. A lot of people don’t know about this. Not only the jeep provides a nut and bolt tray, but there are also separated sections as well for hardtop bolts, door-hinge bolts, windshield bolts, etc.
Step 3
Here we start the main procedure of removing the hardtop off. We are going to start with the two panels placed just above the seats on the front. Doesn’t matter whether it is 4 door jeep or two, the arrangement is the same at both. The only difference is four-door jeep is the hardtop roof which is bigger than the 2 door jeeps.
Find out the rotating latches which are affixed with removal panels. In most jeeps that are right behind the passenger airbag on windshield header. It will be black colored and the shape will be like “L”. The position would be the same but the color and shape might change, it depends on the jeep models.
Step 4
Once you have located the panels, now you would have to release them. Releasing the panel is a big job, very simple. Pull the safety latch down. And do it from all the roof panels. When you have pulled all the down, it means they are open now.
Step 5
Now you are going to need the assistance of two people, not only now, you are going to need them at the end of the process as well. Stand two people on both sides of the jeep.
When all the safety latches are open, from inside the jeep push up on every panel and try to pass it to the people standing next to the jeep. All these panels are highly lightweight so passing them shouldn’t be a problem.
Step 6
Now time to remove the hardtop itself. The first thing you would want to do before removing the hardtop is unplugging the electrical connector. The connector is fed to the back window wiper, wiper fluid tube, and defroster. You will the connector at the left of the cargo area, right inside the tailgate opening.
Step 7
There will be 3 bolts that connect every side of the hardtop to the jeeps metal bodywork. So the obvious thing, you got to remove those bolts in order to take the hard top off. Use the ratchet with the Torx 50. Make sure you use the plastic bolt tray that comes with the jeep, losing a single bolt can cause you big trouble.
Step 8
The front side of the hardtop will be fixed with the jeep’s roll bar by two Torx 50 bolts. And these bolts will only visible when you have removed the top panels which are right above the front seat. To remove the panel and when you see the two Torx 50 bolts, remove them with the ratchet.
Step 9
Once you have removed the bolts, you are done. We don’t know if you remember, we mentioned above that you are going to need the assistance of two or three people at the end of the procedure. And now we are at the end. Time to finally take off the hardtop. The hardtop is a little heavy and the shape is pretty awkward, however, three is more than enough got carrying that.
Conclusion
This is exactly how to remove a jeep hardtop. We have shown only 9 simple steps, so that should not be anything hard. When removing the bolts, make sure you keep them in order and safe. I hope it helps.
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