by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Look at any Jeep showroom these days and you’ll see nearly every Wrangler on the lot carries a hardtop. Sure, some arrive with a dual top combination, and more and more are coming with that One-Touch Skytop, but the majority arrive with a hardtop.
And with a hardtop come front Freedom panels.
These panels are easy enough to pull on or off; however, once they are off the Jeep, it becomes a touchy game as to what to do with the things. Do they go into the back seat, or into the garage or porch? If they are kept out of the vehicle, what happens if it rains? Plus, the whole thing with scratches and damage to the clamps.
Enter the QuadraTop Skylite Roll Top for Hardtop.
Designed for 2018-2025 Jeep Wrangler JL, as well as 2020-2025 Gladiator JT trucks, it is engineered to offer open-air vibes without sacrificing protection, and it delivers in more ways than just letting in the breeze.
The Skylite Roll Top frame bolts directly to the Jeep without calling for a full soft top removal. And, its single-person install and operation make it ideal for spontaneous open-air drives or when the weather turns unexpectedly. No need to pull into a parking lot to zip out any windows or doors.
It also includes a choice of 28 oz. Black Diamond or 30 oz. Premium Black Twill fabric, making the top rugged enough for trail mud as well as stylish enough for weekend events.
As far as operation goes, once you pull back the roll top, it secures tightly, which minimizes noise and fabric flutter at highway speeds. When closed, it uses a steel-reinforced frame (door surrounds, header, welded rear substructure) to lock things down weather-tight and leak-resistant. A crowned center bow helps shed water and keeps everything taut.
One of the top’s highlights is an optional sunshade. This is especially useful when you want extra UV protection, or to keep the sun off you on extremely hot and humid days. Plus, it tucks away when you don’t need the thing.
QuadraTop gives you multiple options to get the look and use you want. Whether you go Black Diamond or Twill, with or without the sunshade, the different styles let you match or contrast your Jeep’s setup.
All versions are made to fit the hardtop hardlines, whether JL two-door/Unlimited or JT, and they respect factory latches and seals so the upgrade feels like it could’ve been an OEM option.
We tested the QuadraTop Skylite Roll Top on our Gladiator during a recent trip to Michigan and back for the annual Detroit 4Fest. Altogether, it was just under 1,500 miles, and we made sure to fold the top up and down numerous times to ensure the hardware performed flawlessly. We also pulled it back and secured the material before leaving our West Chester, Pennsylvania, facility, and kept it open all the way through Pittsburgh, where we hit rain and needed to fold it closed.
With several hundred highway miles in that open position, we didn’t experience any rattling hardware, nor did any material shake loose and flap. All connections were solid and taut. Not to mention, when closed, the top held off a little over two hours' worth of heavy rain.
So, yeah, the QuadraTop Skylite Roll Top is more than just a shade piece. It is a clever hybrid accessory that offers Freedom panel-type protection with the flexibility of a soft top. If you love the idea of open air, but want something tougher than classic soft tops (plus a sunshade, quieter ride and solid weather sealing), this roll top is a top-tier pick anyone can operate and enjoy.
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