If you are running a Jeep Wrangler with a hard top that has the removable sport fun top panels. Then you likely have or will have issues with your top leaking. So how do you stop your Jeep Hard top from leaking?

5 Tips For How To Stop Your Jeep Hard Top From Leaking

1. Clean around all of the rubber seals: If you run with your tops off a lot especially when off-road dirt and debris can find it’s way up and get stuck near the rubber seals which can prevent a good seal.

Take a wet rag and wipe down all of the seals. While this certainly can help prevent leaks it is not likely enough to resolve all of your leaking issues. We have found it is really helpful to grab some qtips and use those to help get inside of the creases to get rid of dirt and grime that your rag just cant reach.

2. Check the hardtop bolts. There are two bolts that hold the hardtop on in the front. They often wiggle loose while on the trail or just overtime.

These can be an entry point for water to seep down into your Jeep. Take your hex wrench and tighten them up. This has helped solve many Jeep owners issues and is a good quick fix to try. There is a bolt on each side of the Jeep near the door so make sure to tighten them both.


3. Re-adjust and tighten: Modifying how the top lays down on the seals can make a huge difference. Make sure that none of the seals are folding outside pushing the seal out into the seams of the top. Make sure to place the passenger side panel down first this is crucial to ensuring that the top seals properly.

Once placement looks correct work your way around the Jeep tightening each latch in a cris-cross pattern like you would when tightening lug-nuts. Then fold down the two front metal latches. Last but not least use the screw in bolts last. Really tighten these up to compress the seals and help prevent water from making it’s way into the Jeep.


4. Check and Clean Door Seals: Each door seal is designed to keep water out. Water from the roof often finds it’s way into the door seals and should be running down the seal and dripping onto the ground. However a damaged seal or seal with obstruction can shift the flow of that water into the Jeep interior running into your floorboards rather than dripping on the floor.

Clean the seals and make sure the rubber has no cracks and is not peeling away from the vehicle. Make sure to clean the seals well especially if you have ran with your windows down or doors off as dust can build up in the seals and prevent a good seal.


5. Add in Additional Weather Stripping: While the steps above solve a majority of the issues. We have seen for some the only way to stop the top from leaking is by adding in additional weather stripping that has the ability to compress and seal the roof better.

Some simple weather stripping from the hardware store along with some scissors and glue is all you will need to run the stripping along the current liner adding the extra seal that your roof needs. No doubt keeping water out of your Jeep interior should be a high priority. Remember that if you ever do get some water pooling you can easily take your carpet out to let it dry and pull the plugs to help drain excess water.


Have a tip that will help fellow Jeep owners solve their issues with a leaky roof. Let us know what you did in the comments! Find this useful? Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of JeepKingdom content each week.