How to Install a Rugged Ridge Spice Soft Top w/ Tinted Windows & Door Skins on your 1997-2002 Wrangler TJ

Step (1) : Remove the quarter windows and rear  window. Remove the metal tailgate bar from the bottom of the rear window and  set to the side. It will be reused.

Release the plastic strips sewn to the  top above the doors. Pull down and out  to slip the plastic out of the channel.

Step (2) : Release the latch that secures the header to the windshield. Pull up on the lever and then down and out to release the hook from the slot in the windshield frame. 

Step (3) : Release the rear corners of the top. Pull gently down and then out to release the plastic strip from the retainer on the  vehicle.

Step (4) :  Unfasten the flap around the middle bow.

Step (5) : Unsnap the fabric from the rear bow and allow the bow to drop onto the tailgate.

Step (6) : Collapse the bow assembly down onto the  tailgate. With the bow assembly laying on  the tailgate, remove the screws that fasten  to the corners of the header. Set screws  aside for use later. They are reused for the installation of the new top.

Step (7) :  Flip the top fabric back over into the rear of the vehicle (so that the fabric lays backing side up) to expose the plastic strip along  the edge of the fabric. Remove the eight or  fourteen screws the secure the fabric to  the header, setting the screws aside for  use in the installing the new top. Then  remove the old top fabric from the vehicle.

Step (1) : If you have a 1997 vehicle with a slip-on  plastic extrusion on the door surround, it must be removed. Pull down on the  extrusion to work it loose.

Step (2) : In order to install the top fabric, make sure that the center and rear bows are in the  folded down position on the rear of the  vehicle.

Lay the top fabric, backing side up in the  rear of the vehicle with the plastic strip facing up and aligned with the front edge of the header. Locate the round hole that  marks the center of the plastic strip (all other holes are slotted). Install a screw in  the round hole to secure the fabric to the  header as well as to center the top. Then proceed to install screws in the remaining seven or thirteen holes along the front of the header. 

Step (3) : Flip the fabric over so that it wraps  around the header and drape the top fabric over the tailgate. Raise the header  slightly and work the pockets in the fabric over the corners of the header. Install an  oval head screw in each corner to secure the fabric to the header.

Step (4) :  Raise the header and bow assembly  towards the windshield and into position. Inside the top, snap the fabric to the  rear bow (total of six snaps).

Step (5) : Make sure that the center bow is centered in the hook and loop flap inside the top. Do not fasten the flap at this time.

Pull down gently on the rear bow and work  the plastic sewn to the rear corner of the top into the retainer on the vehicle.

Step (6) : Close the header latches to secure the  front of the top to the windshield. Catch  the hook in the slot in the windshield frame and then close the lever over it so that it lays flat against the windshield frame.

Step (7) :  Wrap and fasten the hook and loop on the  two flaps inside the top around the center bow.

Step (8) :  Locate the left and right quarter window  panels and orient them with the zipper  slider about 10" - 12" along the top.

Step (9) : Roll the plastic along the front of the panel into the channel of the door surround on  the vehicle.

Step (10): Locate the plastic strip sewn to each side of the top, above each door. Slip the strips into the channel in the door surround above the door opening.

Step (11): Close the zipper on the quarter panels the  rest of the way to the lower rear corner of the panel.

Start at the rear and roll the plastic along the bottom of the panel into the retainer on the vehicle. Then fasten the hook and loop  strips along the rear of the panel to the top.

Step (12): Remove the rear window from the box and  lay it flat with the backing side up. Locate the tailgate bar set aside in step one. The bar has a "C" shaped channel, when viewed from the end. Orient the bar with the round  seal down and slide the "C" channel on the retainer onto the tubed strip sewn to the  backing side of the rear window.

Step (13):  Insert the tailgate bar into the mounts on  each side of the tailgate opening with the  vinyl side of the rear window towards the  outside of the vehicle.

Step (14):  To start the zipper, pull the two sliders as  far down as possible on the driver's side of the window in order to catch the sliders to the pin.

Once the zipper is caught, start the top  slider 1/2". Then hold up the top of the  window with one hand and close the zipper with the other. The zipper in sandwiched  between layers of fabric in the corners so  be careful not to catch extra fabric in the  zipper. Close zipper.

Make sure that the tailgate is centered and is securely in the mounts. Then tuck the  flaps on the rear window under the top  fabric.

Step (15):  Remove the fabric upper doors from the  vehicle. Use a razor knife to cut the stitches on the old door covers and take them off of the door frames.

Step (16):  Unzip the windows and separate the hook and loop fasteners on the door covers Lay the door cover on a flat surface with the  outside facing down. Start by working the  lower rear corner of the door frame into the  pocket in the lower rear corner of the cover. Then work the lower front corner of the  frame into the cover. Work the top front  corner of the frame into the corner of the  cover, between the  hook and loop flaps (not between the zipper and the flap). 

Step (17):  Use the tap sewn into the cover to work  the last corner of the frame into the corner of the frame into the corner of the door  cover, again between the hook and the  flaps. Make sure that the top edge of the door cover is straight along the top of the  door frame. Work around the door fastening the hook and loop strips tightly around the  door frame. Once the door cover is on the  frame, the tab in the top rear corner of the  cover may be cut off with a pair of scissors if desired.

Step (18):  Reinstall the upper doors. Insert the pins into the grommets in the lower door.

Step (1) : Remove the quarter panels and rear window curtain and store them carefully.

Step (2) : Release the front of the top from the  windshield. Raise the front of the deck and collapse the rear bows, tucking the two  plastic strips above the door opening and  the stay pad on the rear bow inside of the bows. Wrap the fabric around the bows, then tuck the rear legs of the top under the  bows.