Hard Top hoist
08-13-2013, 01:32 PM
#11
JK Freak
Take a look at my Hardtop hoist/storage write-up thread. I opted for a little more beefy setup than ratchet straps. It's an easy on - easy off solution and provides great storage for the top and panels.
08-13-2013, 05:44 PM
#12
Super Moderator
Running the Harken strap from the door area through the tailgate is an unpleasant experience? It takes less than a minute!
And, I would rather have 4 mounting points in the ceiling than just one for safety reasons. Plus, there's much less chance of the top rotating around as it's being raised or lowered.
And, I would rather have 4 mounting points in the ceiling than just one for safety reasons. Plus, there's much less chance of the top rotating around as it's being raised or lowered.
Your mileage may vary. Yes, it's an unpleasant experience, one that I rather not have to deal with. If it takes you less than a minute, that's great also. It doesn't take me anytime, because I don't have to do it with the hoist I got, so that's one less minute for me and one less hassle to deal with.Don't give yourself a false sense of security with that 4 mounting point theory. One of those points breaks and your entire top still comes crashing down and the last I checked, steal cable that the Lange hoist uses is still stronger than fabric straps. If it wasn't, then we would all be winding our winches with fabric straps instead of steal cable.
Last edited by Rednroll; 08-13-2013 at 06:07 PM.
08-13-2013, 05:50 PM
#13
Super Moderator
the top definitely wants to rotate with the lange. it's easy enough to guide by finger touch though. when stored, you'll need to add some straps to something to keep it from rotating. I don't have that problem since I have a 12 ft garage ceiling and already had a wood frame to set mine on after it's hoisted up from when I stored my Bronco steel tops. the two straps you see were used to keep it straight while I was pulling the JK out and putting the wood supports in.
Attachment 487952
Attachment 487952
Last edited by Rednroll; 08-13-2013 at 06:28 PM.
08-18-2013, 06:39 AM
#14
JK Newbie
Join Date: May 2013
Location: new mexico
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I have an 8' ceiling so space is tight. I have a strong garage door frame that's just wide enough to use a couple of ratchet straps. It's a 2 door garage with 2 single sized doors. At first I ran 2 2x4's across with holes on each end to thread my straps thru. That worked ok. Now I just run my straps in an X pattern and since I didn't have 2 that were long enough I had to use 4 total which makes it much smoother. The wood beams would conflict with the spare and the X let's me get the tip floating and I can drive out without a fight. The 4 ratchets let's me raise all 4 corners up nice and even.
09-22-2013, 10:03 AM
#15
I used 2 on my 2 door, now use 3 (one for the rear window) on my 4 door to compensate for more weight towards the rear.
Have had my top off for almost a month before with zero ill effects.
What I do is lift it up about 2" higher than stock, then just drive out.
To put it back on, i just back it in under the harddtop, then let a little slack out on each strap, and it falls right back into place.
Have had my top off for almost a month before with zero ill effects.
What I do is lift it up about 2" higher than stock, then just drive out.
To put it back on, i just back it in under the harddtop, then let a little slack out on each strap, and it falls right back into place.
How is this working out for you with two straps? Im using four hooked to each corner but was thinking to do it this way.
09-22-2013, 10:50 AM
#17
JK Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Morrisville, NC
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I just re-did my hoist/storage setup in my garage last week. No pictures yet but I will post. There are several components to the system.
1. Brake Winch I got at Northern Tool. Hand crank with rope on it is fine by me. This is bolted to the garage wall centered below #3.
2. A "sled" that I built out of 2x6, carpeted, that lays on the top. It's got a piece of the drilled L-Channel steel down the center and 4 eye hooks. Think of this like the letter "H" with the eye hooks on each corner. 2 ratchet straps crank this sled down to the top anchoring to the 4 eye hooks.
3. Garage ceiling has 4 2x4's bolted to the joists. The joists run lengthwise in my garage and the 2x4's run across the garage, 2 foot apart (so the 4 are a total of 6 foot spaced). Across these I have 3 pieces of the steel L-Channel lengthwise - one in the middle and one on either side offset by 36". These are bolted into each of the 2x4's.
Brake winch line is run up the wall across the ceiling and down some pulleys off the center L-channel. I can adjust the hoist point to make sure that my glass doesn't hit the back wall using the different holes on the L-Channel.
I hoist the top just off the Jeep and then move the Jeep out of the garage. I have 2 pieces of 2x6 that I bolt to the top using the mounting holes that bolt it to the bed of the Jeep. These run across the top and have eye hooks on the ends.
Once the 2x6's are in place I hoist the top as high as I want and use chains off the 2x6's to the other L-Channels on the ceiling making 4 anchor points. Yes if one fails it's going to make the top fall in one corner but the other 3 will hold (don't ask me how I know). Once the chains are in place I unweight the brake winch and relax the ratchet straps to take the pressure off the window seal and close the window. All the weight is on the chains now.
Then I take the freedom panels and lay them on the 2x6's.
David
1. Brake Winch I got at Northern Tool. Hand crank with rope on it is fine by me. This is bolted to the garage wall centered below #3.
2. A "sled" that I built out of 2x6, carpeted, that lays on the top. It's got a piece of the drilled L-Channel steel down the center and 4 eye hooks. Think of this like the letter "H" with the eye hooks on each corner. 2 ratchet straps crank this sled down to the top anchoring to the 4 eye hooks.
3. Garage ceiling has 4 2x4's bolted to the joists. The joists run lengthwise in my garage and the 2x4's run across the garage, 2 foot apart (so the 4 are a total of 6 foot spaced). Across these I have 3 pieces of the steel L-Channel lengthwise - one in the middle and one on either side offset by 36". These are bolted into each of the 2x4's.
Brake winch line is run up the wall across the ceiling and down some pulleys off the center L-channel. I can adjust the hoist point to make sure that my glass doesn't hit the back wall using the different holes on the L-Channel.
I hoist the top just off the Jeep and then move the Jeep out of the garage. I have 2 pieces of 2x6 that I bolt to the top using the mounting holes that bolt it to the bed of the Jeep. These run across the top and have eye hooks on the ends.
Once the 2x6's are in place I hoist the top as high as I want and use chains off the 2x6's to the other L-Channels on the ceiling making 4 anchor points. Yes if one fails it's going to make the top fall in one corner but the other 3 will hold (don't ask me how I know). Once the chains are in place I unweight the brake winch and relax the ratchet straps to take the pressure off the window seal and close the window. All the weight is on the chains now.
Then I take the freedom panels and lay them on the 2x6's.
David