Power hard top hoist for @ $150.00 !
11-27-2012, 09:01 AM
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Power hard top hoist for @ $150.00 !
The following is a parts list and pics from building my own hoist. I have low ceilings in my garage due to second floor. This system would work better if I could double line to slow the speed down with another pulley. It hangs too low if I do.
Here is the hoist. 220/440 lbs from Northern tool. Purchased online for $89.
Controller with brake
1 inch square tube welded with braces $28 for steal and welding at steal supply yard ( not Home Depot / prices are way too high)
Mounted winch to top plate with pre drilled holes for 3 inch lag bolts lower bolts in studs. Had to do a little drilling on drilled steel for bolts to fit in holes. Mounted winch to steel prior to mounting on wall with included hardware.
T bar is 66 inches wide and 44 inches long. Drilled holes for 3/8x24 inch threaded rod that I inserted into 3/8 inner diameter pump hose to protect top. I bent thread rod on a vice into j hooks approx 4 inches wide. I measured drop to fit then used nylon lock nuts to secure and cut tops off so I wouldn't poke hole in ceiling. Front hooks are @ 9 1/2 inches long and rear hook is 11. Rear must be longer for window opening in back.
Finished j hook
All hardware required was around $55. I used construction brackets in ceiling to mount 4x4 post section between studs and drilled it for hardened steel eye bolt for hanging included pulley. It will support about three times what the hoist will lift. The two inch eye bolt on the t bar is drilled at 27 inches from front and is well balanced from front to back. I have noticed that I have to offset to driver side in back about 4 inches from center to account for extra weight of rear wiper motor. I then covered t bar with pipe insulation to protect top.
Happy building ! Hope this helps someone. If you have ?s just pm me and I will help anyway I can, but not pay for it!!!! LOL
Here is the hoist. 220/440 lbs from Northern tool. Purchased online for $89.
Controller with brake
1 inch square tube welded with braces $28 for steal and welding at steal supply yard ( not Home Depot / prices are way too high)
Mounted winch to top plate with pre drilled holes for 3 inch lag bolts lower bolts in studs. Had to do a little drilling on drilled steel for bolts to fit in holes. Mounted winch to steel prior to mounting on wall with included hardware.
T bar is 66 inches wide and 44 inches long. Drilled holes for 3/8x24 inch threaded rod that I inserted into 3/8 inner diameter pump hose to protect top. I bent thread rod on a vice into j hooks approx 4 inches wide. I measured drop to fit then used nylon lock nuts to secure and cut tops off so I wouldn't poke hole in ceiling. Front hooks are @ 9 1/2 inches long and rear hook is 11. Rear must be longer for window opening in back.
Finished j hook
All hardware required was around $55. I used construction brackets in ceiling to mount 4x4 post section between studs and drilled it for hardened steel eye bolt for hanging included pulley. It will support about three times what the hoist will lift. The two inch eye bolt on the t bar is drilled at 27 inches from front and is well balanced from front to back. I have noticed that I have to offset to driver side in back about 4 inches from center to account for extra weight of rear wiper motor. I then covered t bar with pipe insulation to protect top.
Happy building ! Hope this helps someone. If you have ?s just pm me and I will help anyway I can, but not pay for it!!!! LOL
12-05-2012, 04:45 AM
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I'm guessing that the two hooks on the same bar go on the back part of the hard top, on either side of the rear window. Is this correct? That puts only one support in the front center of the hard top. Do you store your hard top on the hoist, just hanging there? Or do you just use it as a lift, then store is somewhere else? I ask this because I'd like to just store my hard top in the air, on the hoist, but I'd think the the lone center support on the front of the hard top would create too much stress in one point...
Either way, great job! I'd like to see pics of it action.
Either way, great job! I'd like to see pics of it action.
12-07-2012, 12:56 PM
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No, the two hooks go to forward section at rear doors of my jku. Single hook sets down between open rear window and top to hook hardtop.
A little cold right now but I will try to show pick pretty soon of the attached bracket and lift. I leave top on it hoist in garage but do ancoer one corner to another hook on ceiling to keep wind from spinning it around when garage is open. That was not in write up, I found I needed to do that when wind picks up around my house.
A little cold right now but I will try to show pick pretty soon of the attached bracket and lift. I leave top on it hoist in garage but do ancoer one corner to another hook on ceiling to keep wind from spinning it around when garage is open. That was not in write up, I found I needed to do that when wind picks up around my house.
Last edited by Dbmoorejr; 12-07-2012 at 01:00 PM.
12-10-2012, 07:46 AM
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Side view
Hook on rear between glass and top
Rear door open hook in place
Top view of bracket in place hooked to hoist and actually lifting jeep a bit because bolts are still installed.
Important note!!!!!!!! Rear hook should be offset to driver side from center about 3 to 4 inches to balance. It will not move once there so one hook is plenty. You have to do this for extra weight of rear wiper motor assembly.
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12-16-2012, 05:10 PM
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Here it is hanging.
Support hook is mounted dead center of side window. This is perfect for front to back balance.
This is how I park and I have no doubt of the strength of this hoist. I have friends who use same hoist for engines and leave them in the air for days at a time. Those are mounted just like mine.
Support hook is mounted dead center of side window. This is perfect for front to back balance.
This is how I park and I have no doubt of the strength of this hoist. I have friends who use same hoist for engines and leave them in the air for days at a time. Those are mounted just like mine.
Last edited by Dbmoorejr; 12-16-2012 at 05:15 PM.
12-20-2012, 06:44 PM
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The doors are on bike hooks ( see left pick in above post) and have stick on 2 1/2 inch trailer mirror on air vents. Flip them around you have mirrors flip them back and you don't !!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes mirrors on vents are legal. My neighbor is Tx DPS.
2 1/2 inch stick on trailer mirrors at Walmart for $3.99.
And yes mirrors on vents are legal. My neighbor is Tx DPS.
2 1/2 inch stick on trailer mirrors at Walmart for $3.99.
Last edited by Dbmoorejr; 12-20-2012 at 06:49 PM.