Articles

For our money, there’s no better feeling on a warm summer day than getting topless and taking a trip to the beach, our favorite camping spot, or just around town. We love feeling the heat from the sun and letting the breeze blow through our hair…

What? We meant taking the top off our Jeep. What did you think we meant?

There’s an indescribable feeling of freedom when you’re cruising down the street with nothing but a blue sky above you. At the very least, it’s worth it for all the looks of envy coming from the other drivers. But if you only have a hardtop, you may never know this unbridled joy.

Before you buy, take a look through these options to see which summertime top is best for you.

Soft tops:

There are two types of soft tops that you can consider, and each has its own unique advantages. The full-frame soft tops are probably the most familiar with the rectangular back, but there’s also a frameless soft top. The difference is that the frameless soft top uses your Jeep’s rolls bars to support the top’s fabric rather than a metal bow system.

Four-door Wranglers will end up losing some headroom with the frameless soft top, but it’s not as noticeable on two-door models. The frameless soft top will not be able to fold all the way back, as the full-frame soft top does.

Both are 100% waterproof and can be removed in minutes. However, if you don’t want to be hindered by side and back windows, you can always try the…

Bikini tops:

Also referred to as summer tops and safari tops, this type of Wrangler top practically comes in the mail with samples of laundry detergent. They are a Jeep standard and are the closest thing to driving topless while keeping your noggin from getting all toasty.

All you need is a windshield channel to attach the top to the windshield area of the Jeep. Use the straps to attach the rest of the top to your roll bars. They are available in mesh or solid fabrics and will cover either the front two seats or the entire overhead area.

Clearly, the bikini top isn’t waterproof. Consider that before playing in the mud. But, if this type of top just isn’t scanty enough…

Shade tops:

This mesh top attaches to your Wrangler’s roll bars with Spiderballs – bungee and ball cords that are fed through the grommet holes on top. If you don’t have windshield channels, this is the option for you, as they aren’t needed to affix the top to your Jeep.

The shade top provides adequate overhead protection while cutting down on wind noise. It can be used with other soft, hard, and bikini tops, so this is a great accessory to have on-hand. 

Whatever your summertime top option, make sure you invest in some proper cleaning and protectant products, as well as storage devices. Otherwise, you could find yourself replacing your soft top more often than you’d like.

Happy trails!

With temperatures finally warming up, the snow is melting, the driveways are clear, and spring is here! For Jeep owners, this is an especially exciting time of year, because it means we get to finally take our toys out of hibernation and get them ready to play.

Everybody has their post-winterization rituals, but there are a few initial spring cleaning tasks that everybody needs to put at the top of their to-do list. So, pull off the tarp and let’s get to it:

1. Replace your wiper blades:

   We know. Everybody hates spending money on these things, and we always put off replacing them until we absolutely need them (like driving through a thunderstorm).
   
   If you didn't replace your blades during the fall, or if you drove your Jeep through the winter, no doubt they've fallen victim to the wear and tear of use.
   
   Check your owner's manual to figure out your needed size, and you can easily replace your wipers yourself.
   
   

2. Clean your headlamps:

   Another chore that we don't always do until we absolutely need to, but you figure it out pretty quick when you're driving down the street at night and can barely see in front of you.
   
   Winter driving has no doubt left plenty of salt and road grime all over your headlamps, which can hinder the full beam from illuminating your path. If you winterized and stored your vehicle, it never hurts to make sure there's no leftover mud caked on there from last year. Be sure to give them a good scrub!

3. Wash your underbody:

   Even if you winterized and stored your Jeep, it's important to note that the roads are still covered with salt and grime well into spring. A lot of that stuff gets kicked up while you're driving.
   
   As you wash off your Jeep, be sure to give the underbody some attention. Neglecting that buildup of gunk could lead to corrosion and promote rust.
   
   

4. Get out there, already!

   If there's one thing you can guarantee, it's that melting snow makes for some excellent muddy conditions. If you're not too shy about getting out in the slop, now is a great time to do so. Just make sure you're prepared for when you get stuck!

There have been many rumors swirling about the forthcoming 2017 Jeep Wrangler JK. While few things have been confirmed (we don’t even have any pictures), the latest unconfirmed announcement is that there could be a diesel option. 

According to Motor Trend’s TruckTrend.com, one of the powertrain options for Jeep’s next-gen flagship will be the 3.0L VM Motori V6 EcoDiesel mated to the ZF eight-speed automatic. What does this mean? Developed by Fiat-owned supplier VM Motori in Italy, the EcoDiesel engine will give the Wrangler some excellent fuel economy – in the neighborhood of high 20s to 30s on the freeway – while still providing plenty of that signature Jeep torque. 

In 2014, the U.S. saw a grand influx of diesel-powered vehicles, including the Grand Cherokee. The EcoDiesel engine gave the Cherokee up to 30 mpg on the highway, up to 730 miles on one tank of fuel, and towing capacity of up to 7,400 pounds. The EcoDiesel also earned the No. 3 spot in Forbes 10 Best New-Car Engines for 2014, powering Chrysler’s Ram 1500 and giving it 24 mpg or better in combined city/highway driving. 

Other confirmed features of the 2017 Wrangler include front and rear solid axles, and body-on-frame construction.