Looking to quiet the ride of your Jeep Wrangler that is equipped with a Sky One-Touch? The One-Touch system from Jeep is a nice upgrade to add to any Wrangler but as most of us have come to learn, it can be loud on the highway! If you are reading this article, then you probably already know what the Sky One-Touch is from Jeep and have experienced this.
We love the Sky One-Touch Power Top but at the end of the day, it is not quite as quiet as I would like; it is quite loud, especially on the highway. By myself, it is not an issue, but trying to have a conversation on the phone can be tough, and when using Uconnect, it is even worse! Luckily the folks at Hothead offer a liner that helps dampen sounds and adds a layer of insulation in colder environments.
What is the Hothead Skyliner for Sky One-Touch
The Hothead Skyliner for the Jeep Wrangler is a simple yet effective design that mounts to the underneath side of the retractable Jeep top. The liner consists of 3 layers – a high quality marine fabric for the outer layer, radiant barrier foil as the middle layer and a soft, headliner fabric for the inner layer. The liner is designed to significantly reduce heat & cold from passing through your soft top, keeping the interior of your Jeep Wrangler much more comfortable. The liner will also reduce the noise level by absorbing the sound bouncing around and blocking wind noise from your soft top. The liner is held in place with 6 Velcro strips that adhere to the cross bars and the front and rear bulkhead. The units are mode in the U.S.A.
Hothead Skyliner for Sky One-Touch Power Top Benefits
Temperature: Temperature control is definitely noticeable. Here in the Midwest, we have three seasons: very cold, hot, and rain. In the summer, when it is hot (we also tested in Florida as well), you don’t get that radiating heat near your head. I am 6’2″, and in the summer, you can feel the heat from the black soft-top; with the liner in, things are a little more pleasant. And just the opposite for winter, the 4″ to 5″ of dead space and chill at the top of the jeep is reduced significantly.
Noise reduction: The noise reduction is what I noticed the most. Doing road trips or even local driving on the highway, the noise difference is huge. I feel it also made the radio sound a little better above 45 mph. Things feel more insulated, and although you definitely know you’re still in a soft-top Jeep, the noise comes in more dampened. Think of your kids talking while under a blanket. Overall, it was a nice adjustment to the noise levels in the Jeep, but still not a pickup truck or SUV quality quietness.
Retail Price: $379.00 | With window frames: $518.95. Learn more at hotheadheadliners.com.
Installation of the Hothead Skyliner for Sky One-Touch Power Top
The actual installation was supposed to be simple and straightforward once you watch their video, but it took me a tad longer. My advice is to watch the video and then watch it again. I think I put in a solid 45 to 60 minutes or so on the installation. Be sure to wipe everything down before attaching the adhesive Velcro strips. I also found it easier to drape the headliner over the rollbars when the top was back, this keeps the Velcro from sticking where you don’t want it.
The headliner itself is made of quality materials that don’t wrinkle or or deform when packaged or rolled up. A nice feature for those of you who would not use it year round.
A Few Issues We Ran Into
Overall the Hothead Skyliner has been great and comes highly recommended, although we ran into an issue with the installation. The issue was resolved and there is a good chance it was user error. The issue we had was the Velcro mounting strips came undone in hot weather. Since then the folks at Hothead have widened the Velcro strips to make them wider and wrap around the crossbars. This gives them more surface area to adhere to. Since the the install of the new Velcro, things have been perfect.
One other thing we noticed is the noise and warning when opening the Sky One-Touch. The headliner does make a crinkling noise as it folds up, which really is not an issue. Also on occasion, we get a dashboard warning that the liner has interfered with the Sky One-Touch when it is almost all the way back, We talked to the folks at Hothead about this and they had us adjust the placement of the liner just a tad and it resolved the issue.
The key here is to FOLLOW the instructions on the install and watch the installation video several times and be sure to let the acrylic Velcro adhere for several days before attaching the liner. Also, if for some odd reason you need more Velcro strips, DO NOT use regular Velcro. The Velcro strips provided by Hothead are an acrylic adhesive which is more resistant to the heat.
Window Trim Pieces
Complete the look of your Jeep Wrangler by adding the Rear Side Window Kit to your Jeep and add a tad more noise dampening. These rear side window panels will cover up the additional white spaces on the back sides of your Sky One-Touch Power Top, providing a nice finished look with your new Headliner kit.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I would recommend the headliner, it is a great accessory that performs as it is supposed to, it just depends on what your expectations are. It’s not going to perform miracles but it will make your drive just a bit more comfortable. And for those in extreme climates that do need extra protection from the sun or cold, then the Hothead Skyliner for the Sky One-Touch Power Top is something to seriously consider.
