Topic: TJ Top Questions

[hippiejesse]

Hi,
I don't have a jeep yet, but have been lurking around inquireing lately so that I may be an informed shopper. I have noticed that many of the jeeps in my price range have low miles, and a beat up soft top. I think this is not a problem for me but here's my question:
A friend has a brand new soft top off a '06 TJ, the jeeps I have been looking at are like '97-'01; Will this top fit the jeeps I am looking at? If no, Why?

This became a question when I realized that the new soft tops were seperated into two year groupings for TJ, like '97-'02, and '03-'06. What's the difference? Is it just the hardware? If so the friend also said I can have the hardware. Please Help!

Thanks!

[smashcoast]

I think it will fit as long as it's not an unlimited?

Also check quadratec.com and 4wd.com for Jeep stuff and you can look at tops, they are listed by the years that the tops fit.

[jagular7]

Its the width of the latch which holds down the header that is different. The late model (03-06) have a smaller width in the handle so the cavity it sets in is smaller in width. 97-02 have a wider latch. Thus, you can put a late model onto an earlier TJ model and visa versa with some trouble.

I'm running with a 05 top/frame/windows on my 97 TJ.