How I raised my top to the roof(PIC"S)

[BobbyK]

I picked up a 880lb. capacity hoist at Harbor Freight for $70.00,cheap I think.


I welded up a bracket and mounted it in the rafters of my single car garage.



The bracket is made from 1/4" plate and the square tubing is 1.5" square with 1/4" wall thickness.I made cuts in the plate and fed the square tubing through it then welded it all up.

Made some cables from 5/32" aircraft wire cable then raised her to the roof.




Works great and is REAL easy on my back! :grin:

[Blue Beard]

Where there's a will, there's a way.......

[vtblazer]

Is that what you use to lift it off your blazer or just to get it off the floor and out of the way?
I see wheels, do you set the boards under the top while still on the truck?
Show the connection of your cables to the board, or do they go all the way under?
Really clean, low cost way to lift the top Great job/idea.

[chucks70]

I like the idea, but do the cables rub the side of the top? Over time that may be a problem. Maybe another set of 2X4 at the top to use as spreaders to keep the cables away from the sides. I think its a good idea and will probably copy it.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Yes, More Detailed Pics Please, We Could All Benefit From Them.

[bouncytruck]

Nice setup. I wish my garage was that tall! I'd have to put the wench in my baby girl's bedroom above the garage!

[JayDubBlazer]

you also got a place to butcher you deer, or moose when you are in canada.

[LUV2XCLR8]

I NEED THAT SET-UP, OR SOMETHING LIKE IT, MY CEILING IS 11' HIGH

[Big J]

Thats a neat set-up. If I ever get to build a garage, I'm makin' one of those.

[BobbyK]

Sorry for the delay in my response guys.

Well I modified my design today.As you can see the cables rubbed up against the sides of the top.I wasn't too crazy about that in the 1st place.Plus it didn't allow me to get the top up as high as I wanted.

SO...this is what I did.
I bought some 1.5",.120 wall square tubeing and made a "I" shaped frame.
Here I am welding it up.


An example of that welding


Painted it up and added some eye bolts.




I then shortend the cables to about 18" long.


Here's how I actually made the cables.
1st I got the appropriate sized ferrules.5/32" in this case.Same size as the cable.


Made sure I used these teardrop looking things(sorry I don't know the name of them).It helps support the loop part of the cable.




I used these 1/4" links to connect the cables to the frames eyebolts.You'll note the working wt of this 1/4" link(600lbs).


I crimped the ferrules onto the cable useing my vice and a 1/8" drill bit.I used the 1/8" bit so it didn't flatten out the ferrule but it makes it meet in the middle,separateing and crimping both cables.


Here's what the crimp looks like.I crimped each side of the ferrule so the "indentation" in the middle is on both sides.



Then up to the roof again.Except this time it's a good 12"s higher.


I haven't done it yet,but I will be adding a safety chain so I can take the tension off the winch.

Thanks for the comments guys.

[Blue Beard]

Looks like a good improvement....

[krue]

This needs to be in FAQ.

[Mike C]

Nice. Pulled the top off the Jiimy for the first time in 13 years last night, now it needs a home and I was contemplating same thing.


The things without a name: Thimbles.

[BobbyK]

They're called thimbles?

Oh....thanks!

[jakeslim]

nice setup. I have a bit of a different setup. I wandered the hardware store for a bit until the idea hit me.
-Four 5gallon buckets
-four 4x4 post
-four bags of quick set cement
-two 2x4's


1)I set the 4x4 post in the buckets with cement, cut to a length that extend just above the top part of the blazer rear cab(not the top).
2)I set up the post at each corner corner of top.
3)From inside cab, I slip the two by fours under each end of top, lifted a bit to rest it on the 4x4 post(that are in the buckets).
4)The top is not just an inch or two above the k5. I can pull out of garage or pull back in and just park under the top. I drilled some holes thru the 2x4's into the 4x4's and dropped a bolt(loose) into as a safety measure, but it pulles right out for quick release.

I've had it setup for a couple of weeks with no problems. The buckets are weighted sufficiently at all four corners to support the top without being shakey. It takes me 60 seconds(once unbolted) to remove top now, or put back on, and it take very little space.

This setup took me about an hour to setup, can be moved, works in a sideyard, backyard, garage or driveway and if i move, the buckets come with me and have carrying handles!

i can post pics if anyone is interested

[crispy]

i'd like to see pics... it sounds interesting but i'm having a little trouble picturing it.

thanks

[Chevy Muscle]

great idea!

How did you get the right balance for the center eye bolt? I'm guessing it's closer to the front than the back right?

[BobbyK]

I actually had it right in the center.The top is front heavy that way though.I just corrected it by useing a rope to keep the front from dipping too low.

I could have corrected it properly but never did.I've since sold this set-up as I have moved from that house the pic's were taken at.