Jeep Wrangler home made hard top headliner. Only $50!

This is a quick do it yourself video on how to make a custom headliner insert for your Jeep Wrangler hard top. This was done on a new 2018 JL Wrangler, but the technique can be used on almost any hard top Jeep.
Materials:
48"x48" Foamed PVC Board 1/4" thick (24"x48" works for just the front seats)
1 yard of headliner fabric
Velcro strips
(optional) Butyl sound deadening mat.
Tools:
Coping saw
Utility knife
Sand paper
Staple gun with 1/4" staples.
Royalty Free Music from Bensound

[@RadioReprised]

Nice job! I bought a Foam Yoga mat at Walmart for $25 and it did the entire top of my LJ!

[@myblujl7503]

Thats an amazing idea! Finding suitable foam was one of the hardest things in this project, but those stiff yoga mats would work great! Not like anyone uses them for Yoga anyways. How did you stick them on?

[@number4777.]

You did a great job!! I have done similar to van interiors but has not occurred to me to do jeep. Going to the brier top. Good job!

[@bobnoblesjr.465]

Great video! I know what I'll be doing this summer to get it ready for cold weather.

[@kingjohnkk]

Wow this haphazardly showed up in my search "Wrangler spoilers"... And the funny thing is I've been thinking how do I do this for 2 weeks straight... This is it. Thank you so so much haha

[@myblujl7503]

Your welcome! It was a fun project! Just dont skimp on securing them to the roof. I had one fall on me when driving.

[@kingjohnkk]

@@myblujl7503 oh Jesus 🤣 more velcro then

[@alexeimendoza-meister4507]

Great job man! Thanks for sharing these tips

[@michaelwood7480]

I looked at all the insulated tops and cost, with reviews. Most seem to fall eventually. I bought a one piece sun screen type top for my unlimited. Installed with top on, take the front 2 panels off, then placed some thin white quilting insulation between the sun screen and hard top. It won't fall as there is no glue and no heat gets through to riders. Works great in 100 deg Texas heat.

[@justinm.791]

Great idea and follow through! I've been thinking about doing something very similar to this, and this helped motivate me to try it.

[@smokingbean]

I am definitely going to be doing this great job looks good

[@myblujl7503]

Thanks! So far im really enjoying the panels. They should be a huge benefit in the summer as insulation. Just be sure to use plenty of Velcro! I had to double up as one panel fell down.

[@smokingbean]

@@myblujl7503 thank you for the tip

[@Knenemeka]

Great video and great idea

[@ati573]

I pulled my carpet put and lined my floorboard with it. It helps too. You really don't need a lot of it.

[@myblujl7503]

Thats one of the things I want to do next. I plan on taking some long road trips and freeway noise over long distance can really tax you. Did you do mats or spray on?

[@zeropointenergy1574]

Nice job. Thanks.

[@katbot2190]

That is a good idea.

[@rickscott8756]

It's not a bad idea to add the soundproofing, as the mopar panels seemed to mainly be there for sound absorption... They are also useful in helping the roof of your shell not get built up with condensation when you are camping in the back of your jeep. I actually have a pretty good, original setup I came up with for that. I'll share it if I ever decide to make a video about it.

[@myblujl7503]

So far I love it. I plan on putting patches on it since Velcro sticks really well to the headliner. Its been my best mod yet and I finally got around to mounting the rear panels. I doubled the Velcro since a panel dropped on its own, so make sure to secure it well.

[@jkxtc2016]

Nice job ...

[@user-rl5yc5dq3g]

OUTSTANDING SIR!

[@craigversetti5700]

Why no mention of you painting the inside black !? I'm a lil more curious on what products you used to paint it ?

[@myblujl7503]

Just some rattlecan primer and matte black spray paint. It took very little time and didnt bother to film it. Results were super nice though.

[@BunnyTJ]

Hi man. Good video. How effective are they in regards with sound and heat?

[@myblujl7503]

Almost nothing. The Freedom panels are two layers thick of fiberglass and the back roof is 1 layer thick. About 90% of the noise comes from behind you from the single layer massive roof. Same for heat/cold. Its a drop in the bucket unless you also take care of the back.

[@105ish]

Noticed any temp differences ? I live in arizona and the 115 weather is brutal with no headliners on my wrangler

[@myblujl7503]

I live in the PNW, so it does not get too hot out here. Recently we ran into some 85+ days. I find it does not do a good job at regulating temps. The freedome panels are hollow, so do well enough. The back part is your problem. Its 1/8" single layer of fiberglass and transmits heat like crazy. If you want to insulate your Jeep, look into covering the back portion of the hard top fully. That will be your source of heat, not the freedome panels.

[@105ish]

Thanks for the advice !!

[@CheaperJeeperTV]

Hey great job! Subbed!

[@antmon123]

great video - anyone use this along with the Toplift Pro - any issues?

[@GI-JOEs]

oh wow this is so awesome. what did you use to paint the freedom panels ? Since this video is a few years old. how are the top headliners holding up? would you change anything to this design?

[@myblujl7503]

I used regular spray paint on the panel. Nothing fancy. The panels did last for about a year, but the velcro tape I used started pealing off. I tried more velcro and more and more. One fell on my head while I was on the freeway, so I took them out. I eventually got the Cover King headliner kit (Around $400) and did the entire hard top. I still have the panels and want to put them back up, but I just dont know how to keep them up.

[@GI-JOEs]

@@myblujl7503 Thank you for the reply. i am going to try this out but at the moment i am still doing research. ill let you know how it goes.

[@SuperSilence23]

Time is money

[@dave928]

from 1:55 to 2:55 you skipped the whole process of painting the panels black. what did you use?

[@myblujl7503]

Just some rattle can primer and black paint. I did scuff up the surface a bit, but nothing radical. I did film it, but me using spray paint seemed boring.

[@Ucmirolln]

@@myblujl7503 if you ever decide to post it that would be awesome!

[@Gr8tNismo]

Yeah post please, I was wondering the same thing, how did you get the panels black? 😅

[@robertseguin4875]

did you paint the inside black, mine are white. thanks

[@myblujl7503]

Yes. I just used spray paint on the front panels after taking them off. Really easy, and not as distracting as the white.

[@germaned.lealnino631]

What kind of glue you use between the velcro and the roof?

[@myblujl7503]

The Velcro strips that I used had glue on it, but I found that in hot weather, the glue would loosen and the panels dropped. I never found a glue that didnt drop. I eventually used the top liner by Coverking.

[@JRKDAdventures]

Great job, how is it during the summer and road noise?

[@myblujl7503]

In the summer its MUCH better. It adds some insulation in that if you touch the ceiling, it wont burn your hands. The noise is not a huge difference because most of the noise is coming through the floor or the back roof. I do plan on noise insulating those two area's.

[@letsxscape6852]

How did you get the hardtop itself black?

[@myblujl7503]

Just some spray paint after primer. So far the paint is holding up really strong after a years of use.

[@themanthelegend7048]

You could also go real gangster and stitch molle clips.

[@myblujl7503]

I like the idea! If I ever revisit this idea, I may just do that.

[@ForrestEvermore]

Is that a cover or paint blacking out your top? It looks great!

[@myblujl7503]

Just matte black paint. I did primer it first, but just a rattle can will do. Just mask out the rubber seals first. I hated that white ceiling!

[@ForrestEvermore]

@@myblujl7503 how has it held up to being removed and reinstalled? And did you sand first? Or would you say don't bother? Appreciate the answers btw!

[@myblujl7503]

@@ForrestEvermore I did a light surface sanding, a good clean, and used a primer that bonds it. So far the paint is holding up REALLY well.

[@prestonkoyanagi7017]

Where did you buy the pvc foam board?

[@myblujl7503]

A local plastic shop. Lowes and Home Depot also carries it but in smaller sizes and more expensive. Just look for "foam PVC board".

[@DOfifteen]

You should make these and sell them for $300

[@myblujl7503]

These take a lot of man hours to make and a lot of competition exists on the market.

[@rnava3264]

Too much work, i got for My Jk in ebay for $70 kit.

[@albertabackroad236]

Hey dude that’s a great DIY. Subbed. Check out our channel for some other DIYs and nice trail runs!