Hardtop hoist/storage write-up
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Conifer, Colorado
The track is just Stanley "barn door" track.
.stanleyhardware.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=HDW+BARN+BOX+TR ACK"]http://www.stanleyhardware.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=HDW+BARN+BOX+TR ACK
And I used the non-apron hangers:
The pictures are direct links to Stanley.
I found them by calling a garage door repair place and they told me in Denver that a hardware store named "Murdochs" sells them - so I got the track (10 foot), roller hangers, and 6 brackets.
The deciding factor on the box track was of course the direction of the joices in the garage. Luckily mine worked for what I wanted. I found, when I took the ceiling drywall off, that I had the oirented fiberboard manmade joices, and not good solid 2x8 or 2x10 material
- so I made a "cradle" that spanned between both joices and is totally solid 
.
The hoist is a Northern Tools hoist (but they are very generic made by one company for a lot of resellers I *think*)
northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_120327_120327"]http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_120327_120327
It "becomes" 440lb when you "double" the cable (meaning hook the cable back to the hoist and use the trolley that comes with it). This helps to slow it down but these hoists are very jerky and move fast.
The factory expects you to mount the hoist on a round steel pipe or something, but I was trying to get it as close to the ceiling as possible so I took advantage of the spare channel strut I had left over after making the cradle for the top - and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
And more pictures at: http://gallery.rennlist.com/gallery/JeepTop
.stanleyhardware.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=HDW+BARN+BOX+TR ACK"]http://www.stanleyhardware.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=HDW+BARN+BOX+TR ACK
And I used the non-apron hangers:
The pictures are direct links to Stanley.
I found them by calling a garage door repair place and they told me in Denver that a hardware store named "Murdochs" sells them - so I got the track (10 foot), roller hangers, and 6 brackets.
The deciding factor on the box track was of course the direction of the joices in the garage. Luckily mine worked for what I wanted. I found, when I took the ceiling drywall off, that I had the oirented fiberboard manmade joices, and not good solid 2x8 or 2x10 material
- so I made a "cradle" that spanned between both joices and is totally solid .The hoist is a Northern Tools hoist (but they are very generic made by one company for a lot of resellers I *think*)
northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_120327_120327"]http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_120327_120327
It "becomes" 440lb when you "double" the cable (meaning hook the cable back to the hoist and use the trolley that comes with it). This helps to slow it down but these hoists are very jerky and move fast.
The factory expects you to mount the hoist on a round steel pipe or something, but I was trying to get it as close to the ceiling as possible so I took advantage of the spare channel strut I had left over after making the cradle for the top - and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
And more pictures at: http://gallery.rennlist.com/gallery/JeepTop
Last edited by mkjeep; Sep 26, 2009 at 08:34 PM. Reason: no non sponsor links
. Here's my version that I just finished today:
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland, Fl
Last edited by Bub; Aug 17, 2010 at 02:41 PM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Sedona, AZ
How to prevent spinning
So I finished my hoist this weekend using HG07JKRubi's original design. It works great except one problem. When I lift the top off the Jeep it immediately wants to spin and do a 180 degree turn. I verified that there is no twist in the ropes or pullies and made sure that the T-bar is centered properly. This makes it a heck of a lot harder to do as a one-person job since I now have to have someone hold the top in position while I drive in/out from it. Any suggestions?
Thread Starter
JK Junkie
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown, PA
So I finished my hoist this weekend using HG07JKRubi's original design. It works great except one problem. When I lift the top off the Jeep it immediately wants to spin and do a 180 degree turn. I verified that there is no twist in the ropes or pullies and made sure that the T-bar is centered properly. This makes it a heck of a lot harder to do as a one-person job since I now have to have someone hold the top in position while I drive in/out from it. Any suggestions?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Sedona, AZ
Final pics
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 888
Likes: 1
From: Mt. Pleasant, SC
So I finished my hoist this weekend using HG07JKRubi's original design. It works great except one problem. When I lift the top off the Jeep it immediately wants to spin and do a 180 degree turn. I verified that there is no twist in the ropes or pullies and made sure that the T-bar is centered properly. This makes it a heck of a lot harder to do as a one-person job since I now have to have someone hold the top in position while I drive in/out from it. Any suggestions?
Switch to braided rope & this will decrease substantially.
Thread Starter
JK Junkie
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown, PA
Your photos look like you are using twisted rope (regular rope). As the rope stretches it tries to untwist a bit, causing suspended loads to spin. The same thing happens with wire rope (steel cable), but the top is so much smaller than the rating of the wire rope that it is not stretching much.
Switch to braided rope & this will decrease substantially.
Switch to braided rope & this will decrease substantially.