Hard Top holder?

[BlairF]

So, i built the DIY carts for doors and Hardtop... But the wife is simply too short to help effectively (Don't ask me how I now know.) We already have the overhead storage racks in the garage, I am thinking there has to be an easy way to leverage that to simply back the jeep in, strap it up, lift one side up an inch hook to storage rack, and then do it again on the other side, is there any reason this WOULDN'T work? I would with the racor lift, but no ceiling space left...

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[Sgt Beavis]

That might work. Take a few pictures of your garage and let's think it through.

 

[NavyVet1959]

So, you already have some ceiling mounted storage racks and you are wanting to hang your hardtop from them? How much space between the bottom of your storage racks and the top of your hard top? You also need to consider that when you are lifting the hardtop, the rear glass is going to be up since you need to get it over the spare tire.

As was previously mentioned, some pictures would be very useful.

Photos without the Jeep in the garage and also photos with the Jeep parked where you plan to be removing the hardtop from it so that we can get an idea of the amount of space to work with.

Depending upon the width of your storage racks, it might be possible to still have a ceiling mounted system, but have it wider than the storage rack so that you can still run the pulleys to the wall and have everything supported by the ceiling and not the storage racks.

I'm sure it's nothing that a few 2x4s, cargo straps, pulleys, hand winch, and a couple of 6-packs of beer couldn't fix...

 

[BlairF]

I'll get them photos tonight guys... and Thanks! I am sure it will be quite "easy" given the level of knowledge and ingenuity in this forum... which is why i am asking people smarter than myself.

 

[mdelzer]

Something else to consider is how frequently you will be removing and remounting your hard top. My wife was too short to help with the top as well. Ended up with a Racor lift with Topsy brackets and straps. For me it works because I have a soft top and the hard top comes off once a year and goes back on once a year. If I had a hard top only I would have gone with a Toplift pro. To me the Toplift Pro would be worth every penny for easy in/out. If I had to do it with a Racor lift every time at minimum I would make sure I had a drill. Long story short what it sounds like you want to try, sounds why more difficult to do with a higher risk of damaging something.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Something else to mentally chew on is the weight capacity of your current storage racks. For example, I have a couple of SafeRacks that are rated at 600 lbs. each. I'm speculating yours are probably similar. The top weighs ~100lbs and I think I've read that the freedom tops are 20lbs. If your current storage is well loaded, it would be a good idea to make sure you're not exceeding capacity with another 100lbs.

 

[BlairF]

Something else to mentally chew on is the weight capacity of your current storage racks. For example, I have a couple of SafeRacks that are rated at 600 lbs. each. I'm speculating yours are probably similar. The top weighs ~100lbs and I think I've read that the freedom tops are 20lbs. If your current storage is well loaded, it would be a good idea to make sure you're not exceeding capacity with another 100lbs.

Mine are supposedly 800lbs... but yes, I am already trimming down the bulk up there, to be safe, the top would easily be the most expensive thing stored there.

@mdelzer - This is likely to be an every weekend event. depending on weather, we only have the hard top for now.

 

[BlairF]

Please forgive the mess that is my garage... I need help.

 

[NavyVet1959]

Please forgive the mess that is my garage... I need help.

Can you still get 2 cars in that garage or is it like the case with many of us -- 1 car + man toys / other stuff?

If the latter, then maybe reshuffling things a bit could simplify a hoist installation.

 

[BlairF]

Oh i could definitely move some stuff around. But i have 2 of those overheads with a gap in the middle where the opener is. Other side you don't see is my toolbox and bikes.

 

[NavyVet1959]

Oh i could definitely move some stuff around. But i have 2 of those overheads with a gap in the middle where the opener is. Other side you don't see is my toolbox and bikes.

How about a photo with the rear glass of the hardtop raised while it is where you would want to be storing it. That will tell us how much space the top can be raised (or even if it *can* be raised).

Yeah, toolbox and bikes... That's why I included "1 car + man toys / stuff"... You're in the same shape as a lot of us with that regards... My wife gets to park her car in the garage and I have my Harley there also. My Ram wouldn't have fit even if there was nothing else in the garage.

 

[NavyVet1959]

Another thing to consider is that above the garage door, there is space that you can put that sort of shelf also. You just can't have it dropping down as far from the ceiling. Depending upon the height of the boxes that you are trying to store on the shelf, you *might* get away with having a shelf closer to the ceiling and it being over the garage door.

 

[BlairF]

I've got plenty of room to have the window up in the circled area. Assuming i back in.

 

[NavyVet1959]

Ideally, you would want to be able to store it up high enough and out of the way so that when you move your vehicle back into the garage each day, you're not feeling like you have the thread a needle each time you park your car.

Once you get a storage area / hoist designed for it, are you going to be backing in to park each day or are you going to be pulling in nose first?

If you are going to be pulling in nose first, then try to store the hardtop as far back as possible and then when you park, park as close to the garage door as possible. That will minimize the chance of you hitting the suspended hardtop.

 

[BlairF]

Ever since i bought my RAM (Which i traded for the Jeep) I have always backed every car in, everywhere... that won't stop.

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