JL Wrangler Hardtop Removal

For Jeep JL Wrangler owners, there’s nothing better than roaming through the great outdoors in your rig. More often than not, that means taking the hardtop off your Wrangler in order to soak up the sunshine and feel the breeze. While removing your JL Wrangler hardtop might sound daunting, it doesn’t have to be overly difficult. All you need is the Jeep tool kit that was included in your Wrangler, as well as a friend to assist you with lifting the top. Since JL Wrangler hardtop removal is a relatively short task, you’ll be on the trail sooner than you know it.

In comparison to the JK Wrangler, removing the Freedom top on the JL is a similar process, with just a few changes such as the latches and electrical connections. For step-by-step instructions on how to remove a JL Wrangler hardtop, check out this video from the CJ Off-Road YouTube channel!

CJ Off-Road Video

Step-By-Step Instructions

Tools required:

• Jeep Tool Kit (comes with new JL Wranglers)

Duration: ~30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

1. The first step to removing the JL Wrangler hardtop is taking off the Freedom panels. There are a few latches and two levers that you will need to unhook to remove the panels. Starting with the driver’s side and working left to right, move the sun visor out of the way and pull down the latch located underneath it.
2. Go around and unhook the remaining latches from the panels.
3. With all the latches and levers unhooked, you can remove the two panels from the JL Wrangler hardtop. You can stop there if you want to just have the front portion of the top removed.
4. Before you can begin removing the rest of the hardtop, there’s a wiring harness and windshield washer fluid line that need to be disconnected on each side. Jeep included a nice storage section that you can plug the harness into when not in use to keep it protected from moisture and dirt while you’re on the trail. We’re going to remove the driver’s side wiring connection first.
5. Underneath the rear glass of the hardtop, there are three T50 Torx bits on each side that need to be removed. Jeep included a toolkit with the JL Wrangler that will have all the tools you need to remove the bolts. Use the ratchet with the T50 Torx bit to remove these bolts.
6. Once the wiring harness and the bolts are removed from the driver’s side, repeat the process for the other side.
7. Next, we’re going to remove the two T50 Torx bolts holding the top of the JL Wrangler hardtop in place.
8. Once those bolts are removed, everything should be ready to go to remove the hardtop. Grab a friend to help you lift the top! Lift up from the bottom to remove.
9. That’s it for removing the JL Wrangler hardtop. Now you can go enjoy the great outdoors without any barriers!

Please Note: Please keep in mind that this guide is a tool to help you install the parts on your vehicle. If you don’t feel confident in performing this installation properly on your own, have a professional install the parts for you.