Hard top lift and storage solutions

[Rescue119]

Im sorry, I dont have any other pics. Had to dig for the one I posted. Your garage looks similar to mine where you have multiple projects going on. I cant have a HT in the way on a stand or hanging where I can hit my head when Im working. Leaving it outside is the only reasonable option. My Jeep lives outside year round anyways so whats the difference.
If I was going to hoist, Id definitely do the DIY ratchet strap thing. I cant believe how much people spend on removing these things. 500-1k bucks? To remove a top? Thats ridiculous to me. But to each there own I guess.
Also, under the cover 1969 Dodge Dart.

Beauty

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[Kllrbee]

Thanks!
Not sure if its against the rules to post Non-JL pics. If it is, I apologize and Mods, please remove.
OP, Good luck with whatever u decide. If you build the table like I did, Id suggest 4x4 for the legs instead of 2x4s. Should be sturdier. I just used what I had laying around.

 

[Bullwinkle]

It's only $599 here. Might be easier to sell her on it now.

LOL, sell her on not having to be out there helping...She'll love it!

 

[blnewt]

Honestly, I have 2 issues.

1. I'm cheap.
2. I have 2 kids and a giant pup and I dont have a ton of extra money lying around for a hardtop lift.

So, the solution was (as with most home projects) YouTube!

I did what this guy did. It works fabulously, I can take off and put on the top in about 10-15 minutes.

Nice, I'm also cheap, that's why I couldn't refuse a free Lange Hoist a Top, lol.

Only problem I've had is I always wear a hat, and while looking down walking in my garage I've smacked my head into the damn thing, but luckily I tend to remember such things and it's only happened once, but damn it hurt!!!

Also, I hadn't removed the top in a while so I hooked up the bracket to my top, removed all the bolts and started lifting, luckily I wasn't too aggressive and noticed the top started tilting in the corner rear. DOH!!, forgot to disconnect the wiper hose and wiring harness, luckily there's about 3-4" of slack and I wasn't to the point of no return yet.

 

[BadAssBumbleBee]

About 15 years ago I purchased a Lange Hoist-a-Top for my '06 TJ. I think it cost me about $90 Canadian at the time. I then picked up a Come-along from Canadian Tire for $25, a pack of 4 ratchet straps from Home Depot for $10 and two J lag bolts and 2 eye lag bolts for about $10 total.

This set-up worked great for me and allowed me hang the hard top up and out of the way during the summer and still park my Jeep in the garage without the hard top getting in the way. I was able to swap out tops by myself in about 20 minutes.

After I sold the TJ and picked up a JK, I modified the front J hooks on the Hoist-a-Top slightly so that they would work with the JK hard top because it was a little wider and longer than the TJ hard top.

I've had the Lange Hoist-a-Top hanging from the ceiling in my garage ever since.

It's too bad we can't order the dual top group with the 2 door JL's, but the hoist is there if I ever need it.

 

[Centurion07]

Finally got around to taking some pics of the Freedom Jack. It holds the doors & freedom panels as well.

 

[viper88]

There is a old thread about hard top removal and storage on this forum. One guy had a very elegant solution. He purchased a small scaffold on wheels from Home Depot. It was very easy to slide the hard top on to the scaffold. I will see if I can find the thread.

Found the thread.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ardtop-storage-and-removal-works-great.29016/

 

[Kllrbee]

There is a old thread about hard top removal and storage on this forum. One guy had a very elegant solution. He purchased a small scaffold on wheels from Home Depot. It was very easy to slide the hard top on to the scaffold. I will see if I can find the thread.

I saw that one and considered it. Problem is you can only back the Jeep up to it as far as what the spare allows. So still maybe 12-15 inches away. This makes it still a 2 man job for most. I built my table (pic on last page) roughly based on that idea though. I can back up to my table with no gap. So its lift and slide...1 man job.
That was an excellent idea though.

 

[viper88]

The Top Lift Pro would be my choice. Easy for one person to use and great storage.

Expensive but so is the hard top. One slip up or chip and the cost of the Top Lift Pro will seem like a deal. There is a lot of demand for them. I bet you can sell it whenever your done with it for a good percentage of what you paid for it.

I think there are a couple of lifts like the Top Lift Pro now? Can't remember the names though?

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/anyone-own-a-top-lift-pro.29889/

 

[Gaffer]

Anyone have pics of their 2 dr hard top Lift set? Dyi or bought.

All I see are 4 dr ones when I search. Me and the wife took mine off today. Was a little awkward as I'm 6 2 and she's 5 4 but we got it done.

I'm thinking for next spring though so I don't have to rely on her.

I have this. It works great. Have an electric hoist on a swing boom in my shop. Copied a stand I saw in a Jeep catalog and built it. I can roll it around out of the way. One person job all the way.

 

[CorvZ061]

4 eyelet hooks, 4 straps. Total spent $35. I found the rear lined top spread a little after hanging for a while so a 2x4 under the back. But not necessarily needed.

 

[ZigZag]

I actually made one for my TJ hard top. It worked great until it didn't. The top fell (missed me by about 8 inches) and broke glass, fiberglass and dented the fender of the Jeep. Insurance paid to replace the top and fix all the broken stuff. I paid a guy a case of beer to fix the fiberglass of the top, replaced the glass and called it good. But I learned a lesson: don't stand under it!

Also, I then over engineered the hanging system so the top could hang for extended periods.

 

[AnnDee4444]

I don't have a hardtop removal system yet, but I like these Topsy Products brackets.

https://topsyproducts.com/collectio...ducts/hinge-hoist-bracket-kit-jl-bracket-only

 

[Rescue119]

I don't have a hardtop removal system yet, but I like these Topsy Products brackets.

https://topsyproducts.com/collectio...ducts/hinge-hoist-bracket-kit-jl-bracket-only

Those brakets are sweet. I wonder if you could mount a light bar between them for when hardtop is on?

 

[KAB96F]

Im sorry, I dont have any other pics. Had to dig for the one I posted. Your garage looks similar to mine where you have multiple projects going on. I cant have a HT in the way on a stand or hanging where I can hit my head when Im working. Leaving it outside is the only reasonable option. My Jeep lives outside year round anyways so whats the difference.
If I was going to hoist, Id definitely do the DIY ratchet strap thing. I cant believe how much people spend on removing these things. 500-1k bucks? To remove a top? Thats ridiculous to me. But to each there own I guess.
Also, under the cover 1969 Dodge Dart.

I'm glad that someone else has a garage that's tight due to Mopar muscle!

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