Mine is similar to a lot of what has been posted. Super easy install. Cut a 2x4 into four foot long pieces. Anchored the 2x4 into the ceiling joists. Planned on doing a pulley system but didn't have enough clearance so anchored four tie down into the pulleys. All I have to do is reverse into the garage ratchet the tie downs to lift the hard top off the jeep.

 

Mine is in the works.....

Took me like 30 min to make and mount, run cables, etc...but i did so with out the jeep, will see how it works tomorrow....I did measrue and pick my center ceiling point on the roof rafters with the jeep in the garage first based on all the pics from this tread....

My wife took it and that gave me time work on making the lift.

The harbor freight worm gear hand winch ITEM # 5798 works well and is very smooth, but slow. I saw others posted that they are using this same one. I like the worm gear motion because its locked and wont fall at all. you can let go at any time and it wont drop....

its slow, but its smooth and steady and not worried if my wife tries or wants to do it her self.

-J

 

Nice work. If you add another eye bolt at the intersection you can store the "T" against the ceiling when you're not using it to hold the top. (It just helps balance it better on the way up.)

 

ah, good idea..

I was thinking of adding a very large magnet with a bolt hold in the middle, they sell magnets with bolt mounting holes.
Then using a steel plate magnet disc - work out bench disc, say 10 pound or whatever balances the Tee when lifting up with out the top.

Then I wanted to add magnets to each corner of the TEE to magnet to steel plates i strategically mount on the ceiling so that when it lifts, it self positions and holds.

Then thinking to have a nylon strap that hangs, that i can reach up and pull the TEE free from the magnetized plate points and then begin the lift process..

ideas, still working it out...

-J

 

Interesting thought to use magnets. Be sure to post pictures if you end up doing that.

 

yes, i will..

-J

 

Has anyone installed a hoist on a sloped ceiling?

 

Saving for later

 

This is the second incarnation of this hoist. In our previous house, the garage ceiling wasn't finished so it was mounted on top of the trusses. I reconfigured the bracket to mount on the drywall ceiling.

 

[QUOTE=HG07JKRubi;448796]I hear ya bobzinger, these are good questions that aren't obvious from the pictures in the write-up. As far as the balance point you should be using a channel nuts for two reasons on the T-gusset and eye bolt connections ...

1. These can be tightened anywhere along the channel without having to go all the way through the holes on the opposite side of the channel. They literally slide along the channel.

2. the bolts won't protrude through the other side of the channel which would easily scratch your top. See this picture below for an example of a channel nut used on the T-gusset plate... I measured the balance point on mine and the eye bolt ends up 20 1/4" from the T connection which may or may not be lined up with one of the holes in the channel. Click HERE for the channel nut, I actually got mine in bags of 5 at Home Depot.


And as far as testing the balance point for the first time, I just had the top on the ground and lifted it slightly to see how it was balanced until I got it right ...


Also you can see below how the T-bar lays flush on the top since there are no bolts coming through the bottom of the bar:


As far as the hooks go, they are all removed from the t-bar at first. First lay the T-Bar on the roof (make sure it's wrapped in foam insulation so you don't scratch the top). Then insert the hooks through the channel holes and install the washers and nut on each hook. You can hand tighten or tighten with a wrench, you just want them tight enough so the hook doesn't spin out of place. See picture below of hook installationWh