JL hardtop removal

[deadphish]

Do you think it would be OK to use my crossbars to hook on to ?

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[Shooting or Jeeping]

Do you think it would be OK to use my crossbars to hook on to ?

Pic?

 

[deadphish]

They are the mopar cross bars if that helps you visualize. We pretty much have those on all the time anyway. They mount to the rain gutters of course, but they can take 150lbs of downward cargo weight. So if I attach my straps to each end of both bars they should be able to handle the weight of the hardtop in the opposite direction don't ya think?

 

[Shooting or Jeeping]

They are the mopar cross bars if that helps you visualize. We pretty much have those on all the time anyway. They mount to the rain gutters of course, but they can take 150lbs of downward cargo weight. So if I attach my straps to each end of both bars they should be able to handle the weight of the hardtop in the opposite direction don't ya think?

Well, downward support and upward stability are different. Personally- I wouldnt trust it.

 

[twisty]

I bought two ratchet straps for a total of $20. Will be more difficult getting it back on (will need help), but I only remove it once in the summer to put the soft top on and put the hard top back on late fall/winter.

Not a bad idea! Perhaps buy another set to put it back on. Incrementally lower it using one set to "catch" or lower to the next level. A few inches at a time would be tedious but might be doable??

 

[Shooting or Jeeping]

Not a bad idea! Perhaps buy another set to put it back on. Incrementally lower it using one set to "catch" or lower to the next level. A few inches at a time would be tedious but might be doable??

It is. That was my first top removal attempt on the JK. Tedious is the word. You spend a lot of time going around it and trying to make it even. Same With releasing it. You then neglect to take it off very often because of it.

I’m not saying that you have to spend the money, but I am saying that it’s well worth it. The $20 solution is a headache.

 

[Cwelroy]

Not a bad idea! Perhaps buy another set to put it back on. Incrementally lower it using one set to "catch" or lower to the next level. A few inches at a time would be tedious but might be doable??

That’s a good idea. And I’d only be all on for $30 if I got another set. Haha.

 

[Turfman]

Here’s a pic of the top with the ratchet straps.

If possible, could you get a measurement of the distance from your ceiling to the bottom of your side of the top. Trying to see just how low it hangs to determine how much it may block stuff on my side walls. I only have a single car garage! Thanks if so!

 

[Cwelroy]

If possible, could you get a measurement of the distance from your ceiling to the bottom of your side of the top. Trying to see just how low it hangs to determine how much it may block stuff on my side walls. I only have a single car garage! Thanks if so!

Hope this helps. The ceiling is actually about 15’ tall. I have them hanging from the rafters. I can put the top higher to make them closer if desired, but I left it to where I can park under it just fine and figured that was high enough. I used two 15’ ratchet straps from target.

 

[Turfman]

Best answer- I love the Racor lift / Topsy combination. I’ve had 2 other Jeeps with hardtops and never really found anything within a budget that worked. For under $250- you get a great option that’s useful for other things when you have to the hardtop on.

I have a question for you, if you do not mind.

How much movement do you see in this hanging system with a top on it? Either front to back or side to side?

Let me explain my thought. I do not have enough room to use my single car garage. I do have an 8’ paved driveway on the side of my house. I can easily build a rack that I can mount this system to off of my house that would have legs supporting the other side of the rack. But I am curious as to how much wind movement I might see from it!

 

[Turfman]

Hope this helps. The ceiling is actually about 15’ tall. I have them hanging from the rafters. I can put the top higher to make them closer if desired, but I left it to where I can park under it just fine and figured that was high enough. I used two 15’ ratchet straps from target.

Yes that helped a lot
From those measurements I was able to determine my garage is not a good fit for my top. Now to plan B or C or D! As soon as I figure out what they are!

 

[Shooting or Jeeping]

I have a question for you, if you do not mind.

How much movement do you see in this hanging system with a top on it? Either front to back or side to side?

Let me explain my thought. I do not have enough room to use my single car garage. I do have an 8’ paved driveway on the side of my house. I can easily build a rack that I can mount this system to off of my house that would have legs supporting the other side of the rack. But I am curious as to how much wind movement I might see from it!

On its own, the entire thing weighs 52 pounds. With the top on it, that’s a fairly heavy amount. When I push it by hand, you can tell there is a lot of resistance. So I believe you’d be fine if you kept it up when not in use. Less available travel should limit your “swing”.

 

[Shooting or Jeeping]

If possible, could you get a measurement of the distance from your ceiling to the bottom of your side of the top. Trying to see just how low it hangs to determine how much it may block stuff on my side walls. I only have a single car garage! Thanks if so!

My garage is 8’2. It hangs about 12 inches on its own. Even at that height, you can lift the top about a foot. That’s all you need to either back in to lower it or park forward and under it.

 

[coolzoey]

The Racor lift w/ Topsy brackets is so easy- I can have my top off and out of the garage in like 10 minutes. I'm so glad I went this route.

 

[ps2baseball]

Yes. Not me BTW.
Anyone have a TopLift Pro for JL?

Yes

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