Go Topless – Lowering the Sunrider Soft Top on a 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler 4-Door Unlimited

September 23, 2006 wayoflife Jeep JK Write-Ups, Operation & Maintenance 110

Jeep JK Wrangler Sunrider Soft Top Removal

I’ve heard a lot of people say that the new 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler 4-Door Unlimited is unique in that it’s the only production SUV in the U.S. market today that is also a convertible. As if being able to drive a Jeep Wrangler topless was some kind of new option – LOL!!. Of course, what they fail to understand is that the Jeep "Wrangler" is simply a unique vehicle and the ability to go topless is a signature feature of it. Having 4-Doors… now that a new option.

Well, if you were smart enough to buy your Jeep JK Wrangler 4-Door Unlimited with a Sunrider Soft Top, here’s a write-up that should help you to lower it or remove it completely so that you can drive it like it was meant to be.

What You Will Need

• Torx T-30 Bit
• Ratchet
• A Pair of Hands
• 10 Minutes of Your Time

Special Thanks

I’d like to thank Jeff Sladick of Don-A-Vee Jeep in Placentia, CA for being so accommodating with all my picture requests and for helping me to make this write-up possible.

Instructions

1. Separate the velcro securing the rear side windows to the corners and roof of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s Sunrider Soft Top.	2. Unzip the rear side windows and then separate them from the retaining channel on the body of your Jeep JK Wrangler.	3. Starting from the passenger side of your Jeep JK Wrangler, unzip the rear window from the Sunrider Soft Top.

4. Separate the rear window base bar from the retaining channels on your Jeep JK Wrangler.	5. Climb inside your Jeep JK Wrangler and flip the sun visors down.	6. Then, unclamp the latches securing the Sunrider Soft Top to the top of the windshield frame.

7. Separate the Sunrider Soft Top from the retaining channel along the doors of your Jeep JK Wrangler.	8. Detach the Sunrider bow assembly from its retainer clip on both sides of your Jeep JK Wrangler as shown in this photo.	9. Carefully lift up the Sunrider Soft Top from the sides making sure it folds evenly. Try not to let it snag on anything and do not force it.

10. The rear part of the Sunrider Soft Top retaining channel is split so that you can fold the fabric neatly one more time allowing it to lay flat.	11. Release the Sunrider Soft Top bow assembly from the door pillar by pressing down on the latch shown in this photo.	12. Remove the corners of the Sunrider Soft Top fabric from the body of your Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited, fold them up on top of the roof itself and then carefully lower the whole top down.

13. Make sure the retaining channels are folded in correctly and not poking into the Sunrider Soft Top fabric.	14. Install the storage boot over the entire collapsed Sunrider Soft Top assembly.	15. This is what your Jeep JK Wrangler’s Sunrider Soft Top should look like when completely lowered and stowed away in its protective storageboot.
	16. If you’re planning on keeping your Sunrider Soft Top down for an extended period of time, it is advisable to remove it completely from your Jeep JK Wrangler. To do this, you will need to remove the 2 Torx T-30 bolts securing the bow assembly to both sides of the roll bar. In order to fee the bow assembly from the roll bar mounts, you will need to give the bottom of it a hit with the palm of your hand just behind where it attaches to the roll bar mounts.
Additional Photos

HEIDI
April 12, 2010 at 4:43 pm

JUST BOUGHT THE SOFT TOP FOR THE 09 WRANGLER 4 DOOR, WHAT A PAIN IN THE BUTT, THE DIRECTIONS WERE ALL BACKWARDS AND HOW DO YOU GET ALL 27 SCREWS IN THE HOLES WHERE THE WINDSHIELD PART GOES, THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING EASIER, NEIGHBOR DID MINE AND IT’S DONE BUT WHAT A PAIN, I LOVE MY JEEP IT IS AWESOME AND WILL BUY ANOTHER ONE IN A HEART BEAT BUT THIS SOFT TOP IS A PAIN!!!! LOVE YOUR SIGHT THOUGH!!!
John Roller
April 27, 2010 at 7:29 pm

I own an 08 JK Unlimited 4dr. Is it ok to remove the door but keep the soft top on (safari style). I use to do this with my 89 YJ Wrangler, but I removed all the window panels. I don’t want to damage the sunrider top, will riunning in this fashion cause me any problems. I like the doors removed, but like the idea of keeping the summer sun off the riders. Purchasing a bikini top is an option. I had the a bikini, duster and windjammer with my 89. But I’ve noticed price on bikinis for the JK 4dr are pricy. Thanks
Nic Hughes
April 27, 2010 at 9:53 pm

Hey WOL,
Is it ok if I use this write-up for a PowerPoint for school?

Thanks
Nic
Jangles
May 4, 2010 at 1:20 am

I bought a Rubicon last week and am having issues with my side soft top windows. I’ve managed to put the top up and down a few times without any problems but the virticle piece of the side windows, with the ridged edge, that is supposed to run parallel between the door and the frame, catches wind and keeps popping out when I’m on the highway. Is this a common issue or am I missing something?
Terry Shields
May 27, 2010 at 9:50 pm

My jeep soft top window blew out on the highway causing a rip in the soft top zipper. The jeep is still under warranty and jeep say I need a new soft top but refuseto pay for it Any ideas
Julia
July 19, 2010 at 1:11 pm

Hi, I have a 2007 Unlimited. It came with a hard top and factory installed soft top. I bought it used and the hard top had never been taken off and the soft top had never been opened from the original install.

I took off the hard top this weekend and went to put up the soft top, but realized I’m missing some of the framework to hold the soft top in place. I seem to be missing the side rails/tracks for the soft top to slid into above the doors.

I’ve looked at Quadratec and I see the rail pieces there, but I’m not sure if those are the only pieces I need.

I’ve been trying to find detailed pictures of the framework for the soft top, so I can figure out what I need to order, but I haven’t found any.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Mike
July 28, 2010 at 6:26 pm

I have a 2008 sahara unlimited, love it to death. The soft top is fairly easy to put up and down (once you get the hang of it).
2 problems:

1. top doesn’t quite fold completely enough to put a boot on. every time I fold it, it sits different.
2. rear windows catch air on the freeway. I found you can correct this if you never crack a window at high speed(opening a window causes’ a rush of air, and out pops the window). Or open the drivers and passenger side window(not the rears) and it causes’ a vacuum and sucks the top inward(if that makes sense).

Anyway, those are my thoughts,good sight, cool decals, keep it up!!!!!
Ray
September 2, 2010 at 4:27 pm

any suggestions fro preventing the side window from pulling out of thechannel and flapping in the wind? The velcro at the top doesn’t seem to be doing the trick.
suds
November 9, 2010 at 8:44 pm

I have a 2009 jeep wrangler unlimited Sahara and the fabric of the top rest on the roll bars when in the down position preventing it from going all the way down. Any suggestions. Please help
Karm
June 29, 2011 at 4:27 pm

So I just purchased a 2010 4-door with a soft top about a week ago. We asked the dealer how to put it down, to make a long story short, he didn’t know anything about how to take it off. So after releasing the latches, he pryed the top up and ended up busting a part of the channel that was screwed into the top. After looking at videos on how to take it down, I am concerned that he also detached or ripped something off the fram of the soft top. When putting up in the sunrider position, I do not notice any retainers that are attached to the soft top. Is it just the year of the model, or did the salesman also ruin the attached retainers? If so, I would also makes them replace those as well. Thanks!