RUGGED RIDGE TJ Montana Soft Top with Door Skins Instruction Manual

: June 13, 2024
: RUGGED RIDGE

Table of Contents

RUGGED RIDGE TJ Montana Soft Top with Door Skins
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

RUGGED RIDGE TJ Montana Soft Top with Door Skins

Product Information

The Montana Soft Top with Door Skins, TJ is a durable and versatile soft top designed for Jeep Wrangler TJ models. It is made from high-quality materials to provide protection from the elements while maintaining a sleek and stylish appearance. The soft top comes with side and rear windows, as well as a tailgate bar and rear window. It is important to follow the proper installation and maintenance instructions to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Product Usage Instructions

Ensure windows are kept clean to avoid scratching. DO NOT wash windows with a brush. Wash with a clean, watered-down cloth or sponge and mild detergent. DO NOT clean windows while dry. Use caution while cleaning in low temperatures as windows become more susceptible to scratching and cracking. DO NOT roll up windows in low temperatures as this causes windows to stiffen and crack. Windows should be clean when rolled up.
Remove the tailgate bar from the rear window and set it aside for later use. Remove side and rear windows by releasing the plastic window strips that retain the top above the front doors.
Release the windshield latches on the front header. DO NOT lower the top at this point. Pull down and out on the corners to release the top from the belt rail. Repeat for the opposite side.
Unfasten the hook and loop flap around the middle bow.
Release the soft top snaps from the rear bow and allow the bow to drop on the tailgate.
Lower the soft top onto the tailgate. Remove the screws that fasten the soft top fabric to the corners of the windshield header and set them aside for later use.
Flip the top fabric into the rear of the vehicle so that the fabric lays bottom side up. Remove the screws that fasten the soft top fabric to the windshield header and set them aside for later use. Remove the soft top fabric.
Lay the new soft top fabric in the rear of the vehicle with the bottom side up. Ensure the plastic strip on the fabric is facing up and aligned with the front edge of the windshield header. Locate the round hole that marks the center of the plastic strip and install the first screw to ensure the fabric is centered on the header. Install the remaining screws removed in step 6.
Wrap the fabric over the header and drape it over the tailgate. Raise the header slightly and work the pockets in the fabric over the corners of the header. Install the screws removed in step 5 in the corners of the header.
Raise the soft top assembly and snap the fabric to the rear bow.
Ensure the center bow is centered in the hook and loop flap but DO NOT fasten at this time. Pull down and insert the rear corners of the soft top into the belt rail. Secure the header to the windshield frame at this point.
Wrap and fasten the hook and loop strips around the center bow.
Locate the side windows and orient them with the zipper slider 10 to 12 along the top.
Roll the plastic lip of each window into the front door surround. Repeat for the opposite side.
Locate the plastic strips on each side of the top and insert them into the door surrounds above the door opening.
Fully close the zipper on each side window to lower the rear corner of the panel.
Start at the rear of the vehicle and roll the plastic lip along the belt rail. Fasten the hook and loop strips that connect the rear of the side window to the soft top.
Install the tailgate bar in the receiver on each side of the tailgate opening and insert the rear window into the C channel of the tailgate bar.

NOTICE Ensure windows are kept clean to avoid scratching. DO NOT wash windows with brush. Wash with clean, watered-down cloth or sponge and mild detergent. DO NOT clean windows while dry. Use caution while cleaning in low temperatures as windows become more susceptible to scratching and cracking. DO NOT roll up windows in low temperatures as this causes windows to stiffen and crack. Windows should be clean when rolled up.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION

Remove tailgate bar from rear window and set aside for later use. Remove side and rear windows by releasing plastic window strips that retain top above front doors.
Release windshield latches on front header. DO NOT lower top at this point. Pull down and out on corners to release top from belt rail. Repeat for opposite side.
Unfasten hook and loop flap around middle bow.
Release soft top snaps from rear bow and allow bow to drop on tailgate.
Lower soft top onto tailgate. Remove screws that fasten soft top fabric to corners of windshield header and set aside for later use.
Flip top fabric into rear of vehicle so fabric lays bottom side up. Remove screws that fasten soft top fabric to windshield header and set aside for later use. Remove soft top fabric.
NOTICE For 1997 models with slip-on plastic extrusion on door surround, remove extrusion before installing soft top.
Lay new soft top fabric in rear of vehicle with bottom side up. Ensure plastic strip on fabric is facing up and aligned with front edge of windshield header. Locate round hole that marks center of plastic strip and install first screw to ensure fabric is centered on header. Install remaining screws removed in step 6.
Wrap fabric over header and drape it over tailgate. Raise header slightly and work pockets in fabric over corners of header. Install screws removed in step 5 in corners of header.
Raise soft top assembly and snap fabric to rear bow.
Ensure center bow is centered in hook and loop flap but DO NOT fasten at this time. Pull down and insert rear corners of soft top into belt rail. Secure header to windshield frame at this point.
Wrap and fasten hook and loop strips around center bow.
Locate side windows and orient them with zipper slider 10” to 12” along top.
Roll plastic lip of window into front door surround. Repeat for opposite side.
Locate plastic strips on each side of top and insert into door surrounds above door opening.
Fully close zipper on side windows to lower rear corner of panel.
Start at rear of vehicle and roll plastic lip along belt rail. Fasten hook and loop strips that connect rear of side window to soft top.
Install tailgate bar in receiver on each side of tailgate opening and insert rear window into “C” channel of tailgate bar.
Start zipper of rear window. Hold up window and finish zipping rear window to top. Ensure tailgate bar is centered and securely fastened. Tuck flaps on rear window under soft top fabric.
NOTICE Allow top to remain closed for several days with temperatures above 72 degrees Fahrenheit to allow top to stretch and set to frame.
Remove fabric upper doors from vehicle. Using razor blade, cut stitching on old door covers and remove from frame.
Unzip windows and separate hook and loop fasteners on new door skins. Lay door skin on flat surface with outside facing down. Start by working lower rear corner of door frame into pocket in lower rear corner of door skin. Proceed to lower and top front. Ensure top front corner of frame is between hook and loop flap of door skin.
Use tab sewn into door skin to work top rear corner of frame into door skin between hook and loop flap. Ensure top of door skin is straight and fasten hook and loop strips tightly around frame. Once door skin is installed on frame, tab may be removed from skin using scissors.
Reinstall upper doors. Insert pins into grommets in lower doors.