easy hardtop removal

[american revolution]

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]

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]

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

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

[Yukon Jack]

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]

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]

thanks for all the great information

[LUV2XCLR8]

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

[blazerparts]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.