Sky Slider User Reviews??

kdub · **Joined:** Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:09 pm **Posts:** 21

I am curious to see if anyone around here has gotten a KK with a sky slider yet and what they think of it. Any takers?

I took my KK in for my first oil change last week. The dealship had 2 KKs with sky sliders on the lot, so while I was waiting I found the guy who had sold me mine and we went out and checked them out. We were looking at the manual and it says that you can open them while moving up to 65 (i think it was 65, but that number might be a bit off). The opening and closing did seem to take a while, but there is a LOT of open space above your head when it is open. If you own a KK, when the slider is back then all 4 seats are open above.

One thing I did not know is that there are 2 openings. There is a bar (for support) that runs across just behind the back row of seats and there is another opening behind that. When the sky slider is open to the back, most of that opening is covered by the bunched up slider, but when the slider is open to the front the back opening is fully open, but I don't see a whole lot of benefit to the extra gap back there.

We did not take it out for a test drive, so I don't know how the KK does in terms of noise and wind with the slider open in the different positions. I do know when the slider is forward it makes a pretty big bunch up in front so I am guessing that there would be very little wind movement with it in this position.

The fabric looked like a nice, heavy canvas and I did like the metal (probably aluminum?) frames every 6-8 inches which really help to stiffen the fabric when it is closed. It really pulls tight when closed. The downside to this is that the frames make the bunched up fabrix bulkier when it is full open, and from the outside it looks kind of interesting, if not a little goofy to me.

I am still a little unsure if I would want one or not. I think it would be awesome in 85 degree weather to put the slider open, roll the windows down and go driving. However, it is currently 30 degrees outside here right now and I think it might get a little cold inside, especially without rear heating vents (i don't think there are any rear vents that I can remember). Also you lose the option of putting any kind of roof rack on with the sky slider, which is not something I am fond of. And even though the salesperson swore up and down that you really would not notice any difference in temperatures and very little noise difference, and that it would hold up well over time, I will still be very interested to see what people have to say a year from now after driving around with the slider for that length of time.

So there is my mini-review of the sky slider. Does anyone have one or taken a test drive with one?

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:57 pm

We really thought about getting the Sky Slider. I love the idea of the open air feeling, as you say opening it up on a sunny day when it's 80 and taking it on the road. But here it's 6 months+ of winter (a bitter -35) today. True, I wouldn't be opening it up, but I have to wonder how well insulated it is and whether it will get brittle from the extreme cold.

Even when the weather warms up (90s aren't uncommon here in the summer) what about things like leaves, etc. Or dirt, sap and whatever other junk happens to fall on the vehicle. Will it stain?

Lastly, how theft/vandalism-proof is it? The last thing I want is to get my first Jeep and have some punk slice it with a knife. Scratches on a hard top are bad enough! :evil:

I'd be curious if someone in snow country has a Sky Slider and what they think about it.

John91C · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:12 pm

I got the skyslider and love it. I haven't used it all the way open and to it's full advantage since it's 20 degrees here in Denver. I like the open air feel of it and I know it will be open all the time in the summer. There is some wind noise and outside noise but it's not a significant difference that it bothers me. I'm one of those that am very sensitive to rattles and noises and the sky slider doesn't bother me one bit.

As far as security there are aluminum bars every 6 inches or so that go perpendicular to the length of the skyslider so it would be very hard for someone to break in, if anything they would just ruin the canvas of which it would be covered under vandalism in our car insurance.

As far as snow...well my KK is in the garage and haven't had a chance to see what it's like in rain or snow but I'm sure it's no different than it would be now. I've always had a sunroof on my previous vehicles and again I'm impressed with the skyslider. It's relatively easy to close just one push button as well as opening, just hold down the button for less than a second and it opens up automatically.

kdub · **Joined:** Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:09 pm **Posts:** 21

John91C thanks for the info. I remember seeing something in the manual about not using the slider only partially open, it should be closed or all the way open. You said you hadn't used it all of the way open yet. Did I read that wrong? Do you think it would cause trouble if you only left it part way open? Also I would love to hear what you think of it after getting a load of snow on it one day

John91C · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:29 pm

You can stop the skyslider anywhere along the track...so it doesn't have to be all the way open/closed. I doubt I'll leave the KK out when we get a heavy dumping of snow but who knows. I hate shoveling snow...and getting it of a car is even worse :lol:

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:19 pm

i read an article recently from a toledo newspaper that said they had some issues with the skyslider leaking. figured that would happen.

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:41 pm

the skyslider is made of the same canvass material as convertable tops. If your worried about stains it will take some maintance to keep it at its best but nothing more than a car wash. I know when I had my miata there was a big fuss about how to take care of the canvas but just soap and water seem to work the best and keep the fabric looking good. Just remember that the same stuff that stains tops are the same thing that stains clearcoats.

TJinWV · **Joined:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:07 pm **Posts:** 8

Bump - just wondering if anyone has any newer reviews of their skysliders?

John91C · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:16 pm

On very windy days I do hear more wind noise than it I had a hard top but then again any soft top will do this. Otherwise I've not had no problems with the skyslider and still love it! I'm sure when I take it off-roading this summer I'll really love it!

deemorrison · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:45 pm

Hi, This is my first post on this message board, but I’ve been reading them for a few months now. I got my new Liberty about 2 months ago. Black and fully loaded with the Sky Slider and Mygig, 4X4. Totally loving it. Over the months I’ve gotten a bunch of added stuff like the chrome side mirrors and gas cover, door sills and pedals. This week I added the chrome side steps, looks great. But the best looking thing is definitely my billet aluminum door handles from Off-road Evolution. I saw them on a Jeep at a dealership awhile back and had to get them installed. They are for the new Wrangler but since the Wrangler shares the same handles as the new Liberty is fits perfectly. Here’s a link to their site:
http://www.offroadevolution.com/store/p ... ET-HANDLES

I’m from sunny and flat Miami, FL but got the Liberty mostly because I needed a good 4x4 SUV to take me up and down mountains when I go to my parents house in Beech mountain, NC which I go at least twice a year. Just got back from taking it on a 2,500 mile trip to NC a few weeks ago for some snowboarding and sightseeing. Saw it’s first light snow and handled amazingly. Inclines going up mountains were pretty steep and it didn’t slip or slide at all going up and down even on the rainy days. Feel very comfortable in it.

Wanted to comment on the new Sky Slider roof. The thing is a must have if you live in the warmer states. Especially if you are thinking of going with this or a regular sun roof. Does so much more and looks so much cooler than the regular and for $400 more than a sunroof (last I checked) it’s definitely worth it. I was worried about getting it and had to go to the Miami car show to test one out since nobody had one in at the time. Didn’t really get a good test as far as wind noise and rain noise which were my biggest concern but was so impressed with it and the way it looked and fabric it had I knew it would be great. So I ordered it and couldn’t be more happier with it.

As far as wind noise, during my trip I drove it mostly on interstate roads with the top closed and the wind didn’t really start to get loud or annoying until you get up around 85mph then it starts to kinda make a wind noise but most SUV’s around that high speeds get loud. Now with it open it’s a little different. You would think the bunched up fabric on the back would make noise but it’s pretty quiet, the noise comes from the little wind shield fabric that pops up in front. Doesn’t happen to around 45 mph but it could be quite annoying, I usually don’t drive with it open when I’m going faster than that.

Rain noise hasn’t been a problem. Yesterday it was actually raining pretty hard and the rain noise didn’t seem much different than a regular top. If anything it was more of a gently sound of water hitting fabric than water hitting steel. Didn’t make any more noise than a normal car would just a different sounding noise.

As far as keeping it clean, I just wash it weekly with regular car wash soap and water and it seems to clean up well and drys quickly in the hot Florida sun. Got a little bird waste on it one day and it dried in a little but I was able to wash it out and it came out pretty easily. So far has no stains, we’ll see in a year from now but so far so good.

Nice part about roof is with it fully opened, their isn’t a lot of air rushing in blowing your hair in your face and all like when you roll windows down. It hits you around the very top of your head and right part of the back of the neck and shoulder area and you can feel it gently blowing air in your face, not like when the air rushes in with windows rolled down. Really nice feeling and when we were up north in the 30 degree weather we put top back and turned heat up on seats and felt pretty good when we were on slow drives.

But the absolute best part of the Sky Slider roof which I’m not sure if anybody knows or has reported about is when you roll it to the front. Besides getting the sun out of your face at noon time and still having the open air feeling, rolling it to the front has a much greater purpose. It exposes the back support bar!!! Now with the back exposed you can flip the back seats down flat and stand up in the back and you can then lean on the bar, sit on the bar, stand on the bar. Pretty much anything you want. The thing is solid steel and doesn’t budge. So it’s perfect for those slow drives in parks and taking pictures and so much more. I live close to the Florida Everglades and we took it to a nice dirt road called “Loop road”. My wife and I took turns one drove and the other got up top. Let me say I’ve been on the trail dozens of times, I never had such a good time and could take such great pictures and felt like I had the best seat in the house. Did the something when we went on vacation and went to the Great Smokey Mountains and went down to “Cades Cove” where speed limit is 15mph. Was the absolute best. Besides having the best seat in the house the looks on peoples faces when they pass by and don’t know what to think is priceless. I’ll attach some pictures so you can see what I’m talking about. Had her take it up to around 35-40mph with me up there when we went to the Everglades and it felt like I was flying. Was really fun, just gotta watch your head!

We’ll see over time if this Sky Slider can hold up and withstand leaks and malfunctioning, but for now I’m so loving my new Jeep and Sky Slider is definitely the coolest feature of it. Even though the Mygig with Sirius realtime Traffic is pretty sweet too!!! I highly recommend anybody thinking about getting this Liberty and considering a Sun roof or Sky Slider to look closely at the Sky Slider cause it’s really amazing I think and a must have if you live in the right places.

Shawn

This is the most Recent Pic taken -

Great Smokey Mountains - Cades Cove -

Florida Everglades - Flamingo and Loop Road - (Original Handles and side mirrors and gas cover, BIG difference)

elephantrider · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:31 pm

*** bling ***

i like the skyslider.

i liked it more on the liberator.

Burchie · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:04 pm

Nice ride.

TJinWV · **Joined:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:07 pm **Posts:** 8

Thanks for the review deemorrison!

John91C · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:20 am

Nice ride Deemorrison! I love the skyslifer as well! Too bad I live in CO where it snows half the year! It was in the 70's a few days ago and I opened the slider and got a ton of stares as people were driving by. :lol:

Sartori · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:32 am

Very nice ride!! Looked at the door handles.......$529 for 4......not cheap are they

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:11 pm

Thats BAD AZZ....

AtlanticLiberty · **Posted:** Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:50 pm

I've heard great things about the Sky Slider but has anyone come up with a work around for hauling something like a kayak on a KK with a sky slider? Since I assume roof rails and cross bars are out of the question.

(And please don't tell me to stick it out the top like the dealer did).

kkMonterey · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:07 am

2008 Liberty KK Limited
Jeep Green Metallic/Pebble Beige
Sky Slider Roof
Command Trac II 4x4
MyGig DVD/Nav

Here's a few pics from the Monterey/Big Sur/Hollister area... There are many more pics at my website (dash, rear, fold flat seats, sky slider, etc) www.hikecali.com (there are 3 Jeep Pages)..

Wish you were here!

Again, the full sets are at www.hikecali.com

Enjoy!

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:21 pm

No skid package kkMonterey?

kkMonterey · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:35 pm

Not yet. I had to drive 190 miles to get the options I want. The skid plates are easy to add later. Unlike the sky slider, green paint and DVD...

Sky Slider User Reviews??

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