Ruge's Ford
 Sales 845-666-3509
Service 845-668-6930
Parts 845-630-0903
3667 NY-9G Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Today 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Parts & Service 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Open Today !
Sales: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Parts & Service: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
All Hours
Understanding Roof Options for the 2024 Ford Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler
June 12 2024 - Lisa Cook

An orange 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor is shown from the front at an angle.

So the wild is calling your name, and now you're looking for a vehicle ready to keep up with your adventurous ambitions. The question is: should you be looking for a Ford Bronco for sale or a Jeep Wrangler for sale? It can be a tough call, given that these two models are both highly reputable in the off-road and wilderness enthusiast circles. People turn to these vehicles to have a more up-close-and-personal interaction with the environments they visit. While other SUVs might be designed to help you escape and forget about what's happening outside of your vehicle, these off-road beauties are designed to make you feel like you are a part of what's happening outside of your vehicle.

One way both Ford and Jeep have ensured that drivers can really inhale, touch, smell, and feel the beautiful outdoor destinations they explore is by offering some non-traditional roof options. We know that Bronco and Wrangler drivers want the option to literally remove their roofs and take in more fresh air and sunlight when the mood strikes. While the two models have some similarities in roof options, there are some distinctions to be aware of. Let's take a look.

Both Have Soft and Hard Top Options

These vehicles offer soft and hard top options, giving drivers different ways to experience the great outdoors. Let's quickly go over the benefits of either option.

Soft top benefits:

  • It can easily be removed by just one person
  • Takes up little storage space in the cargo area when removed
  • Allows for easy on-the-go adjustments (choose to take it off or put it on at your destination)

Hard top benefits:

  • Provides increased security to the cabin
  • Excellent weather protection and easier climate control
  • Great for silencing outdoor noises

A grey 2024 Jeep Wrangler is shown from the rear at a high angle.

Each Model Has a Factory-Made Roof the Other Doesn't

While both models offer soft and hard top options, they each have a manufacturer-offered top that the other doesn't. The Jeep Wrangler has the available SkyTop One Touch sunroof, which allows you to open and close the roof with a push of a button, even while driving. So it's effectively like driving a convertible with an electric roof. Many drivers like this option because they don't have to commit to a full day with or without a roof, and if they do want to adjust their configuration while out and about, they don't need to pull over to do so.

The Ford Bronco, on the other hand, can be ordered with an available Bimini Soft Top. This exceptional soft top embraces the off-road lifestyle because it's a mesh top. That's right: you can skip the totally enclosed soft top and go for a mesh one. This top can deliver you an experience not available through any Jeep-made tops for the Wrangler. Because it is UV-resistant, it still protects you from the sun, like a hard or soft top, but it allows a nice cooling breeze into the cabin.

Many drivers also love that the mesh top keeps air flowing through the cabin to prevent any buildup of odors or trapped heat while still keeping the sun's rays at bay. The cool thing about this top option is that you can purchase it as an accessory. So you'll still choose a hard or soft top with your Bronco, and then keep the mesh top around for when the weather is just right.

Soft Top Positioning

Another difference is how you can position the soft top of these two vehicles. You can push back just the top of the Wrangler to expose the roof but keep the rear panel concealed. However, in the Ford SUV, you actually have the option to remove the rear panel of the soft top altogether and keep just the roof of the passengers and cargo area covered. We love to show off this option because it enables drivers to let air flow through from the rear, while still having total protection from the elements.

So, on those days you're out driving and a summer rain hits, you can keep just the top covered in your Bronco, so you stay dry while allowing that warm, refreshing air in through the rear. When considering this additional functionality alongside the amazing Bimini Soft Top, the Bronco is clearly aiming for a more configurable experience. The Wrangler's soft top is not designed to allow for an open rear configuration (and it's not recommended to try it).

Soft Top Materials

Next, let's talk about what the soft tops are made of for either model. While many drivers like the flexibility of a soft top, we often hear concerns about the durability and weather resistance. Every four-door Bronco has a standard three-ply fabric laminate: one layer of acrylic twill weave, one inner rubber layer, and one polyester dobber backing. It's acoustically enhanced for a quieter cabin, too. The Wrangler's soft top is available in two variations: the standard and the premium. The standard option is made of a tough, vinyl-coated cotton/poly blend, while the premium is made of a canvas-like premium four-ply acrylic.

Naturally, the premium soft top will offer the best sound insulation but comes at an increased cost for something the Bronco offers as a base. Ultimately, no matter what soft top Bronco you get, you'll get a multi-ply, tough, and sound-resistant top. You'll need to spring for the premium soft top of the Wrangler to enjoy such durability and noise-canceling properties.

A silver 2021 Ford Bronco for sale is shown from the rear at an angle.

Hard Panel Storage Bags

Should you decide to remove your hard tops when you're out and about, you might be wondering where to put them. Both Ford and Jeep include storage bags for your hard panels that you can store in the vehicle. They will take up a bit of room in the cargo area, but they are designed to fit snugly in there for on-the-go roof adjustments.

Find Your Open-Air Freedom Vehicle at Ruge's Ford

Are you ready to start exploring the great outdoors with fewer literal boundaries between you and the open air? Then, it's time to get a terrific off-road SUV from your local Ford dealership, like the Bronco. Its various roof options make them easily customizable to suit your lifestyle and how you like to adventure. While the Bronco sees some overlap in roof options with the Jeep Wrangler, the Ford Bronco boasts more versatility in its unique choices like the mesh top and the soft top with the rear removable panel.

We speak to many customers who say they wish there was a way they could enjoy a 360-degree breeze without having the sun's rays pounding down on them. And to them, we mention that only the Ford Bronco has a factory-made mesh roof. Third-party companies make mesh roofs for the Jeep Wrangler, but the only way to guarantee an accessory will be perfectly compatible with your vehicle is if the original manufacturer created it. The Ford Bronco has a factory-created mesh top; the Jeep Wrangler does not.

Ready to test drive the iconic Ford Bronco? Contact us or pay us a visit. A knowledgeable member of our team will gladly help you decide which Bronco trim will live up to your adventurous dreams. We proudly carry the many trims of the Ford Bronco in two-door and four-door varieties, with various roof options. So come test drive the rugged and energetic Bronco for yourself! Freedom is calling you!

>