Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler YJ radiator

Should every YJ owner have a hardtop?

Puchito84

New Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2025
Messages
13
Location
Pensacola, FL
How’s it going everyone. Looking for some advice. I own a 95 YJ that I am restoring and I am curious. Do most of you own a hardtop? Bought it for cruising around with the top off of course. And now I’m torn if I should pick up a used hard top to have as well. I move frequently with the military and thought it would be a good idea to get one. But should I spend the money to get a hard top or invest in a bestop super top? All I have right now is a safari top and she’s parked in the garage. I’d like to hear your input as I’m torn right now. Thanks for your time and opinions and keep jeeping!!
 
The Bestop soft top is the longest lasting top on the market, so if you get one, thats the one to get. I live in Florida (Tampa Bay area), and I took the Bestop soft top enclosure off five years ago the first day I got it home and it's never been back on. I run with a Bikini top and half doors year round. Of course it's just my weekend fun vehicle and not my daily driver, and it gets parked in the garage overnight.

Rain? Well if its a rainy weekend, I take the Cadillac, which is pretty common during the summer. But fall, winter and spring down here is prime Jeep season, no rain, low humidity, and pleasant temps. I guess if you don't have secure parking overnight, a hard top would be necessary (soft tops dont give you any security), but AC would also be necessary with any Jeep enclosure down here, and I see you are currently down here.

Since my 93 YJ doesn't have AC, I couldn't stand driving it home that first day with the Florida heat and humidity. Honestly, it's a lot more fun and comfortable to drive and run around town in, without the enclosure. Not to mention the day trips that we do and exploring the Florida back country during prime Jeep season.
imageedit-2391.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: ytradio
Thank you so much for the advice. Have a lady that has a hardtop willing to let it go for $300 potential I love the bikini top more than anything and don’t like the hassle of the soft top. Was considering buying it and just storing it somewhere in case I ever need it. Dont think I’ll ever use it unless I’m shipping the vehicle when we move here and there. Otherwise it’s bikini top and garage
 
  • Like
Reactions: ytradio
Thank you so much for the advice. Have a lady that has a hardtop willing to let it go for $300 potential I love the bikini top more than anything and don’t like the hassle of the soft top. Was considering buying it and just storing it somewhere in case I ever need it. Dont think I’ll ever use it unless I’m shipping the vehicle when we move here and there. Otherwise it’s bikini top and garage

For that price I say grab it while you can. It is a deal if it is usable at all. Even if you never use it, it will be easy to unload for a profit.
 
No hard top here in Nova Scotia, Canada. Just a bikini and Bestop OEM type soft top. I run no top or bikini late spring, all summer, and early fall. Early spring/late fall run the soft top. Winter - stored. I'd never use a hard top.

If you wanted to daily drive it year round, might be something to consider for being better in the poor weather. But then you'll probably want good HVAC (heat and A/C too).
 
I agree with these words. I’ve slowly changed my mind about the hardtop. Unless I get my hands on one that is really cheap and too good to pass up then I think I will stick to the bikini top for now and just keep her in the garage and pull her out only for good weather. Storage is another topic and at this point it will just be an impulse buy. Thank you so much for your feedback!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sunsport
For that price I'd probably grab it too, even thou I wouldn't use it. But I'd have no room for it in my garage, so I wouldn't know what to do with it. You'll never get one in good condition for that price. And if you have to move and can't take it with you, you can sell it and double your money easily.
 
Last edited:
Yea that’s my dilemma, where to store it when not in use so it’s not sitting outside. Only other way is winch system in the garage to store hoisted
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler YJ radiator