easy hardtop removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

american revolution · 04-26-2007, 01:39 PM

any suggestions on a 1 man removal of the hardtop.

How much does the top weigh?

can i set up a hoist in my garage to be able to put on and off? how can i strap it up so that it is secure.

Newbie and I want to be able to take on/off because I live in Northern California. some days are beautiful and other days are cold in the summer. want to be able to have the option.

rikyric · 04-26-2007, 01:49 PM

Heres what I'm gonna do.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=hardtop

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=159221

bouncytruck · 04-26-2007, 02:07 PM

I did a simple, low tech, cheap version like this:

http://home.pacbell.net/jls-dls/RemoveTop.html

**Yukon Jack** · 04-26-2007, 02:54 PM

This is so on my mind right now and this post pops up! Can't beat that. Had to laugh this morning as I was getting ready to take the kids to school - I opened the passenger door and noticed the side of the top move, pressed against it and I think all of the bolts on that side of the top are gone! It's just begging to come off

65-72 chevytoys · 04-27-2007, 08:43 AM

I just use some heavy duty screw hooks (Like for hanging bicycles) into the rafters place 2x4s under the hard top. Then use ratchet straps around the 2x4 and hooks and ratchet the top up a coulple of inches on each end until it is high enough to drive the truck out from under. Easy one man job.

american revolution · 04-27-2007, 01:20 PM

thanks for all the great information

LUV2XCLR8 · 04-27-2007, 03:44 PM

I used 2 1" ratchet straps, 1 4" ratchet strap, a low hanging branch, and a 250 4Traxx

blazerparts · 05-03-2007, 06:22 PM

If you have room, I set four posts in the ground about 6" wider than the blazer and spaced so they'd catch the four corners of the top (where it sits on the bed rails. Back the blazer between them, loosen the top, slide 2X4" between bed rails and top, and hike each corner up about 4", attach 2X4"s to posts, and drive the blazer out from underneath. I dropped the top back down so it wasn't so high. Installation of top is the reverse.

cstanley · 05-03-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65-72 chevytoys

I just use some heavy duty screw hooks (Like for hanging bicycles) into the rafters place 2x4s under the hard top. Then use ratchet straps around the 2x4 and hooks and ratchet the top up a coulple of inches on each end until it is high enough to drive the truck out from under. Easy one man job.

i did this while i'm figuring out how to mount the hoist. only thing i can't figure out now (because it's raining a lot and i need to put it back on) is how to get it back down???? I can't get the darned things to loosen, and when they do, it's prolly gonna fall on me!

jaros44sr · 05-04-2007, 06:51 AM

Cstanley, that seems to be the bad part about rachet straps, they only rachet one way, it's a free fall the other...

How about a come along, instead...... J.

**Yukon Jack** · 05-04-2007, 10:34 AM

When I lifte mine I used the 2 2x4 method with cables and my comealong and just when I started to lift the top I noticed that I had one of the 2x4's running through the rollcage - whoops, that won't work, had to move that 2x4 to the very front of the top and of course the seats were in the way so I had to get the front of the top lifted a bit then put the 2x4 into place. Had to laugh at myself when I saw my original plan just wasn't gonna work.

Definitely going to fine tune my setup based off of the design that BobbyK uses.

VinceY · 05-04-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstanley

i did this while i'm figuring out how to mount the hoist. only thing i can't figure out now (because it's raining a lot and i need to put it back on) is how to get it back down???? I can't get the darned things to loosen, and when they do, it's prolly gonna fall on me!

I used ratchet straps last year also for a quick get it up out of the way. It became a 4 man job to bring the top down safely last winter.
This year I am using the method Bouncy listed.

bouncytruck · 05-04-2007, 02:53 PM

The method I use works great. I remove and put the top back on completely by myself. I do have to remove the rear seat and the spare tire to drive out from under the hanging top, but that could easily be solved by lifting it just another inch or so.

Best of all, I think It cost me less than $10.

johnnywagon · 05-08-2007, 12:39 PM

Low tech, low buck, easy one man job. I just back the truck up to the permanently mounted rear cross bar, slide the top back a foot and set it on the crossbar. Then I slide in the moveable front crossbar and drive the truck out from underneath. Takes 5 mins!

AND I can park my lowrider beater station wagon under it.

04-26-2007, 01:39 PM	#1
american revolution Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: san francisco Posts: 446	easy hardtop removal any suggestions on a 1 man removal of the hardtop. How much does the top weigh? can i set up a hoist in my garage to be able to put on and off? how can i strap it up so that it is secure. Newbie and I want to be able to take on/off because I live in Northern California. some days are beautiful and other days are cold in the summer. want to be able to have the option.

04-26-2007, 01:49 PM	#2
rikyric Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 99	Re: easy hardtop removal Heres what I'm gonna do. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=hardtop http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=159221

04-26-2007, 02:07 PM	#3
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: easy hardtop removal I did a simple, low tech, cheap version like this: http://home.pacbell.net/jls-dls/RemoveTop.html __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

04-26-2007, 02:54 PM	#4
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Re: easy hardtop removal This is so on my mind right now and this post pops up! Can't beat that. Had to laugh this morning as I was getting ready to take the kids to school - I opened the passenger door and noticed the side of the top move, pressed against it and I think all of the bolts on that side of the top are gone! It's just begging to come off __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

04-27-2007, 08:43 AM	#5
65-72 chevytoys Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wesley Chapel, Florida Posts: 1,113	Re: easy hardtop removal I just use some heavy duty screw hooks (Like for hanging bicycles) into the rafters place 2x4s under the hard top. Then use ratchet straps around the 2x4 and hooks and ratchet the top up a coulple of inches on each end until it is high enough to drive the truck out from under. Easy one man job. __________________ 2004 Chevy Silverado 1500LS SWB 5.3L 2004 Corvette Z16 #770 Wish I had not sold 72 blazer

04-27-2007, 01:20 PM	#6
american revolution Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: san francisco Posts: 446	Re: easy hardtop removal thanks for all the great information

04-27-2007, 03:44 PM	#7
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,475	Re: easy hardtop removal I used 2 1" ratchet straps, 1 4" ratchet strap, a low hanging branch, and a 250 4Traxx __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Big Piggy: "Goliath" 07 Kodiak C4500 Lil Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

05-03-2007, 06:22 PM	#8
blazerparts No,I DON'T have Tourett's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 556	Re: easy hardtop removal If you have room, I set four posts in the ground about 6" wider than the blazer and spaced so they'd catch the four corners of the top (where it sits on the bed rails. Back the blazer between them, loosen the top, slide 2X4" between bed rails and top, and hike each corner up about 4", attach 2X4"s to posts, and drive the blazer out from underneath. I dropped the top back down so it wasn't so high. Installation of top is the reverse. __________________ '72 K5 CST 350/350 Daily Driver '69 GMC3500 Camper Special CST Flatbed 396/400 Upgraded to show truck '69 GMC 2500 L6292, 3spd beater

05-04-2007, 06:51 AM	#10
jaros44sr Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,452	Re: easy hardtop removal Cstanley, that seems to be the bad part about rachet straps, they only rachet one way, it's a free fall the other... How about a come along, instead...... J. __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim

05-04-2007, 10:34 AM	#11
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Re: easy hardtop removal When I lifte mine I used the 2 2x4 method with cables and my comealong and just when I started to lift the top I noticed that I had one of the 2x4's running through the rollcage - whoops, that won't work, had to move that 2x4 to the very front of the top and of course the seats were in the way so I had to get the front of the top lifted a bit then put the 2x4 into place. Had to laugh at myself when I saw my original plan just wasn't gonna work. Definitely going to fine tune my setup based off of the design that BobbyK uses. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

05-04-2007, 02:53 PM	#13
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: easy hardtop removal The method I use works great. I remove and put the top back on completely by myself. I do have to remove the rear seat and the spare tire to drive out from under the hanging top, but that could easily be solved by lifting it just another inch or so. Best of all, I think It cost me less than $10. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L Last edited by bouncytruck; 05-04-2007 at 02:53 PM.

05-08-2007, 12:39 PM	#14
johnnywagon Sofa King. We, Todd, Ed. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Spokane, Wa. Posts: 631	Re: easy hardtop removal Low tech, low buck, easy one man job. I just back the truck up to the permanently mounted rear cross bar, slide the top back a foot and set it on the crossbar. Then I slide in the moveable front crossbar and drive the truck out from underneath. Takes 5 mins! AND I can park my lowrider beater station wagon under it. Attached Images __________________ ~John 71 Blazer One Ton 65 Chevelle Station Wagon x2 59 Belair 2 Door 71 Chevy Open Road Van RV www.myspace.com/johnnywagon



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.