Hard VS Soft tops - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Kevin Whitcomb · 09-13-2009, 01:39

I've only ever been in a soft top and they're obviously very loud. Any of you guys out there have a hard top version and is it a lot more quiet?

I'm down to choosing between 2, one's a 792 with a hard top and the other is a 561 with the soft top.

sirmrtow · 09-13-2009, 01:55

get the hard top

Kevin Whitcomb · 09-13-2009, 01:57

Why?

Armada · 09-13-2009, 11:04

Personally, I like the soft tops. I like the look of them over a hard top. The newer vinyl style with the rubber bungees seal to the cab as well as the hard tops and many are insulated. I don't notice any difference between the 2 in cold weather (not that that would be a concern being in FL), and I don't notice a difference in noise, either, as they are both loud.
The hard top will give you an 'observation' platform and increased security and you could always mount a rack of some sort on top for storage. The negative would be removal of it compared to the soft top. They are very heavy and awkward. Hardtops cost more too.
It all comes down to what you like.

BKubu · 09-13-2009, 11:08

I have never been in a Goat, but I have owned two M548s (actually one was an M1015A1). These tracks both have Detroit Diesels just like a Gamma Goat even though the model of the motor is different (6V53 in the M548s). The reason I am pointing out a different vehicle is because they both have Detroits and they are both notoriously loud. Anyway, one of my tracks had a soft top and one had a hard top. There was NO discernible difference in noise levels. They were just plain loud regardless of the top. The hard top might have been a little more quiet, but it was not a big difference if it was more quiet.

By the way, I am with ARMADA, I prefer soft tops.

timntrucks · 09-13-2009, 11:17

i love my hard tops but planning on at least one with a soft top.. the 818 mostly likely

maddawg308 · 09-13-2009, 12:02

I initially said the hard top was better, but I changed my tune when I did the 2008 VA rally, when I had a soft top and turning it into a convertable was sweet. With a hard top, it would be much harder. I haven't noticed that much of a difference in dB level between the soft and hard top, they are both loud as ****.

hndrsonj · 09-13-2009, 12:06

I have heard from several goat owners that have said the hard top is actually quite a bit louder than the soft top equipped goats.

Stalwart · 09-13-2009, 12:41

I like the look of the hard top better but I have strange taste in vehicles. The insulation seems to make the hard top a LITTLE quieter but I never used my sound pressure meter. It's moot for me as I drove our Goat to its new home last Thursday.

Gamagoat1 · 09-15-2009, 12:02

Youre sitting next to the screamin' 353, transmission and transfer case on a Goat. The hard top kind a holds all that noise inside with you. REAL LOUD. One of the first things I did when I started building the Goat was to remove and discard the hardtop. Besides, it's nearly impossible to get in and out of the vehicle at 6'8" and 240 lbs.