Your comment about "lining up the Jeep" is why I ended up going with the rollinjack over an above hoist as well. Love that I can just back the jeep into the garage, roll the rollinjack over to the jeep, pop the top, then roll it back to where I park my jeep. Because it you can roll in over the wheels, the rollinjack requires very little footprint.Hard top weighs about 140 lbs - heavy for one person to safely remove manually without assistance. If you're planning on taking it on and off that frequently, I think you'll be happiest with the Toplift Pro. Expensive but does a great job. Overhead hoists are great too but you have to line up the Jeep more carefully when taking it on and off & takes longer.
I have a 2 dr so top is only 90 pounds. I use two straps running from hoist hook through front and out the back with window up and then back up to hoist hook. I pull the rubber seal away from frame at rear window to not crush it (slip strap between seal and frame). Still playing with crisscross the straps (driver to passenger) or run straight passenger side and driver side. I will try to send a picture next time I hoist it.How do you like this setup, thinking of doing the same and then lowering to a hardtop cart and storing vertically. Can you show how your straps are arranged on the hardtop when you lift?
It looks like it’s touching your hood?Your comment about "lining up the Jeep" is why I ended up going with the rollinjack over an above hoist as well. Love that I can just back the jeep into the garage, roll the rollinjack over to the jeep, pop the top, then roll it back to where I park my jeep. Because it you can roll in over the wheels, the rollinjack requires very little footprint.
JLU weighs 140lbsI would be taking it off and putting it back on dependent on the weather in the spring, summer, and fall. I can see it being off for weeks at a time mid to late summer when we go without rain for long periods, but I can also see taking it off in the morning and putting it back on that night because we expect rain the next day.
Does anybody know how much a hard top from an Unlimited weighs?
Nope, probably 1-2" off. I could crank it up higher if I needed to though.It looks like it’s touching your hood?
How have I missed this one?! Any negatives to this, or anything you don't like?I have the Lange hoist-a-cart and I love it. It’s pricey but worth it.
How often are you removing the hardtop? I do it once a year when switching to soft top, in that case, just grab a friend, its pretty simple.I am trying to decide which hard top removal device to get. I realize the portable carts are more expensive than the overhead hoists, but I am more interested in any problems with each type. I would like to know from people who actually use them how they feel about the following:
1. Overhead mounted manual hoist in the garage.
2. Overhead mounted motorized hoist in the garage.
3. Portable carts such as TopLift Pro or RollnJack.