Topic: Hard top removal --- offroad performance mod?

[neale_rs]

Would removing the hard top provide a noticeable offroad performance benefit?  It seems it would lower the center of gravity and reduce weight but would it be noticeable?  Would it depend on the type of wheeling?

[Jeffy]

Definitely a lower CG.  The doors weigh a ton as well.  Then there is the piece of mind that you won't break the top or doors.  You can even knock out the pins for the windshield hinges and replace them with bolts.  Then you can take the windshield off as well.  Although then you won't have the spreader bars but reall those cage in pretty easily.

Forgot to mention, your rear suspension will probably rise 1-1.5" with the top off as well.

[drunkencityworker]

Living in chicago I go hard top and doors from end of sept to beginning of may. I go no doors and just a bikini  rest of time. When I take it off every spring I def notice a seat of my pants difference. Probebley dropping 250lbs by loosing doors and hard top. Most everyone that wheels up here doesnt go in hard top. For clearance. Actually often seen are scrape marks on roll cage from trees and such. Dont think would be good on fiberglass to be rubing stuff. Think this is a common sense call. Just open up your favorite jeep mags and count how many good weather hard tops you see.

[neale_rs]

Thanks for the comments.  I'm going to look into doing it but I would have to buy lockable storage as well as the soft top.