Sahara Unlimited

I am buying a used jeep wrangler unlimited 4 door. Should I buy one with a hard top or soft top?

Whichever one I buy, I plan to buy the other type of top and install it so that I have both available. Which is harder and more expensive to do after the fact? I have availability of both hard and soft tops that I'm considering but I'd like to keep in mind the "hassle factor" post-purchase of which one is harder to deal with, if any. Thanks.

I'm looking at used 2007/2008 models, 4 door, wrangler sahara unlimited. Thanks.

I have a 2010 Unlimited with dual top option, which gives you both choices from the start.

Some people do have problems with the hard tops leaking, but not all. My hard top has never leaked and when I have it on I'm constantly removing and reinstalling the front freedom panels any day its above 50* and not raining. Furthermore, I know three other people in my area with hard tops and none of them have had problems with leaks either.

If you don't have the choice of buying a Jeep with the dual-top option, then starting with the hard top (if you need it) would make the most sense. Buying a new hard top costs over $2,300, though you can frequently find used hardtops for sale on sites like http://www.JKOwners.com and http://www.JK-Forum.com for half or less. Conversely, a new OEM soft top costs around $1,500 and there are third-party alternatives as low as $700. Again, used soft-tops are available on the above websites for 70% or less the of the new costs (and are much cheaper to ship).

Neither is particularly difficult to install after the fact. Removing and installing the hard top requires two people to lift it into place or a hoist (which can be bought or made) and dealing with eight Torx T50 screws. Installing the soft top requires installing plastic door surrounds with knobbed screws and screwing the crossbow bracket into the roll cage.