Hard top removal

[ian villeza]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...opnav=&browse=

[71swb4x4]

How much does a top weigh? I would have to believe it's pushing that 250 lb limit.
Still, it wouldn't be too tough to make something similar out of heavier steel.

[makovai]

Originally Posted by ian villeza

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...opnav=&browse=

Great find................The weight my be pushing it's limits but the concept is killer.

[Tynee]

The thing is, you could buy a lot of pulleys, cable, and winches for that same $139. I've been kicking around ideas like this for a buddy's Jimmy. A couple of 2x4's with an eye-bolt through each end to attach the cable to, then a small pulley directly above each end of each 2x4, then a larger pulley somewhere to turn all 4 cables back to the winch. You could even drill holes through the 2x4's to run your bolts through so that your top maintains its shape while its off the truck. He even found a small electric winch in harbor freight he was thinking of wiring up for this purpose.

[bouncytruck]

There is a lift made specifically lifting off tops. I don't know what the lift for the blazer looks like and it is fairly expensive.

http://www.truckstuffusa.com/hoistatop.html

[red71cheyenne]

BobbK made an outfit to remove his and put it on the board. I don't think its in the FAQ, but if he sees this maybe he'll post a link. It looked like the way to go. Pulleys, hoist, all the goodies and it put his top way up in the rafters of his garage.

I don't think the double wall tops are that heavy though. I have moved mine around by myself. I usually just stand up under it and walk around with it. Course it takes the wife to help me get it off the Blazer like that too. Jeff.

[hotrodhomi]

anyone know what the top weighs?

[bouncytruck]

With a hatch, I'd guess in the 200-250 lb range. The biggest problem is they are awkward and easy to damage.

[LUV2XCLR8]

This is the one I posted awhile back, looks kinda the same

http://www.hoister.com/default.php

[smokekiki]

Here is the one bobbyk did
http://public.fotki.com/blazbk/blaze...eing_the_roof/

[Pop's72]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

There is a lift made specifically lifting off tops. I don't know what the lift for the blazer looks like and it is fairly expensive.

http://www.truckstuffusa.com/hoistatop.html

I sent an email requesting pictures or drawings of this lift to the manufacturer Lange Originals. I will post any response I receive.

[BobbyK]

Originally Posted by smokekiki

Here is the one bobbyk did
http://public.fotki.com/blazbk/blaze...eing_the_roof/

Thanks for the link, but here is the one in the FAQ's forum.
The forum pic's have captions,the Fotki site doesn't,but it does have ALL the pic's I took(both the 1st and 2nd design).

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

[blazerparts]

I'm pretty sure the roof trusses in my garage wouldn't enjoy the load.

[72armyswbtruck]

I would think that it would be pushing the pounds limit too...

[BobbyK]

Don't tell me a 2X6 or even a 2x4 roof truss can't support 300lb's.

Take your average man at 180-200lbs,throw 2 guys up on a roof,one standing on each 2x6 truss....is the roof going to colapse...I don't think so.
If it did,I'd find the guy who built your roof and punch him in the head.

A winter's snow load is much heaviear that a few hundred pounds.

In short...your trussess can carry that load without a problem(sorry for being so long winded)

[k-nuts]

Now maybe the trusses are designed differently in different parts of the country, but here the trusses are designed for 2 things only. Support the roof and support the weight of the sheetrock on the ceiling. No attic storage ability. Now of course there are variables everywhere. We put the AC/heater in the attic and the trusses there are designed to support them. There are girder trusses designed to carry more loads, etc. Sheetrock alone is pretty heavy. So Yes, the trusses probably will hold up, but be careful especially if you have a new home in warranty. The snow load (which we don't have ) and roof load is not even on the part of the truss you would be attaching the hardtop remover to. The horizontal chord of the truss is designed to hold up sheetrock and reinforce the other areas of the truss only. In fact I know it sucks but we void the warranty if attic is used for storage and there is an issue. Only happened once and from what I hear the owner was "stealing" bricks, pavers and rocks from around the jobsites and storing them in his attic. Truss cracked and sheetrock cracked but didn't fall through.

In short, I've done it too, in a garage where there was no sheetrock, and yes it was fine, just be careful.

[blazerparts]

Typical roof trusses are designed to support a load from the top. The bottom chord of a truss is designed for that purpose ( actually it is in tension), not as a load bearing component. I am very careful not to overload the bottom chord.

[jakeslim]

Originally Posted by blazerparts

Typical roof trusses are designed to support a load from the top. The bottom chord of a truss is designed for that purpose ( actually it is in tension), not as a load bearing component. I am very careful not to overload the bottom chord.

looks like you'll be storing it on the roof

[Medicanman71]

HEY jakeslim, i havent seen you around in a while, maybe its just me?

[Halvy]

Has anyone tried Caplift? They say it is rated up to 240 pounds. I am also looking for a way to get my Hardtop on and off easily and out of the way when it is not on the truck.

[hotrodhomi]

wow, a 5 Y/o thread back from the dead. I haven't used the Caplift, but I do take my top on and off by myself. Although I've only put it back on twice in the last few years it pretty easy. I built a frame to slide under the top, then I used heavy duty ratchet straps to ratchet the top out of the way. It's high enough I don't bump my head.

[BobbyK]

Ya... this one is old for sure.

The latest incarnation of my lift is posted here. No 2x2's in this version.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=398105

I have pic's of the top on a scale so we finally know the weight of a single walled top.

It has a link to a short video of it going up as well.





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