That could work if I had any friends:sad:

I like the strap ideals that others have suggested but I already have crank and cable and I want to be able to lower to the floor because I am planning on building a wooden "box" with wheels so I can roll it out to the shed. There is just not enough room in the garage and I want something I can do alone.

I sent an email to the Lange hoist a top and they said that the 2dr still hooks in from the front but the hooks are different then the 4dr, so I am going to try to fab some hooks up this weekend.

 

it's not so much how to lift the thing, bigger problem is how to store it in a garage which is a single car width, the trolleys that i've seen take up too much room so some sort of hoist would be ideal or just straps coming down from the ceiling to hold the top in the air above the front of the car leaving the floor space clear below

 

Here's my 2 Dr hard top hoist. I can put the 2x4 under the rear and, then just hook the front ratchet strap hooks on the edge of the hard top. I then lift it about 6 inches and drive out from under it. Once I'm out from under it, I hook the front 2x4 up to the ratchet straps and lift it up high enough to park under.
I also store my freedom top pieces here too.

 

I finally built the classic T bar design and the hooks will go straight back in the front near the outer edges. For now I just used bicycle hooks from Home Depot that I bent to work run through the brace and then screwed into a small piece of redwood. Not the best solution but it works for now until I can come up with some better hooks.

First day without the top, went wheeling, had fun, and then went for a burger and a beer. In a mater of an hour we were there it clouded up and dumped an inch of rain, got to love New Mexico this time of year. So now I have all the carpet and drain plugs out, I think I will just leave it out for the summer and put it back when the top goes back on.

 

Use a strap with this type of hook for the front. It works great. The s type hooks worried me, felt like they would eventually crack the lip. Hope you can see them well enough. The ones in the front are those flatter type hooks you see on alot of the ratchet straps.

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We make simple and safe systems for removing, storing and replacing both the 2 and 4 door hardtops. The harnesses are just slightly different but each make it possible just one person to safely handle the hardtops. www.removabletops.com

 

i dont know about you guys but i drive a 4door and i do it all manually. from the doors to the top i get it done in under 10 mins. sitting in the back with my legs hanging out the back i just lock my elbows and push up, then walk away. granted i built a stand that i just walk up to and put the top on. i just didnt see the need to spend the money on any of that stuff. get ur hands dirty!

 

I can get my hands dirty with the best of them. But, for some of us, our strengths lye in other areas.

 

Like building your own hoist isn't getting your hands dirty? I second the ratchet straps with a 2x4 support, cost me $25 for everything... way less than you're gonna spend on a chiropractor in a couple years. Hope you don't drop it.

 

I put a 4x4x8 post in the attic and looped a chain around it. Then attached 2 pulleys at the top and one at the hard top so the rope doubles back on itself, halving the effort required to lift it. I used ropes that together rated for what I think the hard top weighs. The loops at the ends of the ropes are hooked onto single chain links that unscrew when you need to put the top on. You should be able to see where the ropes go from the pictures. So far its worked pretty well. Takes maybe 15 minutes to get the top off. Most of that is lining the Jeep up under the hoist and getting the ropes under the top.