Softopper YJ 02 User manual
Softopper Installation Instructions
Jeep Wrangler YJ 02
Please read instructions thoroughly before starting installation
**Remove all contents of the Softopper carefully to protect from scratches.**
Windows scratch easily! Keep protective layer placed between them when they are stacked.
Estimated Installation Time: 1 hour
Beginning Note: It is best to do the initial installation in warmer temperatures (70+ degrees F). The
fabric of the top is at its tightest when it is new. Installing it in warmer temperatures
initially will ensure that the fabric is easier to work with. The fabric of the top will relax
slightly with time and become easier to put on.
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**Safety Notes**
Please read the following before driving with the Softopper installed:
1. This product is designed to shield the occupants from ordinary weather conditions.
2. DO NOT rely in any way on the soft top to contain occupants within the vehicle, or to
protect against injury or death in the event of an accident or a roll-over.
3. This top will not protect the occupants from falling or flying objects. Never operate vehicle
in excess of manufacturer’s recommendations or specifications.
Tools needed for installation:
-#2 Phillips Screwdriver
-#3 Phillips Screwdriver
-7/16” Wrench or Socket (preferably 2)
-Power Drill
-3/8” Drill Socket Driver
-1/8” Drill Bit
-1/4” Drill Bit
-Pencil or Marker
-Optional: Center Punch
Table of Contents
1. Inventory……………………….……..3
2. Hardware Installation
1. Header Bar…………………………4
2. Tubrails……………………………5
3. Door Surrounds……………………6
4. Rear Brackets………………………10
3. Soft Top Canopy Installation…………12
4. Softopper Care and Maintenance……19
5. Warranty Information………………..20
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Your Softopper Includes the Following Pieces
1. Door Surrounds
2. Driver and Passenger Side Tubrails
3. Driver and Passenger Side Curved Rear Brackets
4. 1 Box Containing Header Bar
5. 2 Horizontal Supports
6. 2 Vertical Supports
7. 1 Front Overhead Strap
8. 2 Rear Window Roll Up Straps
9. 2 Rear Lower Straps
10. Bag Containing Hardware
11. Bottle of Seam Sealer
12. 1 Softopper Canopy Including 3 Windows (not depicted
above)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Header Bar Installation
**Colored instructions available for download on our website under “Installation
Instructions”.
1. Remove factory top and hardware if applicable. If you have metal belt rail flanges from
another soft top installed on your YJ, you will need to remove them as well.
2. Locate the Box containing the Header Bar.
3. Install header bar as per included Header Bar instructions located in the box.
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Tubrail Installation
1. Locate the Driver side Tubrail and the small bag containing (10) 1/4-20 x 7/8” Bolts, 10
nuts, and 20 washers. There is a sticker which designates the Driver Side tubrail.
2. Align the tubrail holes with the existing holes in the vehicle side rail just to the rear of the
door.
3. Using a 7/16” socket wrench and another 7/16” wrench, secure the tubrail to the vehicle
side rail as shown through the 3 REAR HOLES ONLY. Repeat on passenger side. Save
the remaining hardware for later in the installation process.
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2. Locate a drill, a 7/16” Socket Driver, the 8 Hex screws, and 8 washers.
3. Placing a washer on each screw, mount 2 brackets to each door surround through the 2
provided slots in the brackets to the provided holes in the door surrounds using the socket
driver. The horizontal part of the bracket should face in toward the screw side as shown
(driver side depicted). Repeat with passenger side door surround.
4. These Hex screws can be loosened and readjusted later in the station process if necessary for
proper alignment.
!
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7/16”
5. Locate 2 of the 4 above pictured self drilling hex screws, 2 washers, a drill, and a 3/8”
socket driver.
6. Unzip the fabric covers on the
roll bars above the driver and
passenger side seats, if you
have zippers. If not, you’ll
either have to cut a slit in the
fabric cover or drill the bolts
through the fabric and into the
roll bar.
7. With the driver side door open,
place the driver side door
surround atop the vehicle with
the brackets that you installed
on the door surround UNDER
the roll bar such that the front
of the door surround is snug up
against the windshield as shown. CLOSE the DOOR. Continue to align the door surround
until you ensure a water tight seal between the door surround and the TOP as well as the
REAR of the door. This may be easier with an extra pair of helping hands.
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8. Mark the drill locations for the self drilling hex screws. It is not necessary to drill a pilot
hole.
9. If necessary, cut slits in the roll
bar fabric where the holes will be,
or drill straight through the
fabric.
10. Drill the screws through the slot
in the brackets and into the roll
bar. Repeat on passenger side.
11. Using a #3 Phillips Screwdriver,
remove the 2 screws from the
bracket located on the bottom of
the door surrounds. These must
be removed in order to get the
next bolt into the bottom slot in
the bracket. We have put them in
for you the first time since they
are very difficult to screw in.
12. Locate
the small
bag
containing
(2) 1/4-20
x 7/8”
Bolts, 4
Wing
Nuts, and
6 washers.
We’ve
provided
2 extra
wing nuts
and 2
extra washers just in case you drop one down inside
the vehicle during installation.
13. Loosely secure the bottom bolt through the bracket
and into the vehicle side rail with one washer on the bolt side and one on the wing nut side.
14. Reinstall the 2 screws removed in step #6.
15. Ensure that the entire door surround is aligned tightly with the door to create a water tight
seal.
16. Tighten all bolts and screws. Repeat on passenger side.!
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Rear Bracket Installation
1. Locate the small bag containing 2 Eyebolts with 2 nuts, 2 more nuts,
and 4 washers.
2. Locate the Driver side Rear Bracket, the 2
remaining bolts from the tubrail installation, 4
washers, and 4 nuts. The rear brackets are side
specific, so ensure that you have the correct rear
bracket for the driver side as shown.
3. Place the rear bracket on the rear rail of the vehicle on the driver side with the curve
rounding the corner of the vehicle and the slots lining up with the existing holes on the
vehicle. The 2 outer most holes exist in the vehicle, and the 3rd will need to be drilled
using a 1/4” bit. Refer to the next page for more photos.
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Driver Side
4. Using a pencil, mark the location of the 3rd hole. Remove the bracket from the vehicle, and
drill a 1/4” hole where the pencil marking is.
5. Using (2) 7/16” sockets and/or wrenches, securely fasten the rear bracket to the vehicle
using the correct hardware as shown. Place one washer on the bolt side and one washer on
the nut side. Repeat on passenger side.
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Drill
This
Hole
1/4”
Softopper Canopy Installation
1. Locate the roof panel of the canopy (the largest
panel), and the 2 horizontal supports
(longest).
2. Find the 2 sleeves on the under
side of the roof canopy, and slide
the long supports into each sleeve
CONCAVE SIDE UP until it is
touching the bottom of the sleeve.
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3. The edge of the roof containing the 54” piece of black plastic sewn into it is the front
leading edge of the roof canopy.
4. Place the roof canopy atop the vehicle with the finished side facing up and the black plastic
over the windshield. Drape the rest of the canopy in position over the rear roll bars.
5. Locate the 2 Rear Lower Straps.
6. Feed the ends of
the straps
through the
ladder locks
sewn into the
rear of the roof
canopy as shown.
7. Secure the metal
hook on the other
end of the straps
to the eyebolts
located on the
rear bracket.
Loosely tighten
the straps.
8. Slide the 54” leading
plastic piece into the
front slot in the header
bar, and pull
backward on the
canopy to secure it.
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9. Tighten straps evenly on both sides of the vehicle while ensuring the plastic strip is secure
in the header bar slot.
10. Locate the triangles hanging from the roof canopy over the driver and passenger doors and
the Front Overhead Strap.
11. Feed the fabric triangle from outside
the vehicle, under the door surround,
and over the roll bar into the vehicle as
shown.
12. Repeat with the passenger side
triangle.
13. Use the Front overhead strap to buckle
the two triangles together and tighten.!
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16. You’ve installed the roof canopy! It is
safe to drive like this.
17. Locate the Driver side window.
18. Locate the 2 remaining short, curved metal
supports, and insert one into each window panel
sleeve to the very bottom. Ensure that the concave
side is facing the inside of the vehicle.
19. Fold up the velcro flap on the roof to access the
zippers. Join the zipper on the upper portion of the
window to the zipper on the roof canopy, and zip
closed.
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20. Velcro the two velcro loops on the front of
each window panel snuggly around each door
surround.
21. Push the plastic on the bottom of the window
panel down and underneath the tubrails
starting at the front and working rearward.
22. Repeat all of above for the passenger side window panel.
23. Locate the remaining Rear Window Panel.
24. First, join the vertical side zippers of the rear window panel to the rear zippers on the side
windows. Zip down a few inches only.
25. Join the zipper on top of the rear window to the zipper on the rear of the roof canopy. It
may be necessary to readjust the horizontal zipper to center it. Zip closed the zipper.
26. Secure the velcro on the top of
the rear window to the velcro on
the roof canopy while pulling up
ensuring that the top of the
window velcro meets the top of
the roof canopy velcro.
27. Locate the Rear Bar, which is
pre-installed into the bottom of
the rear window. Push the rear
bar flanges into the rear brackets
as shown.
28. Push the plastic on the rear
corners of the side windows
down, around, and underneath
the rear bracket corners.
29. Zip closed the 2 vertical zippers.
30. Push the 2” piece of plastic on the
bottom of the rear window underneath the rear bracket.
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31. **Optional: You can drive with the rear window panel completely out, or with the rear
window rolled up. In order to roll up and buckle the rear panel, locate the 2 Rear Roll Up
Straps. Place them between the velcro joining the rear window upper zipper to the roof.
Roll up gently as to not scratch the windows (DO NOT ROLL UP WINDOW IN
FREEZING TEMPERATURES: WINDOW MAY CRACK). Buckle the straps around
the window and tighten securely. !
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Softopper Care and Maintenance
Your top is made of the finest materials available. To keep it looking new and for product
longevity and durability, it will need periodic cleaning and maintenance. All pieces are
individually replaceable; call 1-800-810-7227, or order your parts online at Softopper.com.
Washing: The fabric should be washed from time to time using a mild soap and warm water. Be sure
to rinse all soap off the top when washing is complete.
Vinyl Windows: Windows should be kept clean to avoid scratching. Wash with a water-soaked sponge
or cloth and a mild dishwashing detergent. Do not use a coarse brush on the windows and never
wipe the windows when they are dry.
COLD WEATHER: As with all automotive and marine vinyls, extreme care must be taken when
rolling up or folding the windows in cold temperatures. Vinyl becomes stiff in cold temperatures
and may crack. Retracting the Softopper in cold temperatures is not recommended and will void
the warranty for the windows (see Warranty information for more detail on length of window
warranties). When opening the rear of the Softopper in cold weather, be sure to raise the zippers as
high as possible so that any folding will occur to the topper fabric and not to the vinyl window.
Zippers: Keeping the zippers clean and lubricated with a silicone lubricant will help prevent damage
and keep the zippers in smooth working condition.
Leakage: As with any sewn automotive top there is always a slight risk of leakage. Right out of the
box the Softopper may not be 100% waterproof. If you experience any water seeping through at the
seams, apply Seam Sure (supplied), on the inside of the affected seams. Shake Seam Sure well and
apply liberally to the inside seams concentrating on areas where needle and thread penetrated the
fabric.
Snaps: Keep snaps clean and lubricated with a silicone lubricant to help prevent snaps from sticking to
the studs. If a snap does become stuck to a stud, use a screwdriver and gently pry apart to prevent
damage to the snap or top fabric. If any snaps need to be replaced due to sticking or damage please call
Softopper and we can send out a small do-it-yourself repair kit.
For further information please contact:
Softopper LLC, customer service
(800) 810-7227 or (303) 304-0533"
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Page 19
Warranty
We warrant all of our Softoppers to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of
one year, with the exception of vinyl windows and zippers, provided there has been normal use and
proper maintenance.
Vinyl Windows are warranted for a period of 3 months from the date of purchase.
Zippers are guaranteed to be in perfect working condition when leaving the factory. Due to
atmospheric conditions, dirt, sand, road grime, dust, and abrasive cleaners, etc., zippers are warranted
for a period of 6 months from the date of purchase.
Toyota 4 Runner, Jeep Wrangler, Blazer, Jimmy, Scout, Bronco, and RamCharger side curtain
windows are warranted for 45 days from the date of purchase. Retracting or closing the top when the
temperature is below 40 degrees may void the warranty on the side windows, as clear vinyl plastic can
crack very easily at these temperatures. Use caution when retracting the top or cleaning off the
windows in freezing temperatures.
Returns must be pre-approved and have Softopper’s issued RGA number attached. Any defective
items must be returned with proof of purchase to Softopper 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit B Boulder
CO 80301, freight pre-paid. Items returned must be carefully packed, in clean condition, with plastic
windows protected from scratching and creasing. This warranty does not cover damage resulting from
abuse, misuse, alteration, accident or damage in transit. Softopper’s obligations under this warranty are
limited to the aforementioned repair or replacement of warranty defects for which return
authorization has been received during the warranty period, and Softopper SHALL NOT BE LIABLE
FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM BREACH OF THIS
OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only. All remedies
under this warranty are limited to repair or replacement of any item or items found to be defective by
the factory within the time period specified.
For further information or request for repair work, please contact:
Softopper LLC, customer service
(800) 810-7227 or (303) 304-0533
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Page 20
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