POWER-UP: SOFT TOP FOR JEEP REVIEW

An aftermarket Jeep mod, myTop ‘gets it right’ with optimal sealing, function, and ease of use.

In the closing scene of Ocean’s 11, Brad

Pitt lowers the top of his convertible as they ‘drive off into the sunset.’ His character, however, could never have owned a Jeep; pulling over onto the side of the road for 20 minutes to unlatch, fold, and strap down the top of a Jeep would have ruined the scene.

The sad part is that the car used was a 1964 Ford Falcon. It’s now 2021 and Jeep still doesn’t offer a power top. I get it that all of the purists claim it would “ruin Jeep’s image.” But with navigation systems, power windows, and even remote start now available on the build sheets, I think it’s time. Thankfully, springing for a myTop is now a viable option.

During our trials, the system did what it was supposed to do – electronically raise and lower the top quickly and efficiently. Even stopped at a red light, it performed the task in under eight seconds (yes, I timed it). I just pressed one of myTop’s two small buttons, had my foot on the brake to control any motion, and there was a roof over my head by the time the light turned green.

Two latch levers also secure the roof to the windshield frame, which can be reached from the driver’s seat (I’m 5’8 and had no problem) and that’s it. There’s no Velcro to do up, belt rails to insert, or straps to tighten.

All this mechanical wizardry is controlled from a simple relay system powered by two compact Bosch electric motors. So, if you’re afraid it’s another nightmare-infused, hydraulically-activated top that gets stuck in position, runs out of fluid, or starts showering fluid on you, rest easy. There’s none of that hassle with the myTop. The only switch in the whole system is one that controls the “down” position, and it can be easily accessed if any adjustments need to be made.

The folding framework of the myTop is available in two varieties. There’s a fastback style, which follows the contours of the back of the roll bar, and a square-back design that closely mimics the factory top styling. The fastback has a ‘more flowing look’ to the design, but the square-back design allows for more cargo space. All the powder-coated aluminum and steel framework under the top is held together and down with stainless steel hardware.

On top of the mechanical apparatus that opens and closes the top is a variety of fabrics. The top layers are from Haartz that have been making convertible top materials in the automotive industry for decades. The Stayfast, and Twillfast fabrics can be ordered

in six different standard colours. Custom colours are available as well.

The Acrylic square weave top layer has a rubber backing followed by a cotton inner layer, which eliminates the chance of water intrusion and limits road noise. Under that is another three-layer fabric and foam material designed to be a heat and sound barrier. Jeeps have never been known for being well insulated and this design takes it up a notch.

In fact, myTop claims it offers better insulation than a factory hardtop. This isn’t just ideal for the winter months, but for those blazing hot summer days as well to keep cool air in with the A/C on. Even the back and side soft windows are more than double the thickness of standard stock soft tops.

If you already have a factory soft top, you’re familiar with the door that’s designed to seal out the weather, and you know that it works well on the JL platform (compared to previous generations). This same system is used with the myTop hardware as well. It seals out the elements well and blends nicely with the contours of the vehicle when the top is down.

Similar to the Jeep soft top, a lot of fabric accumulates when it’s in the folded position. Plastic covers over the mechanicals keep anything from getting pinched, but they do take up some room. The entire top, however, remains above the beltline of the jeep, ensuring your cargo in the back doesn’t need to be relocated.

The myTop on the 2019 JLU you see here was brand new and a little stiff. Plus, with the colder (10° C (50°F)) climate that we installed it in, it may take a few weeks for the fabric to stretch into place. Speaking of installation, this is definitely not a simple DIY kit for a Jeep owner with basic tools and few spare hours. Two trained installers take eight plus hours to install a complete myTop even with some practice.

Nonetheless, myTop would be extremely happy to direct you to one of their chosen installers throughout their dealer network. Editor Irons works best with hammers and angle grinders, neither of which is even remotely required for installing the myTop.

It’s odd that Jeep hasn’t caved in to the demand for a powered top for their flagship off-roader. We’re glad that myTop has a solution for the JK and JL that works so well. High-end components and a sturdy design are always the key elements when it comes to installing aftermarket options on a Jeep, and they hit the mark. www.mytop.us

Three big boxes are what our day started with and gave us a chance to look at the quality of components. We were impressed.

The included door surrounds are nearly identical to the ones that were just taken off the Jeep. Notice the small matching fabric patch? Definitely some attention to detail.

The main lifting mechanisms have many small adjustment points to get the top to fit properly. There are plastic covers that keep any fingers from getting in there and possibly getting injured during operation.

With so many choices of fabrics, Burgundy was the colour of choice for the bright white Jeep.

Being stiff from the 10° C (50°F) weather, it took some time, strength, and interior heat to get the top in place. When shipped, the windows have a protective sewn-in cover that needs to be cut out at the very end to prevent scratching. Double stitching and piping around the windows scream quality. In the interior, all you’ll see are two buttons to bring the top into position. There are many places to locate the buttons, but this location worked best for us.