Rigged up a Hoist for my K5 Top

[bigschuss]

Been wanting to do this for a while. I used to use my Rotary lift, and that worked good, but I wanted something that would store the top all summer up and out of the way.



Bought some 8x8" L-brackets from Home Depot and bent them to shape and covered them with foam. I also had to buy en electric hoist from HF and some pulleys. Everything else I had laying around.

Works pretty good. Gets the top up high and out of the way without tying up my lift all summer. Think I need to add some kind of a catch or hook or something bolted to the wall so I can take the weight off the hoist once the top is lifted to the ceiling.

[68Timber]

That's a great set up! Getting the top on/off and storing it is the only PITA about a Blazer, you've eliminated that. I made a storage rack for mine so it hangs in the carport but we still have to do the heavy lifting. You need to tie the right and left sides together, left like that the top will "spread" over time and will be difficult to get on the truck. Mine did, anyway. Again, well done.

[bigschuss]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

That's a great set up! Getting the top on/off and storing it is the only PITA about a Blazer, you've eliminated that. I made a storage rack for mine so it hangs in the carport but we still have to do the heavy lifting. You need to tie the right and left sides together, left like that the top will "spread" over time and will be difficult to get on the truck. Mine did, anyway. Again, well done.

Thanks John. And thanks for the tip about tying both sides together. Did not know that!

[68Timber]

I didn't know either until I couldn't get my top back on! I think you could use a board drilled on each end to the width of the bedrail mounting holes, then lay it across the middle on the mounting lip of the top, secured with a couple of bolts and maybe wingnuts? Cheap, easy, effective, and you won't have to worry about modifying that excellent lift you made.

[bigschuss]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

I didn't know either until I couldn't get my top back on! I think you could use a board drilled on each end to the width of the bedrail mounting holes, then lay it across the middle on the mounting lip of the top, secured with a couple of bolts and maybe wingnuts? Cheap, easy, effective, and you won't have to worry about modifying that excellent lift you made.

Thanks John. That's a great idea. I'm on it today!

[LT7A]

I was thinking the same thing about that top not spreading out. Was envisioning cables going from the holes in the hooks from one side to the other. Piece of wood is probably quicker and easier though, ha.

[kwmech]

I had an idea similar to that years ago for my land cruiser top, but that looks a lot nicer.

[bigschuss]

Originally Posted by LT7A

I was thinking the same thing about that top not spreading out. Was envisioning cables going from the holes in the hooks from one side to the other. Piece of wood is probably quicker and easier though, ha.

I ended up using 2 cinch straps...one on each end of the cap, from hole to hole. Just tightened them enough to prevent spreading.

[bigschuss]

Originally Posted by kwmech

I had an idea similar to that years ago for my land cruiser top, but that looks a lot nicer.

Thanks. It took me a few tries. Last summer I had a system with 2x4's that I ran under the cap and winched up to the ceiling. That one didn't go up high enough and the cap would kind of spin freely in the wind. Wanted to do it right this time.