Hard Top removal - ALONE!
04-11-2019, 04:34 PM
#162
Anyone have a video removing their top with the shelf method?
Looks like great idea, I am curious how to fit myself in between the Jeep the shelf and remove the top without hitting the tailgate and spare tire by myself using this method, a video of this in action would be helpful since this looks tight?
Last edited by Fjeep; 04-11-2019 at 06:31 PM.
04-11-2019, 05:15 PM
#163
JK Jedi
I've seen this thread in the past. This kind of structure is not even comparable to having some sort of hoist in the garage, BUT, I realize not everyone has a garage, much less that they can mount a hoist to. What I really like about this thread is I see a lot of you folks, who might not otherwise, getting that damn top off and enjoying your jeeps the way they should be! 
04-12-2019, 05:36 AM
#164
Super Moderator
I did something like this a few years ago. The plan was to have it mobile so I could roll it out to the Jeep, get the top off and then roll it into a corner. It is on casters and it will roll, but I just leave it in place. I built it first and built the rest of my garage shelving and workbench around it. I still take the top off by myself and just walk it over. There are shelves built in and I ended up adding removable tops so special purpose tops could be dropped in. During the summer the hard top sits there but it the winter it's nice to have the extra space. A vehicle will fit in front of it too so no loss of the bay.
I didn't build a hoist because my garage ceiling isn't all that high, and it's two layers of drywall with metal channel in between which makes it challenging to do ceiling mounted stuff for a number of reasons.
I didn't build a hoist because my garage ceiling isn't all that high, and it's two layers of drywall with metal channel in between which makes it challenging to do ceiling mounted stuff for a number of reasons.
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Fjeep (04-12-2019)
06-01-2022, 01:14 PM
#166
JK Newbie
Here's an easy way to get the Hard Top off by yourself. This is for those of us without garages or carports for hoists and pulleys...
A couple of assumptions:
1. You don't have a bad back.
2. You can lift 100 lbs over your head.
3. Doing this wrong can lead to bad things (dropped top, scratched paint, bad back or knees, etc.)
With that out of the way...
First I built a table the same height as the top of the tailgate using 4x4 legs, 2x12 tabletops, and 2x4 cross braces.
I went 6" longer/wider than the top in any direction. Also the U-shape allows plenty of room to manipulate the top:
I added a caster to the rear of the back leg, about an inch off the ground.
This makes it easy to tilt the table back and roll around.
I painted the top and edges with a Plastic Coating paint. Weather protection and a little protection against rubbing...
Backed up the Jeep to the table:
I got in the back of the Jeep and facing the rear. I get on my knees and find the balance point of the top with my hands spread as far as possible without losing lifting strength.
Practice the lift, this is where the scratches or dropping could happen.
I lift and move the top toward the table a few inches at a time:
Watch the "posts" as you move to the rear. That part of the top is wider than the rear, so scratching and/or losing the balance of the top is possible.
When more of the Hardtop is on the table than on the Jeep, I "climb" into the middle of the U-shaped table and lift to the final resting spot. Climbing in is easy due to the wide areas between cross braces.
When done the top should have 6" on all sides.
This will also make it easy to clean the interior of the top, etc...
Wood logic: 2x4's are not 2"x4", now for some measurements...
The U-Shaped "table top" is 2x12's (1.5"x 11.25") :
(2) sides - 48" long
(1) back - 48.5" long (probably could have done another 48", but that's how it worked out)
back measurement = 71" across the "bottom of the U" (11.25" + 48.5" + 11.25")
(4) legs - 44.5" tall (this dependes on your tailgate height!) 44.5+1.5"top=46"tall
The legs are "centered" on the top. Approx 4" (3.87"exact) from the edges.
The 2x4 braces lengths are dependant on your leg placement. And the angled pieces can be just about any length as long as they are cut to a 45 degree...
Most importantly, Gunner approves!
A couple of assumptions:
1. You don't have a bad back.
2. You can lift 100 lbs over your head.
3. Doing this wrong can lead to bad things (dropped top, scratched paint, bad back or knees, etc.)
With that out of the way...
First I built a table the same height as the top of the tailgate using 4x4 legs, 2x12 tabletops, and 2x4 cross braces.
I went 6" longer/wider than the top in any direction. Also the U-shape allows plenty of room to manipulate the top:
I added a caster to the rear of the back leg, about an inch off the ground.
This makes it easy to tilt the table back and roll around.
I painted the top and edges with a Plastic Coating paint. Weather protection and a little protection against rubbing...
Backed up the Jeep to the table:
I got in the back of the Jeep and facing the rear. I get on my knees and find the balance point of the top with my hands spread as far as possible without losing lifting strength.
Practice the lift, this is where the scratches or dropping could happen.
I lift and move the top toward the table a few inches at a time:
Watch the "posts" as you move to the rear. That part of the top is wider than the rear, so scratching and/or losing the balance of the top is possible.
When more of the Hardtop is on the table than on the Jeep, I "climb" into the middle of the U-shaped table and lift to the final resting spot. Climbing in is easy due to the wide areas between cross braces.
When done the top should have 6" on all sides.
This will also make it easy to clean the interior of the top, etc...
Wood logic: 2x4's are not 2"x4", now for some measurements...
The U-Shaped "table top" is 2x12's (1.5"x 11.25") :
(2) sides - 48" long
(1) back - 48.5" long (probably could have done another 48", but that's how it worked out)
back measurement = 71" across the "bottom of the U" (11.25" + 48.5" + 11.25")
(4) legs - 44.5" tall (this dependes on your tailgate height!) 44.5+1.5"top=46"tall
The legs are "centered" on the top. Approx 4" (3.87"exact) from the edges.
The 2x4 braces lengths are dependant on your leg placement. And the angled pieces can be just about any length as long as they are cut to a 45 degree...
Most importantly, Gunner approves!