store hardtop safely

[jameslavis]

have to store my hardtop in the shed over the summer. want to make sure the hardtop doesn’t warp or bend. some i’ve seen tilt them upright or on weird angles and i’ll be letting it sit for six months straight in the warm shed. any links or tips for the best cart or way to store?

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[Gee-pah]

Hey james @jameslavis . Since nobody's taken this on let me give it a try.

It is possible sir that you may be worried about something that doesn't amount to much?

I may not appreciate or know all the relevant facts here and I don't want to appear condescending so I'll go with some of the facts I know.

There are many, many Wrangler owners in my county's Lone Star State (Texas), and other more Southern US locales like it. that expose their hard tops (attached to their rigs) to direct sunlight in the heart of summer, that especially with black energy absorbing hard tops are going to be hot enough to fry an end on top of.

I may be wrong, but tilting the top upright and placing it on a cart may have more than anything to do with it taking up a smaller storage footprint in the garage or making the top more mobile but putting it on wheels--although don't lay it upright with the rear glass on the ground.

Don't get me wrong, if it's gear you want I have tons to recommend, from storing your top to helping you get it on and off the Wrangler. But this, based on your OP, seems out of scope.

 

[jameslavis]

thanks for the reply. i get that it’s in the elements all year long but it’s also bolted in. i wondered if storing a hardtop on those carts for a summer could warp it. that’s all

 

[KrispyKotex]

I swap my hard top for soft top each year and store it upright in rear of garage or shed. No warping or issues thus far, but I do wash it thoroughly before I put it back on before winter. I use my own home built storage cart. Cheaper and more sturdy than many aftermarket units.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/diy-hardtop-and-door-holders.6933/

 

[Springtail]

Best $200 (delivered) that you will spend on your jeep....

Doc

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001YIV0G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[BrntWS6]

Built it with an electric lift for about $250. Now it has a steel "T" rail to lift it instead if the straps.

 

[JLTruman]

Best $200 (delivered) that you will spend on your jeep....

Doc

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001YIV0G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did this too. I got one from harbor freight for like 140-150ish I think(20% off coupon) it barely fit in the back of the jlu but it works great

 

[robd1438]

i have and love my topliftpro

 

[Adventure.AS]

If you are concerned, while it is on the cart, you could use some ratchet straps from corner to corner of the hardtop hold down holes to help hold the top in shape. Not too tight.

 

[entropy]

Best $200 (delivered) that you will spend on your jeep....

Doc

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001YIV0G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

How do you get the hardtop off the Jeep? This just works for storage correct?

 

[Gee-pah]

thanks for the reply. i get that it’s in the elements all year long but it’s also bolted in. i wondered if storing a hardtop on those carts for a summer could warp it. that’s all

I contend James that it cannot. My beliefs are based upon the fact that many an owner takes said hard top out on the bumpy trail in the blazing hot summer sun, where this uneven terrain puts no less torsional forces on the top that its own weight--detached from the rig and stored in a potentially hot shed (but out of direct sunlight)--could put on it.

And yes, I hear the body on frame people saying that the body moves as an entire unit, but on the trail, forces from an infinite number of directions on the "clock dial," not to mention up and down, are bound to bouce a hard top around much more than some of its approximately 100 US pounds weight on itself sitting in storage.

 

[agarber5687]

Built it with an electric lift for about $250. Now it has a steel "T" rail to lift it instead if the straps.

This is exactly the set-up I am thinking in my garage. It will be up there at least 6 months and I am wanting that same type of flat full shelf I can raise.

Do you mind sharing any additional details or pictures of the hardware?

 

[BrntWS6]

This is exactly the set-up I am thinking in my garage. It will be up there at least 6 months and I am wanting that same type of flat full shelf I can raise.

Do you mind sharing any additional details or pictures of the hardware?

 

[agarber5687]

Well then.

That was much more than the extra photo and bullet points that I expected.

Thanks!

 

[BrntWS6]

Well then.

That was much more than the extra photo and bullet points that I expected.

Thanks!

Haha, no problem

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