I've looked around for information on how to clean and maintain a convertible soft top (for a 2006 Jeep Wrangler) but everywhere I look I read different things. So, I decided to ask you gurus as I trust y'all over other websites. Have y'all had any experience in cleaning/maintaining these? What products and procedures would you recommend? I've seen recommendations for Renovo (I think that's how it was spelled) and RaggTopp, but as I mentioned, I would take y'alls recommendations over these.

I plan on detailing my girlfriend's lifted Jeep but that's the one part of it I don't know what to do with other than pressure wash...

 

I'd have to say that I've not worked on a Jeep's soft top... I will defer this to someone who has...

I have, however, used Raggtop products with great success on a few other soft tops that I've worked on... They make a very good product, IMO.

-RP-

 

Thanks for the input RP, if no one else chimes in I'll settle for the RaggTopp cleaner and protectant...

 

I guess it would depend on what type of material the top is, if its similar to say the tops on mustangs then Adams VRT. I Love this stuff.

 

A good vinyl cleaner will do the job of cleaning but stay away from products like Armor All Protectant. Most protectants have silicone in them and it tends to destoy tops and sufaces exposed to the sun.

 

I feel pretty stupid asking this but is a Jeep's soft top classified as a fabric or vinyl? I've been looking around and I can't find a definite answer. And due to there being vinyl protectants and fabric protectants I don't know which I need to pick up...luckily, cleaners are for both.

 

my votes for raggtopp

 

This is kind of why I wanted to leave it alone...

I honestly think that I've seen BOTH kinds (vinyl and fabric). I have no clue if one or the other was aftermarket or some kind of an upgrade...

Sorry man. Not too sure on this one.

 

Unless it was custom made it's most likely vinyl. Even the ones that have that "denim" look to it are still just a textured vinyl. If in doubt, take a rear linty terry cloth towel and run it all over the top. If you can't clean that damn lint off afterwords, yup, it's cloth.

 

I was just about to ask this question myself. My mom bought a Miata over the weekend, so now I have to figure out how to clean, and keep clean, a convertible.

The top is black though, so it shouldn't be to hard.

 

To clean the convertible top on my wife's 05 Mustang, I just wash it like I do the rest of the car, albeit a bit more vigorously.

To maintain it, I use Meg's NXT Tech Protect Interior Protectant, liberally. It makes the top nice and black without making it shiny. I like the UVA and UVB blocks in that product.

I might try some hyper-dressing on it this week. Does HD have the UV inhibitors?

 

Another vote for RaggTopp. I use it on the Wife's Mustang. The cleaner works good and the protectant is very easy to apply and lasts a long time, 2 months or more, depending on weather conditions.

Adam's VRT is great stuff, but it will not last through a rain storm, or even just a washing. It is a water based product. I use VRT on all my interior plastic, rubber and vinyl.

 

Yes.

 

I wrote an email to AutoGeek asking about the convertible top material and this is what I recieved back:


"I am unsure of the material and could not find any information.

This test works 99% of the time: take some water, and dab it on the top. If
it beads up, it's fabric. If it absorbs, it's vinyl."


This test should be able to clear up any confusion. Too bad the Jeep is in central Texas right now so I can't test it and order the right products.

 

A vinyl top absorbs water?

I would think it to be the other way around?