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Author Topic: Hardtop Hoist  (Read 2900 times)

Greg_B

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Hardtop Hoist
« on: March 28, 2018, 03:02:55 PM »

The other thread got me going on this casue the top needs to come off soon.

Has anyone built or modified another brands hoist to lift and store the top.

It was easier when the son still lived in the area.  So my help is limited to some holidays and weekends  ::)


So my idea is to make a crossbar from 3/4" conduit, use straps at the front center and back center.  Probably make a bracket for the front to bolt to the mounting points, might do same for back center.

But the question is the cross bar underneath the back flat edge of the roof line, the back top corner of the window location?

Or bracket it underneath the side mounting spots?

Anyone have and idea where the center of gravity is on the hard top?


Thoughts or suggestions. (Getting volunteers is difficult)
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Greg

pilotlars

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Re: Hardtop Hoist
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2018, 02:01:19 PM »

I've given this some thought also. I pictured chains and pulleys on the garage ceiling. I attach the roof and lift it a bit, then drive the car away lol.
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Gaz

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Re: Hardtop Hoist
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2018, 02:41:24 PM »

I just push the seats forward, unbolt everything, sit in the back seat, and balance the top on my head to get it over to the rack I built for it to sit on. Seems goofy, but more efficient than most things I've thought of.
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Greg_B

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Re: Hardtop Hoist
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2018, 01:05:10 PM »

I did find a hoist system, but have to make it work.

May sound strange but where is the balance point for your head? 

Front to back direction.

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Greg

Rocketman

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Re: Hardtop Hoist
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2018, 11:06:35 PM »

I do the same thing as Gaz. You have to play with it a bit before leaving the car to find the balance point, it's not real hard, but it is awkward. The transition to the ground or other resting place is trickier.

It is not the task if you have a bad back.

There's been a handful of photos here over the years of folks who have built lift mechanisms into the ceiling/loft of their garages, unfortunately the photos are likely lost due to Photobucket's shenanigans :(
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"


Gaz

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Re: Hardtop Hoist
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2018, 09:25:05 AM »

I remember when photo-bucket was not a piece of hairy garbage, as does pepperidge farm.

I would design it with 1 4 ft section of 1" PVC inside the next size up, so it's adjustable, for the forward portion. With strong, coated metal brackets on the end to secure the underside and to not intrude into the space you need to mount it to the car.

[------======]

For the backside, I would use perhaps two shallow, flat hooks like that of a gun rack, to hold the rear. I had toyed with the idea of flush-mounting some high strength, semi hidden rope mounts or hooks into the blank quarter of the hardtop, but I haven't tried it yet.
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pilotlars

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Re: Hardtop Hoist
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2018, 07:51:21 PM »

LMAO!! Pepperidge Farms remembers...
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