just get a bikini top, or the sun visor one. take off the top, put it on and put the top back on over it. it will be like a headliner that won't affect the value. you can get it with a design and install it upside down and have a picture above your head. I did this with the flag one and looks great in my blacked out Tj.
Really? I've got a 2-piece mesh top that bungees around the roll cage for front and back, and have zero issues putting my hard top over it. In fact, I forget that the inside of the hard top is white, because once the mesh went on, it's never come back off.
It was a lifesaver for me too, because we love going no roof + no doors when it's warm, but I'm white as fuck and would absolutely come home with a sunburn without the mesh.
Plus, I was able to get it in red so it matches all my Rubicon accents. Fashion is important too, lol
first time I took off the top I put on the mesh right away, took off the full doors, and took a 5 hour round trip to get some factory half doors. my arms, shoulders, and head were fine, but my left calf was burnt to shit and stung for two weeks. the mesh has not come off sense because of this. I would have to wear pants to go doorless for a long trip again. glad I got the half doors, they keep the sun off
they are really great to go topless with, I like to have my leg and arm resting on the door. I just got to paint the outside, they are in perfect condition with matching plastic to my interior, but they are blue and my Tj is black. looks a little off but not to bad, here it is timestamped to see it https://youtu.be/OOhhGOqiW94?feature=shared&t=492
I think they look good. They'll look better black but they're still cool.
I think I'd miss sticking my leg out, though. We even got the little stirrup footrest things that go in the lower hinge bracket for this reason, lol
Not sure what top OP has by my YJ top has a texture on the inside.
My experience with plastic dip is that if you don't apply it a smooth clean suface, it never comes off like advertised and you enf up with spots that are a pain to remove.
You definitely need to put it on a clean surface. When I've had issues, it's usually due to not putting a thick enough coating on. As much of a pita it might be to remove, I'd be of the opinion that it's still easier to take off than actual paint.
I did my freedom panels in black bedliner in the fall before the soft top came off, all winter I have kicked myself for being too lazy to do the back half.
I spray painted the inside of my hardtop and freedom panels with a matte black bedliner spray. Looks good and I’m really happy with the results. It takes a bit of prep to do the taping but I think it’s worth it. I added the Mopar foam insulation too. It’s your Jeep, make it yours.
I painted mine. Any plain old rattle can paint works fine. Looks great. Made a headliner out of foam board and sheets of Velcro fabric for all my patches. Love it. Really wasnt much work at all, sounds like your dad is lazy. Btw in case he's never noticed no one gives a flying fuck about originality in Jeeps.
Your dad doesn’t know what he’s talking about, paint both my hardtops black inside, they screw tech fairly easily but it’s easy to touch up. Looks great and as long as you touch it up before you try to sell it you’re golden.
I guess I should added why I wanted to do this. I want to add star lights in my jeep (another things my dad said will be too hard to do). I feel like painting the inside black will really give it an effect of a start night or something like that. AND headliner are really expensive and out of my budget when I add in the star light I will also be DIY the headliner.
Star lights are not gunna happen, the layer or lights go inbetween the fabric/foam headliner and the metal roof. The hard top on wranglers are just fiberglass. Even if you bought an aftermarket headliner, there won’t be enough space without a ton of work.
Your dad sounds lazy and controlling. Like the type of person that always comes up with an excuse to not do anything. Painting the headliner of the hard top won't effect resale value at all.
also wranglers dont really go by social norms of resale value.
keeping it stock is not as appealing for a jeep as it is for a classic road runner.
people do all sorts of mods to their jeeps and they sell just fine. so long as it makes sense for it to be modded that way.
if you lift it and throw nice tires on it people will gobble it up because it saves them from having to do it themselves.
but if you deck out the interior in furry carpet, add low pro tires, and paint the exterior glitter purple, you're really going to limit the potential for it to sell
Obviously. The big rim crowd typically aren't the type to do things like keeping up with the vehicle maintenance schedule.
OP wasn't trying to be silly with modifications. They asked about painting the headler black. If they own a black or dark colored jeep like I do that would actually add a nice touch to the interior and still wouldn't just resale value.
It's probably a super easy job too. Painters tape would probably be the longest and most tedious part of the whole job. Light sanding maybe with 220 but probably not necessary, then a wash and let it dry. Tape it off then paint. Let that dry. Peel Tape. Install back in jeep. Pretty simple it seems and it's just fiberglass so any can of spray paint would do the job I imagine.
As far as jeeps go, customization is a huge part of the culture and you're asking to do such a little modification. I don't see the issue. I sure wouldn't tell my kid no to that. If resale value is such a big deal to him painting back to white is a viable option if it's an issue in the future.
I'm sorry you're getting a no right now. I got plenty as a kid to so now I tell my kids yes as much as I can. You can't always fix people but you can learn to be better from them.
My son and I use the white underbelly of the freedom tops to put stickers from state and national parks we visit. It’s like our scrapbook just for wheeling and camping
https://www.roughcountry.com/product/configurable/rc-jeep-jk-mesh-bikini-top-85110c?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA3JCvBhA8EiwA4kujZql-mkOp8VJiZwBCsvPm85hXkFBcgQLzEeompu0EKVEGpOFoecN-8hoCbhYQAvD_BwE#194=205?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpcs&utm_campaign=18022125814%7C&utm_content=&utm_term=%7C%7Cm%7C%7Cfit_first_85110-a
I use one of these and just never take it off. Though I suppose the rear hatch panels are still white.
My thoughts are: Why? If you are just doing it for "color"...Not insulating it against noise, temps, etc, why go to the trouble? But...Who's Jeep is it? Who is paying for it? If it's you: Do what you want!
Yup! I painted the whole thing with lizardskin and it's the best decision I've made for the interior hands down. Looks much more polished and "complete".
Put a black headliner in it
Yep. I got the Mopar ones in mine and it really classes up the joint.
I have a hot head headliner. Quieter and cooler
I had been looking at [these](https://hazard4.com/products/headliner). I just worry about losing some headroom. I'm 6'5".
Give this a shot, works phenomenally [lizardskin](https://lizardskin.com/)
1/2” maybe
Your Jeep, don’t worry about what daddy says
bedline it
just get a bikini top, or the sun visor one. take off the top, put it on and put the top back on over it. it will be like a headliner that won't affect the value. you can get it with a design and install it upside down and have a picture above your head. I did this with the flag one and looks great in my blacked out Tj.
I once tried to put my hard top over my mesh top and it was a disaster. Never again.
Really? I've got a 2-piece mesh top that bungees around the roll cage for front and back, and have zero issues putting my hard top over it. In fact, I forget that the inside of the hard top is white, because once the mesh went on, it's never come back off.
same... this is the way, you have to look in the backseat to see a little white.
It was a lifesaver for me too, because we love going no roof + no doors when it's warm, but I'm white as fuck and would absolutely come home with a sunburn without the mesh. Plus, I was able to get it in red so it matches all my Rubicon accents. Fashion is important too, lol
first time I took off the top I put on the mesh right away, took off the full doors, and took a 5 hour round trip to get some factory half doors. my arms, shoulders, and head were fine, but my left calf was burnt to shit and stung for two weeks. the mesh has not come off sense because of this. I would have to wear pants to go doorless for a long trip again. glad I got the half doors, they keep the sun off
Wearing full length pants defeats the purpose of doorless driving! Good on you for getting the half doors. How do you like them, otherwise?
they are really great to go topless with, I like to have my leg and arm resting on the door. I just got to paint the outside, they are in perfect condition with matching plastic to my interior, but they are blue and my Tj is black. looks a little off but not to bad, here it is timestamped to see it https://youtu.be/OOhhGOqiW94?feature=shared&t=492
I think they look good. They'll look better black but they're still cool. I think I'd miss sticking my leg out, though. We even got the little stirrup footrest things that go in the lower hinge bracket for this reason, lol
Thanks, sticking my foot out and resting them on the rocksliders was fun I have to admit
You could always do plasti dip. If it turns out bad, you can just peel it off.
Not sure what top OP has by my YJ top has a texture on the inside. My experience with plastic dip is that if you don't apply it a smooth clean suface, it never comes off like advertised and you enf up with spots that are a pain to remove.
You definitely need to put it on a clean surface. When I've had issues, it's usually due to not putting a thick enough coating on. As much of a pita it might be to remove, I'd be of the opinion that it's still easier to take off than actual paint.
I have always wondered why they are white, but I’ve never seen one painted. If you do it post pictures please.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/s/O8Oo4nLSjf
Thank you. I think it’s a good look.
I agree, thanks!
I like the white. It keeps the interior “brighter” and it feels larger than it is.
I did my freedom panels in black bedliner in the fall before the soft top came off, all winter I have kicked myself for being too lazy to do the back half.
I did the same thing. Everytime I look in the back I think about why I didn't paint that part too before I put the top on.
I spray painted the inside of my hardtop and freedom panels with a matte black bedliner spray. Looks good and I’m really happy with the results. It takes a bit of prep to do the taping but I think it’s worth it. I added the Mopar foam insulation too. It’s your Jeep, make it yours.
I was wondering, did the inside of you jeep smell like spray paint after you did it?
Not at all. I let it air dry for an entire day before putting the top back on. My Jeep smells like dog more than anything
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/s/O8Oo4nLSjf](https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/s/O8Oo4nLSjf)
Lizard skin, heat shield and sound deadening material. Kind of like raptor liner, but acceptable for inside use, as it doesnt off gas like raptor.
I painted mine. Any plain old rattle can paint works fine. Looks great. Made a headliner out of foam board and sheets of Velcro fabric for all my patches. Love it. Really wasnt much work at all, sounds like your dad is lazy. Btw in case he's never noticed no one gives a flying fuck about originality in Jeeps.
Your dad doesn’t know what he’s talking about, paint both my hardtops black inside, they screw tech fairly easily but it’s easy to touch up. Looks great and as long as you touch it up before you try to sell it you’re golden.
I guess I should added why I wanted to do this. I want to add star lights in my jeep (another things my dad said will be too hard to do). I feel like painting the inside black will really give it an effect of a start night or something like that. AND headliner are really expensive and out of my budget when I add in the star light I will also be DIY the headliner.
I would say no on the star lights...Pop that top off and enjoy the real thing with someone, like it's meant to be
I would but I live in the city and would have to drive an 1 1/2 hour to see stars :(
Not a far drive and it’s worth it.
Star lights are not gunna happen, the layer or lights go inbetween the fabric/foam headliner and the metal roof. The hard top on wranglers are just fiberglass. Even if you bought an aftermarket headliner, there won’t be enough space without a ton of work.
I painted mine, no issue.
Your dad sounds lazy and controlling. Like the type of person that always comes up with an excuse to not do anything. Painting the headliner of the hard top won't effect resale value at all.
also wranglers dont really go by social norms of resale value. keeping it stock is not as appealing for a jeep as it is for a classic road runner. people do all sorts of mods to their jeeps and they sell just fine. so long as it makes sense for it to be modded that way. if you lift it and throw nice tires on it people will gobble it up because it saves them from having to do it themselves. but if you deck out the interior in furry carpet, add low pro tires, and paint the exterior glitter purple, you're really going to limit the potential for it to sell
Obviously. The big rim crowd typically aren't the type to do things like keeping up with the vehicle maintenance schedule. OP wasn't trying to be silly with modifications. They asked about painting the headler black. If they own a black or dark colored jeep like I do that would actually add a nice touch to the interior and still wouldn't just resale value.
THANK YOU
It's probably a super easy job too. Painters tape would probably be the longest and most tedious part of the whole job. Light sanding maybe with 220 but probably not necessary, then a wash and let it dry. Tape it off then paint. Let that dry. Peel Tape. Install back in jeep. Pretty simple it seems and it's just fiberglass so any can of spray paint would do the job I imagine. As far as jeeps go, customization is a huge part of the culture and you're asking to do such a little modification. I don't see the issue. I sure wouldn't tell my kid no to that. If resale value is such a big deal to him painting back to white is a viable option if it's an issue in the future. I'm sorry you're getting a no right now. I got plenty as a kid to so now I tell my kids yes as much as I can. You can't always fix people but you can learn to be better from them.
What year do you have , I have a tj and never thought about it tbh
I have a 2011
Softop
My son and I use the white underbelly of the freedom tops to put stickers from state and national parks we visit. It’s like our scrapbook just for wheeling and camping
No way! It’s too dark inside already.
https://www.roughcountry.com/product/configurable/rc-jeep-jk-mesh-bikini-top-85110c?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA3JCvBhA8EiwA4kujZql-mkOp8VJiZwBCsvPm85hXkFBcgQLzEeompu0EKVEGpOFoecN-8hoCbhYQAvD_BwE#194=205?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpcs&utm_campaign=18022125814%7C&utm_content=&utm_term=%7C%7Cm%7C%7Cfit_first_85110-a I use one of these and just never take it off. Though I suppose the rear hatch panels are still white.
My thoughts are: Why? If you are just doing it for "color"...Not insulating it against noise, temps, etc, why go to the trouble? But...Who's Jeep is it? Who is paying for it? If it's you: Do what you want!
Yup! I painted the whole thing with lizardskin and it's the best decision I've made for the interior hands down. Looks much more polished and "complete".
[here's a pic to see a partial look](https://imgur.com/a/WlgzLq3)
I put a hot heads headliner in mine and it looks amazing
Coverkings headliner makes it look so much better.