Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Whiskeymetal on April 06, 2009, 03:10:53 PM
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Hey everyone..
Spring/summer is lurking around the corner, any suggestions or good ideas for (properly) storing the hardtop for the summer?! I am kinda looking for a space saver as well.
I ran the thought of making a pulley system to tie it to the rafters of my garage, but I know something WILL go wrong with my luck.
-Cheers
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I just built a wooden stand in the backyard to leave mine on bolt it down to it...... also made a great place to store bikes and lawnmowers
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You could also hang it from the roof of your garage....I am hoping to build one of those this spring!
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yeah, my step dad always hangs it from the rafters of the garage, he made a crazy contraption a while ago that stored hard and soft top in the roof.
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A couple of years ago I decided hard tops are for wimps and sold mine , eliminating the storage problem . Happy with the thought that it's much easier to store $500 .
I still have another jeep with a hard top ( my sweetie drives that one ) , in the summer , her hard top gets parked on a pallot in the backyard.
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A couple of years ago I decided hard tops are for wimps and sold mine , eliminating the storage problem . Happy with the thought that it's much easier to store $500 .
truer words have never been spoken....... i'm selling mine for a softy too
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Four good hooks into the garage ceiling: $38.00 Two 1000 lb straps: $21.00 Some rope as a back-up: $ 6.00 Not having the damn thing on the ground to trip over all summer: Priceless
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nice!!
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as dumb as it sounds, do yo uhave a pic of your set up? or anyone whos hangin it from the roof? i'd love to take alook
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as dumb as it sounds, do yo uhave a pic of your set up? or anyone whos hangin it from the roof? i'd love to take alook
I Agree.. I would like to do the same, so a pick of ones that have worked for a guideline would be greatly appreciated!
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Here you go
http://wrangler.kicks-arse.net/HardtopHoist.htm (http://wrangler.kicks-arse.net/HardtopHoist.htm)
There's a couple of DIY projects on that site
Steve
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This thread has a picture of a couple JK top storage ideas and at the bottom there are tons are related threads of with more pictures....
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6844007 (http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6844007)
I was planning something of a mix between the JK ideas and this website
http://www.stu-offroad.com/body/hardtopstor/hardtopstorage.htm (http://www.stu-offroad.com/body/hardtopstor/hardtopstorage.htm)
I have heard that the hard top will spread if you hook the outsides like that.
I am thinking of using hooks and straps and a wood platform/frame the hard top bolts to...
Doing more looking around I found this idea, would it be hard on the top sitting like this? Definitely a space saver.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=395770 (http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=395770)
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w58/25funkstyle25/Thule003.jpg)
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I hang mine from the garage roof every summer as well.
I use;
4) eyehooks (5/16") and 2 sets of motorcycle tiedowns. (None ratcheting tiedowns, get a good set of "Ancra" brand, they will last you forever)
- Mount eyehooks into ceiling studs slightly wider than width of top (Drill pilot holes first)
- Hook rear tiedowns to ceiling eyehooks and rear bottom lip of Jeep top
- Hook front tiedowns to ceiling eyehooks and ends together under front section of Jeep top
- Suck her up to the ceiling
- use small amounts (4") at each tiedown, I find front / back until half way up, then switch sides and repeat
For the rear hooks at the bottom rear lip of the top, I open these up so I can use a 1" x 6" long piece of wooden dowelling to spread the weight across the 6"s. For the front, I just throw a little foam between the top and the straps once I have her at the ceiling.
When connecting the front straps together , remember to go OVER the rollcage, else she will seem REALLY heavy to lift.
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When connecting the front straps together , remember to go OVER the rollcage, else she will seem REALLY heavy to lift.
Did you learn that the hard way ? ;D
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When connecting the front straps together , remember to go OVER the rollcage, else she will seem REALLY heavy to lift. [/quote] Oh man! I did that a few years ago. wrecked a strap because I have a habit of forcing things ::) I don't have a photo of my set-up. I just back up under the hooks, loosed the top and lift with ratchet straps. I protect the contact points with bits of wooden corner moulding. I string a rope under it just in case
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I followed this guys writeup, however instead of the metal rod, I used 2x4's. Note that the pictures aren't of mine.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Outtafocus/Jeeps%20and%20Stuff/Jeep%20Projects/hartopstorageplans.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Outtafocus/Jeeps%20and%20Stuff/Jeep%20Projects/MVC-504F.jpg)
I used steel cable, 8 eye bolts, 4 little pulley's, 7 cable clamps, a couple of longer 2x4's and 4 small 18" 2x4's across the roof rafters in the attic to make sure I had it up there right, and a worm gear pulley that will hold the weight of the top x 10 and takes no effort to get it up there. It does however take alot of turns. I can't remember the exact cost, but I think it was about $80.
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I followed this guys writeup, however instead of the metal rod, I used 2x4's. Note that the pictures aren't of mine.(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Outtafocus/Jeeps%20and%20Stuff/Jeep%20Projects/hartopstorageplans.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Outtafocus/Jeeps%20and%20Stuff/Jeep%20Projects/MVC-504F.jpg)I used steel cable, 8 eye bolts, 4 little pulley's, 7 cable clamps, a couple of longer 2x4's and 4 small 18" 2x4's across the roof rafters in the attic to make sure I had it up there right, and a worm gear pulley that will hold the weight of the top x 10 and takes no effort to get it up there. It does however take alot of turns. I can't remember the exact cost, but I think it was about $80.
Nice set-up. If I reworked mine, I'd do it much like this. I'd make my winch power it though ;)
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Finally got around to hanging my top...probably about 30-40 bucks all said and done, but you it could be done cheaper. Built it as a full frame so I could use as a shelf as well.
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i54/fony3/Hard%20Top%20Hanger/IMG_1453.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i54/fony3/Hard%20Top%20Hanger/IMG_1456.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i54/fony3/Hard%20Top%20Hanger/IMG_1457.jpg)