I plan on getting a hardtop soon, but I actually had a question about the soft top. I know when you install the hardtop the softtop is folded down the hold time, and from threads I've read while its fold down it can rub in certain areas and cause rips?

So I was wondering was there a way to properly cover or put something like a cloth of somekind in between folds or parts of the metal ribs of the soft top to prevent rubbing, rips or rub marks in general?

I plan to use the hardtop for long long periods of time and I don't want the soft top to get damaged while its folded down.. I tried looking up threads but nothing really on the subject of care or preventative measures while the soft top is stored down/folded.

Also will the material somewhat shrink when being folded down for so long?

 

The material will absolutely not shrink, Honda engineers knew what they had coming when they offered a hardtop from factory in 2002. I had a hardtop, and I would leave it on from November-April, then leave it off for the spring/summer. My soft top never rubbed, ripped, or anything. I think you're fine leaving it the way it is.

 

 

I do the exact same thing every year. If you really want to spend the money, you can always invest in a MUZ roof well mat. I don't think they really benefit the MY02-09 models as much, but if you have a MY00-01 it'll help keep the scratches to the back window to a minimum when the top is down.

 

I think most of the holes that wear into a top are because the top is constantly being put up/down. If you just leave the top down all the time it won't wear out. I would just treat it with a good coat of vinyl protectant before you put it down for a long period of time.

 

I've got a hardtop and I raise it up and protect it with Raggtop a couple times a year, the rest of the time it is in the down position. I have piece of carpet in the well area trying to mimick the Muz idea.

The softop wears more from being up than being down IMO, I wouldn't sweat it, just keep it clean and protected as much as possible. It is away from UV rays in the down position and it doesn't have much tension on it, so it should last a long time.

 

[QUOTE=zeroptzero;19226944]I've got a hardtop and I raise it up and protect it with Raggtop a couple times a year, the rest of the time it is in the down position.
this is good to know, I have a new soft top and oem hard too. I decided to search the same question as the original poster did back in the day. Good to know about the ragtop protectant and that's it. I mainly keep hard top on, but since I just got the new soft top been letting it stretch a bit with the sun etc.. it was super tight. Reason for new soft top? Didn't need it old one was ok except for those common wear spots but since I was taking it to John at LHT I decided to just get a new oem top while I still could.

 

I will add to the above comments. Make sure your elastic bands are nice and elastic to help the top fold correctly. Modifry has the straps for $20. I have installed them twice for my 2009.

I also went carefully through the structure to make sure that there were no burrs or sharp areas that could prematurely wear the top through. I also use Raggtopp a lot.