Rough Country RC85020.35 vs Rugged Ridge 13710.35: TJ replacement soft top
Published 10 September 2026
At a glance
| Rough Country RC85020.35 | Rugged Ridge 13710.35 | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 1997-2006 TJ | 1997-2006 TJ |
| Doors | Full steel doors only (stated) | No door skins; door type not stated |
| TJ Unlimited (LJ) | Does not fit | Not stated |
| What it replaces | Fabric skin, 2 quarter windows, rear window | Fabric skin, 2 quarter windows, rear window |
| Fabric | 23 oz vinyl coated polyester cotton | Vinyl coated polyester and cotton, weight not published |
| Windows | 30 mil, 31% tint, DOT approved | Tinted, DOT approved, thickness not published |
| Stated install | About 2 hours (retailer); 1-2 hours (RC listing) | Not published |
| Warranty | 3-year limited | 5-year limited |
| Price | $249.95 MAP as of September 2026 | $339.99 on ruggedridge.com, September 2026 |
What each part is, and the problem it solves
Both parts are a replacement skin. That means new fabric and three new windows, fitted to the factory header, bows and channels you already own. They exist because a TJ's fabric and windows wear out long before its frame.
Rough Country's RC85020.35 is its full-steel-door TJ top in Black Denim. Rugged Ridge's 13710.35 is its OEM Replacement Soft Top with tinted windows and no door skins. Rugged Ridge is a RealTruck brand, and its warranty is issued by Omix-ADA.
Fitment, side by side
Both cover 1997 through 2006. The difference is how much each maker tells you. Rough Country names what it will not fit. Rugged Ridge leaves door type and the LJ unstated.
Rough Country RC85020.35
| Item | Rough Country says |
|---|---|
| Years | 1997-2006 |
| Body | TJ 2-door. "Does NOT fit Unlimited models." |
| Doors | "Does NOT fit half steel door models." Half doors need RC85350.35 |
| Trims in RC's fitment data | SE and Sport 1997-2006, Sahara 1997-2004, X 2002-2006, Rubicon 2003-2006, 65th Anniversary 2006 |
| Hardware | "Requires factory original hardware" |
| 1997 note | Pull the plastic extruded slot off the door surround first |
| Will not fit | LJ Unlimited, half steel doors, non-factory frames |
Rugged Ridge 13710.35
| Item | Rugged Ridge says |
|---|---|
| Years | 1997-2006 (product title and install sheet) |
| Body | Wrangler TJ. No Unlimited statement either way |
| Doors | Install sheet: "NO Door Skin & Tinted Windows." No full or half door statement |
| Hardware | "engineered to work with original factory hardware" using the factory belt rail |
| 1997 note | Remove the slip-on plastic extrusion on the door surround |
| Will not fit | Not published beyond the years above |
If your TJ has half doors, do not guess on the Rugged Ridge. Call Rugged Ridge first, or buy Rough Country's half-door top, RC85350.35. Our TJ doors guide covers how the door types differ.
Rough Country's own data has one gap. Its fitment rows list the Sahara only through 2004, while its notes exclude only Unlimited and half-door models. A 2005-2006 Sahara owner should confirm before ordering.
Specs and construction
| RC85020.35 | Rugged Ridge 13710.35 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 23 oz vinyl coated polyester cotton, UV and mildew resistant | Vinyl coated polyester and cotton |
| Thread and seams | 135 gauge bonded polyester, double stitched, heat-tape sealed | Marine grade thread, heat seal tape on seams |
| Window thickness | 30 mil | Not published |
| Window tint | 31% | Tinted (install sheet), percentage not published |
| Window storage bag | Not listed | Included |
| Color | Black Denim (RC85020.70 is Spice) | .35 finish; color name not published on the page |
| Weight | 16 lb | Not published |
| Country of origin | Mexico | Not published |
On paper the two fabrics are the same family: vinyl coated polyester and cotton. Rough Country gives a weight of 23 oz and a thread gauge of 135. Rugged Ridge gives neither, so there is no honest way to call one fabric heavier.
One conflict is worth flagging. The 13710.35 page repeats family copy about "crystal clear windows," but its install sheet lists 13710.XX with tinted windows. We trust the install sheet. The clear version is 13709.35, listed at $529.99.
What's in the box
Both boxes hold the same four pieces. You get the fabric top, a left quarter window, a right quarter window and a rear window. Rugged Ridge adds a window storage bag. Neither includes screws, bows or a tailgate bar.
Install compared
The two install sheets read almost line for line alike. Both say 8 or 14 header screws depending on the header, both start at the center hole, and both use six snaps on the rear bow. Both move the old tailgate bar onto the new rear window, round seal down.
| Tool or condition | RC85020.35 | Rugged Ridge 13710.35 |
|---|---|---|
| Safety glasses | Yes | Yes |
| Phillips screwdriver | Yes | Yes |
| Shoe horn | No | Yes |
| Razor knife | No | Yes |
| Warm-up temperature | Above 75 F | Above 72 F |
Rugged Ridge publishes no install time. ExtremeTerrain lists about 2 hours for the Rough Country top, and Rough Country's 13:23 video walks through a TJ install. On either top, warm the fabric first. Rugged Ridge warns that cold fabric "may contract an inch or more."
What it changes on the Jeep, and parts you may need
Nothing mechanical changes. There is no geometry, driveline or steering effect. The Jeep simply gets a sealed, fresh-looking top on its existing frame.
What you may need is hardware. Both tops depend on a good header, bows, door surround channels and tailgate bar. Rugged Ridge also lists a factory-style TJ hardware kit, 13510.03, at retail. If fabric itself is the question, start with soft top vs hard top.
Warranty and support
This is the Rugged Ridge's strongest point. Omix-ADA warrants the part "free of defects in material and workmanship for five (5) years" from the first retail purchase. It covers the original buyer only, requires installation per the instructions and may require proof of purchase.
Rough Country's coverage is a 3-year limited warranty. Its warranty page blocked every fetch we tried, so we could not read its exclusions. Rugged Ridge publishes no soft-top-specific exclusions either.
Rugged Ridge's care notes carry a practical warning. Do not roll the side or rear windows in cold weather, because "the windows become stiff and will crack." That applies to every vinyl window, including Rough Country's.
Owner reports
We could not retrieve TJ forum or Reddit threads for either top. What follows are retailer and maker ratings. These are owner reports, not specs.
- Rough Country (owner ratings): 4.4 of 5 from 103 reviews on ExtremeTerrain. Review text was not accessible to us.
- Rugged Ridge (owner ratings): the 13710.35 page shows no reviews. The clear-window 13709.35 page shows 4.5 of 5 from 2 reviews.
That is a thin record for the Rugged Ridge. It is not evidence of a problem, only an absence of evidence either way.
Who should buy which
- Full steel doors, budget first: Rough Country. It costs $90 less and states its fit.
- Keeping the Jeep for years: Rugged Ridge. Five years of coverage outlasts Rough Country's three.
- Want specs before you buy: Rough Country. It publishes fabric weight, thread gauge, window thickness and tint.
- Half doors: Rough Country's RC85350.35, or confirm the Rugged Ridge with the maker first.
- LJ Unlimited: neither.
FAQ
Is the Rugged Ridge 13710.35 tinted?
Yes, per its install sheet, which lists 13710.XX as No Door Skin and Tinted Windows. The product page copy describes clear windows with tint as an option, so trust the part number and the sheet.
Does the Rugged Ridge top fit half doors?
Rugged Ridge does not say. Its install sheet covers the 1997-2006 TJ with no door skins, and it publishes no door-type restriction. Rough Country states plainly that RC85020.35 does not fit half steel door models.
How long is each warranty?
Rugged Ridge gives five years against defects in material and workmanship, for the original buyer only. Rough Country gives a 3-year limited warranty.
Will either top fit the LJ Unlimited?
Rough Country says RC85020.35 does not. Rugged Ridge lists 13710.35 for the Wrangler TJ and makes no LJ claim, so treat it as TJ only.
Sources
- Rough Country install sheet 92850200, 1997-06 TJ soft top with full steel doors (PDF)
- Rough Country TJ soft top, full steel doors, product page
- Rough Country: Installing Jeep Wrangler TJ Soft Top (video)
- Rugged Ridge 13710.35 product page
- Rugged Ridge 13710.35 install sheet (PDF)
- Rugged Ridge 13709.35 product page, with warranty text
- ExtremeTerrain listing, Rough Country RC85020.35
- Quadratec listing, Rugged Ridge 13510.03 TJ soft top hardware