You know, I could get down for something like this from the factory, but from the pictures, it seems like the whole top slides backwards in tracks rather than lifts up. Not sure why Mopar wouldn't go with something like this:
Another idea would be to take the freedom panel idea with the hard tops and extend that back to make smaller panels over the rear passengers. You could still pop off just the two over the front passengers or take off all four leaving just the rear cargo area covered.
If everything we've been seeing and hearing are true about the all new JL Wrangler, it'll no longer be a true open top vehicle. It'll come with panels that can be removed or in this case, a power top that can be lowered.
Probably, but I'm sure it will still be very capable off road. I wonder how long it will be, before it's turned into just another highway SUV, though.
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Hmmmmm. I think the idea is pretty cool. Do I like it? Like most have replied, I'll pass, although the concept is cool.
My concern is that my rubicon leaks right above my stereo with heavy rain with the hard top. If this hasn't been perfected yet, how will they seal the automatic top 100% and prevent rain from getting in?
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I've had more leaks on Freedom tops, than I've had on soft tops on JKs.
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My JK leaks like crazy, it's all at the windshield. I'm glad it really doesn't rain much here. It's bad
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"Leave well enough alone" in my opinion I'd rather remove the top myself. Plus won't this contraption add unnecessary weight up on the top of the Jeep?
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This is what i think of when i see those GIF diagrams. That's a whole lot of NOPE right there. :grayno: :nuts:
Not as much as you might think. The frame for this would replace the current soft-top roof rails to add nothing but a track for the top to ride along. Complexity would be minimized, compared to the articulated conventional soft top and I am pretty sure there would be a manual release in the event the motor failed, similar to the Fiat 500's version. Many of the complaints I've read so far show no understanding of how Fiat has made this work for other vehicles.
I do agree that it seems the potential for leaks would be higher but I never read about leak problems on Fiat's other soft-top models, so they must have figured out how to direct rainwater away from the track.
Just saw that Dave Zatz published the following 3 illustrations on AllPar today and as you can see, they are for an FCA patent application regarding some kind of power top. According to the article, the "top overcomes the challenges of the Wrangler shape and unique needs — including being able to operate even when there is an obstacle in the cargo bay." NOt 100% sure if this is what we will be seeing on the all new Jeep JL Wrangler or if it'll be an option but, what do you think of it?
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Article published here:
http://www.allpar.com/news/2017/01/is-this-the-wrangler-power-top-36201