One man hard top removal

[jeepfreak]

Nice work!

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[jeremyjeep]

Yes plenty of height to pull in underneath if needed

How many feet / inches from the floor to the bottom of the shelf?

 

[Benjohn15]

How many feet / inches from the floor to the bottom of the shelf?

I think around 55”

 

[BillyHW]

So I voted no, but now I think I have to change my vote to yes.

 

[Saejin]

I did something very similar but built a full shelf instead of one for each side. It seems you built separate ones in order to clear your rear tire. What I did was back up, pull the top off, and then park in forward, so the font of my jeep was under the shelf. The reason I built a full shelf was to store other items like soft tops and other jeep gear on the shelf. It was like my Jeep storage area. Worked out real well.

Nice job. It's funny but the ability for a garage to accommodate my Jeep will dictate what house I buy next.

 

[jeremyjeep]

I did something very similar but built a full shelf instead of one for each side. It seems you built separate ones in order to clear your rear tire. What I did was back up, pull the top off, and then park in forward, so the font of my jeep was under the shelf. The reason I built a full shelf was to store other items like soft tops and other jeep gear on the shelf. It was like my Jeep storage area. Worked out real well.

Nice job. It's funny but the ability for a garage to accommodate my Jeep will dictate what house I buy next.

Which Wrangler do you have? Can you share the dimensions and pictures of your shelf?

 

[Saejin]

Well, forgot to mention this was for my JK. I'm currently renting now, so can't build a shelf. If I remember correctly the shelf was 5ft wide and 4ft deep. It was high enough for me to park the front of my jeep under it, but not so high that I had to lift the top up to high to set it up. I think it was the same height as my rear tire as I left my back window down when I took it off my jeep. When I cleared the tire I was able to just move it over to the shelf and didn't have to lift it higher.

I built it using 2x4s and framed it out. I attached to the wall with hinges so I could fold it down when not in use...that was the plan anyway. Then I attached eye-hooks on the outside corners and used chains attached to the ceiling to suspend the shelf. If I ever needed to I could detach the changes and lower the shelf against my garage wall. I never needed to do this, so if I had to do it over I would just permanently attach one side to the wall and still use the chains to suspend it from the ceiling. I'll try to find some pics when I get home on my computer.

 

[mgroeger]

Great idea, but I am a little confused. How are you lifting this off? You say you can lift about 6" up and 6" back. Are you squatted in your Jeep and then standing up with it on your back?

 

[Saejin]

That’s exactly what I did. The first time I did it I was concerned as I wasn’t sure how much it weighed or how awkward it would be to lift it from the inside. After that it was easy.

Basically I disconnect everything, jump in the back, squat down and lift the top off, then move it back onto the shelf.

The next time I do this I’ll incorporate a lift system to make it easy to get off the Jeep.

 

[mgroeger]

OK, thanks! This is going to get real interesting... had L5, S1 discectomy 2 years ago and live with daily back pain

 

[jeremyjeep]

FYI: The JLU hardtop weighs 100lbs without the Freedom panels, which weigh 22lbs each.

 

[Saejin]

Yeah I was younger back then. It was a pretty heavy lift. If not done right you could hurt your back. This is why I’m going to set up a pulley system to raise the top and then slide it over to the shelf. I see other systems where the roof is just hanging from the ceiling and this concerns me, so I want to set it on a shelf.

 

[Saejin]

Brought back memories so I thought I’d post a pic of my JKU at MOAB.

 

[mgroeger]

That, sir, is beautiful.

 

[Saejin]

That, sir, is beautiful.

Yep, plan to get my Rubicon up there and take the same photo in the same location.

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