New 2006 Unlimited

[wrigley123]

I finally took the plunge and purchased my first ever Jeep. I had been wanting one for quite some time. I have a question concerning the soft top snap and lock pins that are located right behind the driver and passenger seats. The saleman had to struggle to get these pins to line up and snap in when he was showing me how to put up the soft top. I knew right away that the process should not be that difficult but I let him proceed. When I got home and watched the video on the soft top removal and installation, I noticed that the snap and lock pins were actually on the inside of the jeep and not the outside of the jeep. Does this mean that the entire bracket is installed incorrectly/on the wrong side. Also, the bar in that area that has a half circle plastic pieces that rests ontop of another bar to support the top keeps slipping off. (I hope someone understands my complaint. I didn't explain it very well) Thanks

Mike

[fredjacksonsan]

We've got an '04, and it's pretty obvious which side is which. I'd recommend that if you can't tell from the owner's manual, go to a dealer and take a look at what is on the lot. Some salespeople are notoriously uneducated about the vehicles they sell, and raising the soft top isn't easy the first couple of times. The design of the Unlimited's top, since it's so much longer, might be different than what I have.

In any event, Congrats on your new Jeep, enjoy!!

I have a question for you: How loud is the soft top on the highway, compared to (I assume you drove) the standard, shorter model Wrangler?

[wrigley123]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

We've got an '04, and it's pretty obvious which side is which. I'd recommend that if you can't tell from the owner's manual, go to a dealer and take a look at what is on the lot. Some salespeople are notoriously uneducated about the vehicles they sell, and raising the soft top isn't easy the first couple of times. The design of the Unlimited's top, since it's so much longer, might be different than what I have.

In any event, Congrats on your new Jeep, enjoy!!

I have a question for you: How loud is the soft top on the highway, compared to (I assume you drove) the standard, shorter model Wrangler?

Fred,

Thanks for the reply. And thanks for the kind words. No, I did not drive a standard Wrangler. I knew I wanted the Unlimited and that's the only one I drove. I had never driven a Jeep of any kind before that day. I had heard encouraging stories as well as horror stories about the noise and the bouncing etc......I am 46 years old and have purchased many cars/trucks in my years. This was a b-day present from my wife as well as a "pre mid-life crisis" purchase. I can honestly say this is a very comfortable vehicle to drive. The noise from the soft top is actually quite quiet (and I did take it on the highway). I am very impressed and glad that I made the purchase. Let me go back to the original post about the top. I took it completely down and looked very closely at the brackets. They are on correctly. The problem is the first crossbar doesn't seem to be long enough to stay on top of the side bar. I am hoping as the top stretches slightly, and things loosen up a little, the cross bar will stay on top of the side bar. One of the sides will stay up but the other side pops off of the side bar as soon as I hit the first bump of the morning. It is actually quite aggrevating because the top starts to flap more then. Any suggestions? Thanks again!

Mike

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by wrigley123

Fred,

Thanks for the reply. And thanks for the kind words. No, I did not drive a standard Wrangler. I knew I wanted the Unlimited and that's the only one I drove. I had never driven a Jeep of any kind before that day. I had heard encouraging stories as well as horror stories about the noise and the bouncing etc......I am 46 years old and have purchased many cars/trucks in my years. This was a b-day present from my wife as well as a "pre mid-life crisis" purchase. I can honestly say this is a very comfortable vehicle to drive. The noise from the soft top is actually quite quiet (and I did take it on the highway). I am very impressed and glad that I made the purchase. Let me go back to the original post about the top. I took it completely down and looked very closely at the brackets. They are on correctly. The problem is the first crossbar doesn't seem to be long enough to stay on top of the side bar. I am hoping as the top stretches slightly, and things loosen up a little, the cross bar will stay on top of the side bar. One of the sides will stay up but the other side pops off of the side bar as soon as I hit the first bump of the morning. It is actually quite aggrevating because the top starts to flap more then. Any suggestions? Thanks again!

Mike

I'm 43, and our Wrangler's ride doesn't bother me a bit, thought it's much improved over the 80's and early 90's models.

Not having looked at the soft top on an Unlimited, I can't say. There's a Jeep dealer up the road from work, I'll see if I can't go take a look at lunch. It's always fun to play with the 'vultures'.

[wrigley123]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

I'm 43, and our Wrangler's ride doesn't bother me a bit, thought it's much improved over the 80's and early 90's models.

Not having looked at the soft top on an Unlimited, I can't say. There's a Jeep dealer up the road from work, I'll see if I can't go take a look at lunch. It's always fun to play with the 'vultures'.

Thanks Fred

Mike

[fredjacksonsan]

Hey Mike/Wrigley123, I went and took a look at the Unlimited's soft top at lunch.

It seems that it's pretty much the same as the regular Wrangler, although the bows are a bit longer. What's definitely different is the Sunrider feature, that allows you to flip back the part over the front seats. On the sides, there are 2-piece straight bars, with a plastic slider about 12" long. The slider is supposed to stay in place over the joint between the 2 pieces to keep them straight when the top is closed. Are these the ones you're having trouble with? If so (and after reading the owner's manual) it seems that you should just be able to slide the plastic sliders forward into place and they should stay. Does the one othat stays in place snap into place? If so, examine the two sides to see why the other side doesn't. Other than that, I can just suggest that you go step-by-step according to the instructions in the owner's manual, being sure that both sides are done the same. Good luck with it!

Fred (aka, also Mike)

[wrigley123]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

Hey Mike/Wrigley123, I went and took a look at the Unlimited's soft top at lunch.

It seems that it's pretty much the same as the regular Wrangler, although the bows are a bit longer. What's definitely different is the Sunrider feature, that allows you to flip back the part over the front seats. On the sides, there are 2-piece straight bars, with a plastic slider about 12" long. The slider is supposed to stay in place over the joint between the 2 pieces to keep them straight when the top is closed. Are these the ones you're having trouble with? If so (and after reading the owner's manual) it seems that you should just be able to slide the plastic sliders forward into place and they should stay. Does the one othat stays in place snap into place? If so, examine the two sides to see why the other side doesn't. Other than that, I can just suggest that you go step-by-step according to the instructions in the owner's manual, being sure that both sides are done the same. Good luck with it!

Fred (aka, also Mike)

Fred/Mike,

Thanks for taking the time to go look for me. Unfortunately, thats not the problem. I have no problem operating the Sunrider at all! Its the bar that is right above the driver and passengers heads that runs across from side to side. It has on both ends a plastic half circle fitting (for lack of a better word) that is suppose to sit on top of the side rail and slightly pop up/support the top. The bar does not seem to be long enough and one end of it always pops off of the side bar. If you look at it again, you will definitely see what i am talking about. Thanks again!

Mike

[fredjacksonsan]

All I can think of, is to take down the top, then put it back up -- all while paying strict attention to the instructions in the owner's manual. Sounds like there is something on one side where the geometry isn't quite right.I went and looked again, but being across the country certainly isn't helping.

[barn3s]

I have had the same problems with my 2006 Unlimited. The first couple times I had to use a rope to get leverage to pop the pin out, I know it says dont force it but it wouldnt budge, but it seems to be working fine now. I also noticed that the pin was supposed to be on the inside but mine is also on the outside. I dont think there is any problem with that except you have to make sure the pull ring isnt sticking out when you zip the window back up because it puts alot of pressure on the zipper. I have also had similar problems with that top bar falling off, but it only happens when I take the top down and you just need to remember to put it back on when you put the top back up.
Hope this helps solve some of your problems.

[wrigley123]

Originally Posted by barn3s

I have had the same problems with my 2006 Unlimited. The first couple times I had to use a rope to get leverage to pop the pin out, I know it says dont force it but it wouldnt budge, but it seems to be working fine now. I also noticed that the pin was supposed to be on the inside but mine is also on the outside. I dont think there is any problem with that except you have to make sure the pull ring isnt sticking out when you zip the window back up because it puts alot of pressure on the zipper. I have also had similar problems with that top bar falling off, but it only happens when I take the top down and you just need to remember to put it back on when you put the top back up.
Hope this helps solve some of your problems.

Mike still pops off! Esp on windy days!

Mike