Good chance of rain - put top back on my Jeep: Zippers hard to start.

[ArmyCop]

Had my top down for several days. Love it! Since my Wrangler (TJ) is also my daily - I listen to the weather often. Today and the next few for Mobile Alabama area sounded like I didn't want to risk it so I put my top back on this morning before going on duty.
Not too hard doing this by myself - EXCEPT for those darn side windows! Starting the zippers just gives me fits.

Now - if the zippers only started at the rear bottom of each window I think that'd make a BIG improvement for me.

Anyone else have fits putting top back on alone?
Anyone else have a hard time with putting side windows back on?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[oakchas]

Had my top down for several days. Love it! Since my Wrangler (TJ) is also my daily - I listen to the weather often. Today and the next few for Mobile Alabama area sounded like I didn't want to risk it so I put my top back on this morning before going on duty.
Not too hard doing this by myself - EXCEPT for those darn side windows! Starting the zippers just gives me fits.

Now - if the zippers only started at the rear bottom of each window I think that'd make a BIG improvement for me.

Anyone else have fits putting top back on alone?
Anyone else have a hard time with putting side windows back on?

Would soap or crisco help?

[ArmyCop]

Problem I'm having isn't from lack of lubrication but from from how at the top front where it has to start zipping - being in a small tight hard to get too location. Once it's started it's not hard to finish. I'd like it to start at the rear bottom area where it'd be a lot easier to start.

[paaiyan]

Is it the stock top? I just replaced the top on my TJ a couple months ago. The stock top it had was just too worn out. I actually had to cut a couple places to get it off as the zippers were just frozen. Obviously not the problem you're having, but I know what you're talking about. Just a tiny little space to work in to get those zippers started. Not much to do to help with that honestly. I have nimble fingers so it wasn't too terribly hard for me, but if it was cold or my hands were sore from anything it was quite the struggle.

[ArmyCop]

I called a local auto upholstery shop and they said they could replace my zippers and have the new ones start at the other end like I mentioned but it'd cost about $40 to $45 for each window.

[Geezer]

It's been a few years, but I remember that that was my main complaint. If I remember correctly, if I started the zippers BEFORE I seated the front seal/lip, there wasn't the tension that was making the task difficult - in other words keep the top limp until the very last..

[NC Bullseye]

Turn the jeep upside down?

[txron]

HAd an old CJ7 and I had a hard time if the material was cold. The windows were not as flexable, so it was hard to line everything up right

[paaiyan]

Turn the jeep upside down?

Always a possibility.

[pir8fan]

Take the carpet out, remove the drain plugs and don't worry about a little rain!

[Gunsmoke16]

Rubbing them hard with a candle (waxing them) will help...but it's the tension thing as Geezer said above.

[Herknav]

HAd an old CJ7 and I had a hard time if the material was cold. The windows were not as flexable, so it was hard to line everything up right

+1. For your application, I think Geezer's got the answer. Zip the top and then hook the seal into the lip.