I can't speak to the glass issue, as I can't open it while it is on the platform. But I have a 2 door, and built a shelf that is 54" long and 72" wide. As it sits on the platform, I have about 2" in front, 2" in back, and about 4" extra on each side.

So I'm thinking the base of the hardtop is about 50" long (front to back) and about 64" wide.

My set-up is a bit different, as I have a winch hoist, that then slides back on barn door rollers to sit on the platform. So I need a touch more clearance between the hanging chains.

Not exactly what you asked, but in case it helps.

 

That helps and your set up is EXACTLY what I'm doing. I'm putting in a hoist (from Harbor Freight for $50 - great deal) on a track to move it to a permanent platform. I have a long garage with 11 foot ceilings, so I have the room to lift it in one place and push it back on to a platform. How do you lift it without opening the glass then?

 

Post #224 has a picture of mine, FYI. I back the Jeep in, open the tailgate, lift the glass, then close the tailgate again. I use motorcycle tie downs to hook the top to the winch. Winch the top up a few inches, then slide the top back on the rollers. About halfway, I need to close the window again. Slide it back to where it needs to be and then drop the top onto the platform.

 

I see. Unfortunately I can't do that. It will be too high up. The shelf will likely be at 7 feet in the air putting the top of he glass at about 9 feet. I don't have that kind of reach.

 

Thanks for your help. Two more questions, did you make the T-Bar the same dimensions as the original post? And if so, did you find you had extra bar hanging over or too little bar in any places? Are you attaching the hooks at the front on the inside like someone showed early on, or are you attaching them all the way at the edge? I would think al the way at the edge would put you outside the roll bars and able to lift it without the sound bar getting in the way.

 

As soon as the top is slid back far enough to clear the spare tire, the glass can be closed. Obviously, with my low ceilings, it isn't an issue to reach the glass. But nothing says the glass can't be closed after you lift it a couple inches and then slide it back about 15 inches (then lift it the rest of the way).

Heck, if you have that much clearance in the garage, you can just back the spare tire under the platform (maybe leave the tailgate open under it). Never even need to open the glass (except to put the motorcycle tie straps under the glass).

Using a T bar might make it more problematic (I think the glass needs to stay open), but motorcycle tie-downs would work fine as the glass can be closed over them. (I just wouldn't use the straps without having the platform as a more permanent resting place.)

I can picture it in my head, but probably didn't explain it very well. But sure you'll figure out what works best for you.

 

Aha. You're using Motorcycle tie straps. Got it. I'll look into that. Thanks!

 

I ended up doing something a little different. I didn't like the instability of having the t-bar hanging from one rope so I use three ropes, one near each end of the t-bar. I have eye-bolts in about a foot from each end of the t-bar and the winch hooks fasten to them. All three ropes go to the same hand winch. To secure the Jeep top to the t-bar I use a couple of tie-down ratchet straps. The ratchet straps hook to the rear eye-bolt of the t-bar, the straps than drop into the channel of the super-strut and wraps around the end of the super-strut, in between the Jeep top and the rear window glass, above the roll bar and out the door on each side. The ratchets hook to the eye-bolts on the two sides of the t-bar. The straps wrap around the end of the super-strut channels on the sides too. I dipped the ends in that tool handle plastic you can buy so the ratchet straps don't get tore up by the super-strut.

With the t-bar being supported closer to where the Jeep top attaches to the t-bar there is a lot less flex. Getting as much clearance as possible was important to me because I like to back the Jeep into the garage and the rear needs to fit under the platform. As it is I can't do that with the sunrider top open.

I am going to modify things a bit more so I can set the top on the platform (which is hanging by chains) and then remove the winch hooks from the t-bar and attach them to the platform so I can lift it even higher.

If anyone had any questions about this or would like to see pictures, let me know.

 

Has anyone done a hoist with engineered beams? I'm worried there isn't enough material to screw into, and I can't put boards above the joists as i have finished living space above the garage.

 

You need to install lumber stiffeners between two adjacent joists, then suspend the items from the stiffiners you installed.