dave

Whining again.

I am still at a dilmma what to do with the soft doors and windows once
removed for the summer. If you dont remove them, you sweat big time in the
canvas coffin. 80+ degrees is nasty in there.

We have had storms everyday the last three weeks here. If I take the top
down, windows out and door tops off, what do I do if it rains WHILE AT WORK
or at WALMART ? Weather has changed here every few hours in some cases. I
can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
because there is no way to secure them. If I leave them out, I have been
told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
because it will smell mildewy"

what the heck is the sense of making an "all durable" Jeep with a "delicate"
dash..? How do you prevent the dash from getting wet ?

many said... remove the carpet and let it rain in there all you want.. I
don't want to remove the carpet..

how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?

FrankW

What I do during the hot summer months,
is to leave the soft roof up with no doors and windows
except the rear window, this acts as shade and when
it rains it keeps a lot of the water out.
The rear window keeps a lot of the backwash
out when driving in the rain.

I also have a large plastic bag to
cover my seat. I also removed the carpets.
When expecting rain, I park at work with the windshield
facing the approaching weather.
I bring a rain suit just in case.
I don't whine :-) been doing this with my Jeeps
for the last 15 years.
If you don't want to remove the carpets
I guess you should've got air conditioning
and a hardtop.
Cheers



dave wrote:
> Whining again.
>
> I am still at a dilmma what to do with the soft doors and windows once
> removed for the summer. If you dont remove them, you sweat big time in the
> canvas coffin. 80+ degrees is nasty in there.
>
> We have had storms everyday the last three weeks here. If I take the top
> down, windows out and door tops off, what do I do if it rains WHILE AT WORK
> or at WALMART ? Weather has changed here every few hours in some cases. I
> can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them. If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"
>
> what the heck is the sense of making an "all durable" Jeep with a "delicate"
> dash..? How do you prevent the dash from getting wet ?
>
> many said... remove the carpet and let it rain in there all you want.. I
> don't want to remove the carpet..
>
> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?
>
>

FrankW

What I do during the hot summer months,
is to leave the soft roof up with no doors and windows
except the rear window, this acts as shade and when
it rains it keeps a lot of the water out.
The rear window keeps a lot of the backwash
out when driving in the rain.

I also have a large plastic bag to
cover my seat. I also removed the carpets.
When expecting rain, I park at work with the windshield
facing the approaching weather.
I bring a rain suit just in case.
I don't whine :-) been doing this with my Jeeps
for the last 15 years.
If you don't want to remove the carpets
I guess you should've got air conditioning
and a hardtop.
Cheers



dave wrote:
> Whining again.
>
> I am still at a dilmma what to do with the soft doors and windows once
> removed for the summer. If you dont remove them, you sweat big time in the
> canvas coffin. 80+ degrees is nasty in there.
>
> We have had storms everyday the last three weeks here. If I take the top
> down, windows out and door tops off, what do I do if it rains WHILE AT WORK
> or at WALMART ? Weather has changed here every few hours in some cases. I
> can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them. If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"
>
> what the heck is the sense of making an "all durable" Jeep with a "delicate"
> dash..? How do you prevent the dash from getting wet ?
>
> many said... remove the carpet and let it rain in there all you want.. I
> don't want to remove the carpet..
>
> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?
>
>

FrankW

What I do during the hot summer months,
is to leave the soft roof up with no doors and windows
except the rear window, this acts as shade and when
it rains it keeps a lot of the water out.
The rear window keeps a lot of the backwash
out when driving in the rain.

I also have a large plastic bag to
cover my seat. I also removed the carpets.
When expecting rain, I park at work with the windshield
facing the approaching weather.
I bring a rain suit just in case.
I don't whine :-) been doing this with my Jeeps
for the last 15 years.
If you don't want to remove the carpets
I guess you should've got air conditioning
and a hardtop.
Cheers



dave wrote:
> Whining again.
>
> I am still at a dilmma what to do with the soft doors and windows once
> removed for the summer. If you dont remove them, you sweat big time in the
> canvas coffin. 80+ degrees is nasty in there.
>
> We have had storms everyday the last three weeks here. If I take the top
> down, windows out and door tops off, what do I do if it rains WHILE AT WORK
> or at WALMART ? Weather has changed here every few hours in some cases. I
> can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them. If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"
>
> what the heck is the sense of making an "all durable" Jeep with a "delicate"
> dash..? How do you prevent the dash from getting wet ?
>
> many said... remove the carpet and let it rain in there all you want.. I
> don't want to remove the carpet..
>
> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?
>
>

FrankW

What I do during the hot summer months,
is to leave the soft roof up with no doors and windows
except the rear window, this acts as shade and when
it rains it keeps a lot of the water out.
The rear window keeps a lot of the backwash
out when driving in the rain.

I also have a large plastic bag to
cover my seat. I also removed the carpets.
When expecting rain, I park at work with the windshield
facing the approaching weather.
I bring a rain suit just in case.
I don't whine :-) been doing this with my Jeeps
for the last 15 years.
If you don't want to remove the carpets
I guess you should've got air conditioning
and a hardtop.
Cheers



dave wrote:
> Whining again.
>
> I am still at a dilmma what to do with the soft doors and windows once
> removed for the summer. If you dont remove them, you sweat big time in the
> canvas coffin. 80+ degrees is nasty in there.
>
> We have had storms everyday the last three weeks here. If I take the top
> down, windows out and door tops off, what do I do if it rains WHILE AT WORK
> or at WALMART ? Weather has changed here every few hours in some cases. I
> can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them. If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"
>
> what the heck is the sense of making an "all durable" Jeep with a "delicate"
> dash..? How do you prevent the dash from getting wet ?
>
> many said... remove the carpet and let it rain in there all you want.. I
> don't want to remove the carpet..
>
> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?
>
>

Alan

> I can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them.

They're no more secured when the top is up are they?

In Ohio, and also suffer from the if you do/don't like the weather, just wait 10
minutes problem you mention.

When I put the top down I roll up the rear window and do not remove it. I put
the rear side windows on top of the back half of the top. Then when I pull the
top back (aka "down") I make sure they all fold/roll as to avoid any really
nasty folding and mostly somewhat "roll".

Then I take the top half doors and put them just behind the rear seat (ie
between the seat back and the wad of rolled up top/windows. I set them so that
the posts that go into the doors are facing each other so they don't poke the
back of the rear seat passengers heads (should I have them).

Yes, my windows are "somewhat" (pronounced "alot") scratched up. I gave up on
pristine windows pretty early. Plastic cleaner/descratcher does seem to work
pretty good about once a year or so to resotore a lot of the visilibity.

The plastic "door frames" go behind the rear seat also (in the trunk, so to speak).

If I have rear seat passengers I stop at this point.

Otherwise then I remove the doors and set them on the rear seat so that the
mirrors are near the back roll bar (where the seatbelts are) and use some velcro
straps to secure some portion of the mirror assembly to the back roll bar.
Recently I've been setting them so that the "latch end" is down in the rear seat
footwell, and the hinge end is towards the back. This front/back way seems to
work better then trying to put them left and right.

I've long since lost the nuts that are supposed to go on the bottom of the
doors. For a while I was using a wrench I kept in the glove box, then my
fingers, and now I just leave them off and can't rember where I put them.

> If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"

I got the dash soaked a few times. Twice bad enough that some of the gauges
were a little weird. After about 3 days though, all was fine again, except for
the CD player. I've learned to be real careful with that. Both of these times
was when I took a hose to the dash to get off all the mud. Mud running in a
convertible is a pain to clean up. I did have to drill the missing drain hole
in the passenger side back seat footwell. I noticed at an auto show sometime
after '99 they musta fixed that defect...

If I leave PePe (yes, I named my jeep, but that's another thread...) all closed
up (like neither she no I like her to be) she does start to smell a little (or a
lot) like a wet dog. Thus I just leave a window open when I park in my garage
(or the door open if I've got that good old #4 fuse pulled, obviously not a
problem if the top is down)

> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?

That's my deal. Never had any parts stolen, your mileage may vary. Not the
lowest crime rate where I am, not the highest either. I guess you could have a
bicycle cable lock or something you run through the door handles if you are
worried about them. With the other parts hidden "inside the top" I doubt anyone
would go to the trouble to remove those parts (it's easiest to just put the top
up to get them out!)

If it's going to rain while I'm at work, I put it all up, or watch very close
out the window to see if it really does look like rain. Yes, a few times I have
had to put the top up will it was pouring. One time I even had to change
clothes at work when I was done. Good thing I'm a geek engineer and can wear
just about anything legal while at work!

I drive 24ish miles (each way) to work, with a garage at home, so it is fairly
common to put the top down on the way home, park in the garage with the top
down, drive to work, and then put the top up. Yes, I do mean put the top down
on the way home. Usually about 3 or 4 red lights is all it takes for the top
and half-door tops. Sometimes doing this I just toss the rear side windows into
back.

Did I mention I really like to have the top down?

I carry a windbreaker (easier/funner to just don a jacket than put the top up
when the sun goes down in spring/fall), so sometimes I put the jacket on the
seat (for rainprojection) and fold both front seats forward. Thus the seats are
somewhat sheilded from the rain, as is the dash (though not the CD player!).

Perhaps I should get a marine grade CD player... (or duct tape!)

alan "99 TJ with 110,000 miles" curtis

PS As for mirrors without doors, I got two suction cup mirrors (2" x 4") that I
stuck to the top outside corners of the windshield. Never been hassled for
this, then again never pulled over for other reasons while doorless either, so
who knows what might happen once I "come into the spotlight" for other reasons
and don't have "official side mirrors". I think any claim that a jeep with no
top and no doors has "reduced visibilty" is nuts, however.

Alan

> I can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them.

They're no more secured when the top is up are they?

In Ohio, and also suffer from the if you do/don't like the weather, just wait 10
minutes problem you mention.

When I put the top down I roll up the rear window and do not remove it. I put
the rear side windows on top of the back half of the top. Then when I pull the
top back (aka "down") I make sure they all fold/roll as to avoid any really
nasty folding and mostly somewhat "roll".

Then I take the top half doors and put them just behind the rear seat (ie
between the seat back and the wad of rolled up top/windows. I set them so that
the posts that go into the doors are facing each other so they don't poke the
back of the rear seat passengers heads (should I have them).

Yes, my windows are "somewhat" (pronounced "alot") scratched up. I gave up on
pristine windows pretty early. Plastic cleaner/descratcher does seem to work
pretty good about once a year or so to resotore a lot of the visilibity.

The plastic "door frames" go behind the rear seat also (in the trunk, so to speak).

If I have rear seat passengers I stop at this point.

Otherwise then I remove the doors and set them on the rear seat so that the
mirrors are near the back roll bar (where the seatbelts are) and use some velcro
straps to secure some portion of the mirror assembly to the back roll bar.
Recently I've been setting them so that the "latch end" is down in the rear seat
footwell, and the hinge end is towards the back. This front/back way seems to
work better then trying to put them left and right.

I've long since lost the nuts that are supposed to go on the bottom of the
doors. For a while I was using a wrench I kept in the glove box, then my
fingers, and now I just leave them off and can't rember where I put them.

> If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"

I got the dash soaked a few times. Twice bad enough that some of the gauges
were a little weird. After about 3 days though, all was fine again, except for
the CD player. I've learned to be real careful with that. Both of these times
was when I took a hose to the dash to get off all the mud. Mud running in a
convertible is a pain to clean up. I did have to drill the missing drain hole
in the passenger side back seat footwell. I noticed at an auto show sometime
after '99 they musta fixed that defect...

If I leave PePe (yes, I named my jeep, but that's another thread...) all closed
up (like neither she no I like her to be) she does start to smell a little (or a
lot) like a wet dog. Thus I just leave a window open when I park in my garage
(or the door open if I've got that good old #4 fuse pulled, obviously not a
problem if the top is down)

> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?

That's my deal. Never had any parts stolen, your mileage may vary. Not the
lowest crime rate where I am, not the highest either. I guess you could have a
bicycle cable lock or something you run through the door handles if you are
worried about them. With the other parts hidden "inside the top" I doubt anyone
would go to the trouble to remove those parts (it's easiest to just put the top
up to get them out!)

If it's going to rain while I'm at work, I put it all up, or watch very close
out the window to see if it really does look like rain. Yes, a few times I have
had to put the top up will it was pouring. One time I even had to change
clothes at work when I was done. Good thing I'm a geek engineer and can wear
just about anything legal while at work!

I drive 24ish miles (each way) to work, with a garage at home, so it is fairly
common to put the top down on the way home, park in the garage with the top
down, drive to work, and then put the top up. Yes, I do mean put the top down
on the way home. Usually about 3 or 4 red lights is all it takes for the top
and half-door tops. Sometimes doing this I just toss the rear side windows into
back.

Did I mention I really like to have the top down?

I carry a windbreaker (easier/funner to just don a jacket than put the top up
when the sun goes down in spring/fall), so sometimes I put the jacket on the
seat (for rainprojection) and fold both front seats forward. Thus the seats are
somewhat sheilded from the rain, as is the dash (though not the CD player!).

Perhaps I should get a marine grade CD player... (or duct tape!)

alan "99 TJ with 110,000 miles" curtis

PS As for mirrors without doors, I got two suction cup mirrors (2" x 4") that I
stuck to the top outside corners of the windshield. Never been hassled for
this, then again never pulled over for other reasons while doorless either, so
who knows what might happen once I "come into the spotlight" for other reasons
and don't have "official side mirrors". I think any claim that a jeep with no
top and no doors has "reduced visibilty" is nuts, however.

Alan

> I can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them.

They're no more secured when the top is up are they?

In Ohio, and also suffer from the if you do/don't like the weather, just wait 10
minutes problem you mention.

When I put the top down I roll up the rear window and do not remove it. I put
the rear side windows on top of the back half of the top. Then when I pull the
top back (aka "down") I make sure they all fold/roll as to avoid any really
nasty folding and mostly somewhat "roll".

Then I take the top half doors and put them just behind the rear seat (ie
between the seat back and the wad of rolled up top/windows. I set them so that
the posts that go into the doors are facing each other so they don't poke the
back of the rear seat passengers heads (should I have them).

Yes, my windows are "somewhat" (pronounced "alot") scratched up. I gave up on
pristine windows pretty early. Plastic cleaner/descratcher does seem to work
pretty good about once a year or so to resotore a lot of the visilibity.

The plastic "door frames" go behind the rear seat also (in the trunk, so to speak).

If I have rear seat passengers I stop at this point.

Otherwise then I remove the doors and set them on the rear seat so that the
mirrors are near the back roll bar (where the seatbelts are) and use some velcro
straps to secure some portion of the mirror assembly to the back roll bar.
Recently I've been setting them so that the "latch end" is down in the rear seat
footwell, and the hinge end is towards the back. This front/back way seems to
work better then trying to put them left and right.

I've long since lost the nuts that are supposed to go on the bottom of the
doors. For a while I was using a wrench I kept in the glove box, then my
fingers, and now I just leave them off and can't rember where I put them.

> If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"

I got the dash soaked a few times. Twice bad enough that some of the gauges
were a little weird. After about 3 days though, all was fine again, except for
the CD player. I've learned to be real careful with that. Both of these times
was when I took a hose to the dash to get off all the mud. Mud running in a
convertible is a pain to clean up. I did have to drill the missing drain hole
in the passenger side back seat footwell. I noticed at an auto show sometime
after '99 they musta fixed that defect...

If I leave PePe (yes, I named my jeep, but that's another thread...) all closed
up (like neither she no I like her to be) she does start to smell a little (or a
lot) like a wet dog. Thus I just leave a window open when I park in my garage
(or the door open if I've got that good old #4 fuse pulled, obviously not a
problem if the top is down)

> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?

That's my deal. Never had any parts stolen, your mileage may vary. Not the
lowest crime rate where I am, not the highest either. I guess you could have a
bicycle cable lock or something you run through the door handles if you are
worried about them. With the other parts hidden "inside the top" I doubt anyone
would go to the trouble to remove those parts (it's easiest to just put the top
up to get them out!)

If it's going to rain while I'm at work, I put it all up, or watch very close
out the window to see if it really does look like rain. Yes, a few times I have
had to put the top up will it was pouring. One time I even had to change
clothes at work when I was done. Good thing I'm a geek engineer and can wear
just about anything legal while at work!

I drive 24ish miles (each way) to work, with a garage at home, so it is fairly
common to put the top down on the way home, park in the garage with the top
down, drive to work, and then put the top up. Yes, I do mean put the top down
on the way home. Usually about 3 or 4 red lights is all it takes for the top
and half-door tops. Sometimes doing this I just toss the rear side windows into
back.

Did I mention I really like to have the top down?

I carry a windbreaker (easier/funner to just don a jacket than put the top up
when the sun goes down in spring/fall), so sometimes I put the jacket on the
seat (for rainprojection) and fold both front seats forward. Thus the seats are
somewhat sheilded from the rain, as is the dash (though not the CD player!).

Perhaps I should get a marine grade CD player... (or duct tape!)

alan "99 TJ with 110,000 miles" curtis

PS As for mirrors without doors, I got two suction cup mirrors (2" x 4") that I
stuck to the top outside corners of the windshield. Never been hassled for
this, then again never pulled over for other reasons while doorless either, so
who knows what might happen once I "come into the spotlight" for other reasons
and don't have "official side mirrors". I think any claim that a jeep with no
top and no doors has "reduced visibilty" is nuts, however.

Alan

> I can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
> because there is no way to secure them.

They're no more secured when the top is up are they?

In Ohio, and also suffer from the if you do/don't like the weather, just wait 10
minutes problem you mention.

When I put the top down I roll up the rear window and do not remove it. I put
the rear side windows on top of the back half of the top. Then when I pull the
top back (aka "down") I make sure they all fold/roll as to avoid any really
nasty folding and mostly somewhat "roll".

Then I take the top half doors and put them just behind the rear seat (ie
between the seat back and the wad of rolled up top/windows. I set them so that
the posts that go into the doors are facing each other so they don't poke the
back of the rear seat passengers heads (should I have them).

Yes, my windows are "somewhat" (pronounced "alot") scratched up. I gave up on
pristine windows pretty early. Plastic cleaner/descratcher does seem to work
pretty good about once a year or so to resotore a lot of the visilibity.

The plastic "door frames" go behind the rear seat also (in the trunk, so to speak).

If I have rear seat passengers I stop at this point.

Otherwise then I remove the doors and set them on the rear seat so that the
mirrors are near the back roll bar (where the seatbelts are) and use some velcro
straps to secure some portion of the mirror assembly to the back roll bar.
Recently I've been setting them so that the "latch end" is down in the rear seat
footwell, and the hinge end is towards the back. This front/back way seems to
work better then trying to put them left and right.

I've long since lost the nuts that are supposed to go on the bottom of the
doors. For a while I was using a wrench I kept in the glove box, then my
fingers, and now I just leave them off and can't rember where I put them.

> If I leave them out, I have been
> told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
> because it will smell mildewy"

I got the dash soaked a few times. Twice bad enough that some of the gauges
were a little weird. After about 3 days though, all was fine again, except for
the CD player. I've learned to be real careful with that. Both of these times
was when I took a hose to the dash to get off all the mud. Mud running in a
convertible is a pain to clean up. I did have to drill the missing drain hole
in the passenger side back seat footwell. I noticed at an auto show sometime
after '99 they musta fixed that defect...

If I leave PePe (yes, I named my jeep, but that's another thread...) all closed
up (like neither she no I like her to be) she does start to smell a little (or a
lot) like a wet dog. Thus I just leave a window open when I park in my garage
(or the door open if I've got that good old #4 fuse pulled, obviously not a
problem if the top is down)

> how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?

That's my deal. Never had any parts stolen, your mileage may vary. Not the
lowest crime rate where I am, not the highest either. I guess you could have a
bicycle cable lock or something you run through the door handles if you are
worried about them. With the other parts hidden "inside the top" I doubt anyone
would go to the trouble to remove those parts (it's easiest to just put the top
up to get them out!)

If it's going to rain while I'm at work, I put it all up, or watch very close
out the window to see if it really does look like rain. Yes, a few times I have
had to put the top up will it was pouring. One time I even had to change
clothes at work when I was done. Good thing I'm a geek engineer and can wear
just about anything legal while at work!

I drive 24ish miles (each way) to work, with a garage at home, so it is fairly
common to put the top down on the way home, park in the garage with the top
down, drive to work, and then put the top up. Yes, I do mean put the top down
on the way home. Usually about 3 or 4 red lights is all it takes for the top
and half-door tops. Sometimes doing this I just toss the rear side windows into
back.

Did I mention I really like to have the top down?

I carry a windbreaker (easier/funner to just don a jacket than put the top up
when the sun goes down in spring/fall), so sometimes I put the jacket on the
seat (for rainprojection) and fold both front seats forward. Thus the seats are
somewhat sheilded from the rain, as is the dash (though not the CD player!).

Perhaps I should get a marine grade CD player... (or duct tape!)

alan "99 TJ with 110,000 miles" curtis

PS As for mirrors without doors, I got two suction cup mirrors (2" x 4") that I
stuck to the top outside corners of the windshield. Never been hassled for
this, then again never pulled over for other reasons while doorless either, so
who knows what might happen once I "come into the spotlight" for other reasons
and don't have "official side mirrors". I think any claim that a jeep with no
top and no doors has "reduced visibilty" is nuts, however.

David C. Moller

I just throw them in the rear cargo area (have the rear seat removed
typically). Like someone else said, they are at no more at risk than
they are when the soft top is 'up'. I've scrambled outside to put the
top up several times for sudden rainstorms. Other times, I've missed
the opportunity and the Jeep was soaked. Oh well. :)

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:08:15 GMT, "dave" <x1236@charter.netREMOVETHIS>
wrote:

>Whining again.
>
>I am still at a dilmma what to do with the soft doors and windows once
>removed for the summer. If you dont remove them, you sweat big time in the
>canvas coffin. 80+ degrees is nasty in there.
>
>We have had storms everyday the last three weeks here. If I take the top
>down, windows out and door tops off, what do I do if it rains WHILE AT WORK
>or at WALMART ? Weather has changed here every few hours in some cases. I
>can't carry the top parts with me for fear of them getting ripped off
>because there is no way to secure them. If I leave them out, I have been
>told "be careful not to get the dash wet 'cause it will fry or carpet wet
>because it will smell mildewy"
>
>what the heck is the sense of making an "all durable" Jeep with a "delicate"
>dash..? How do you prevent the dash from getting wet ?
>
>many said... remove the carpet and let it rain in there all you want.. I
>don't want to remove the carpet..
>
>how does anyone with a soft top jeep cope with these issues ?
>