made a hoist mechanism for my top :-)

[epsorenson]

not quite as fancy as some i've seen on this board but here it is.
used a harbor freight hoist 110v plug in mounted to a 2x8 above.
once the top is off we move it over to the garage wall.
nice and out of the way for storage.
not the most sophisticated but gets the job done

[BobbyK]

Doesn't need to be pretty...just needs to work,right!

A lot easier on the back eh!
And no need to find another 2-3 people to put it on or take it off.

[bouncytruck]

Looks 1000 times nicer than my system of 2x4's, rope and eye bolts. What was the rating on the pulley block?

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Looks 1000 times nicer than my system of 2x4's, rope and eye bolts. What was the rating on the pulley block?

cable is 3/32--250lb each (x's 4 cables)
hoist is 440lb.

[LUV2XCLR8]

How much was the hoist? (ballpark)

[desertrat]

I like it....

[crzngmychvy]

Does the top get twisted much when you store it on its side? Have you put it back onto the truck to see if it goes on like it came off? thanks

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

How much was the hoist? (ballpark)

hoist was about $60.
all other materials about $100.

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by crzngmychvy

Does the top get twisted much when you store it on its side? Have you put it back onto the truck to see if it goes on like it came off? thanks

yeah we put it back on, all is well.
twisting was my concern too.
we mounted some 2x4's to the garage studs at the top position to hang the rail of the lid.
then there is a lower 2x4 at the bottom to set the lower aspect of the lid on top (i.e. so it hangs on one and sits on the other).
then there are 3 tie downs strapping it to the wall.

the twisting is still a concern to me.
the lid was only hanging on the wall for a short time so far.
i'm hoping it doesn't twist if staying there for longer periods of time when stored.

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by BobbyK

Doesn't need to be pretty...just needs to work,right!

A lot easier on the back eh!
And no need to find another 2-3 people to put it on or take it off.

yeah, the hoist ideas are definitely the "pathway of least resistance" for top removal.

i still covet your top removal system though bobbyK...love the welded I frame you made, seems like it is super sturdy.

[BobbyK]

Ya that boxed tube worked well.
1/8" wall didn't deflect under load either.
I think it was less than $20.00 in steel.

No highjack intended here...just a pic to show other's what we're talking about.

[Yukon Jack]

Every time I see pics of the tops being hoisted I have to laugh about my first experience removing my top. I used a hoist and cables and a 2x4 at the front right behind the front seats and then a 2x4 at the rear - when I started to lift I then noticed my board was running through the roll bar and of course that wouldnt' work. Had to move the front 2x4 in front of the front seats.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Got that one beat, I used 2 4" rachet straps end to end over a tree limb.
Hooked 3 more 1" rachet straps in a triangle formation to the top. Then I
usde my lil 250 4traxx to pull the straps and drove out from under it. Got
a beauty mark on the left rear panel to prove this method really sucks

[epsorenson]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

Got that one beat, I used 2 4" rachet straps end to end over a tree limb.
Hooked 3 more 1" rachet straps in a triangle formation to the top. Then I
usde my lil 250 4traxx to pull the straps and drove out from under it. Got
a beauty mark on the left rear panel to prove this method really sucks

man i sure would like to have seen that one on video

[LUV2XCLR8]

It wasn't pretty

[BobbyK]

Got
a beauty mark on the left rear panel to prove this method really sucks

LOL...that's funny!