I'm sure there will be lots of opinions. What specific brand of hoist, either electric or manual, works the best in the ceiling of your garage for a Wrangler Unlimited? I think I'd rather purchase a well thought out system rather than design my own at Home Depot.
You will get a lot of opinions, and realistically it comes down to your garage and your needs. For my garage and my needs, the Harken Hoist was a perfect option.
+1 for the Harken. I'm sure the other lifts recommended are also good, but the harken design which uses four eye bolts to support the weight of the top gives me more comfort than the single eyebolt many of the others use.
I bought my 2nd Lange Hoist-a-Top from 4wd.com .. Both have worked great. Sold my TJ and the Hoist. Just got a 15 JKUN and bought a new hoist. I bought the come along version, around $190, cheapest one. It works great in my garage. I have high ceilings in the garage and there was plenty of cable. Easy to assemble, took less than 1 hr to install. I am using it to store my hard top too.
Honestly, some pulleys and a boat trailer hand winch and you've got a system that's lots cheaper and way more robust than anything you can buy. I threw our hoist system together for around $100 and it works great. The trailer winch makes raising the top so easy that my kids can do it.
Do you have any pictures of your setup? I am wondering how to hold up the "front" portion of the top (I have an unlimited). Wondering if that will cause any stress to be on it if not supported
I use (and Love) the Harken. Why? Simplicity.
The install - Using it - the Moving parts...... ALL just a simple machine like we learned about in grade school.
The harbor freight hoist ascends and descends in very small increments. You can feather it by hitting the bottom several times or raise and lower by holding the button down. It works great
The Harken Hoist is really popular. The price is right and it just works! There are also 3 different Lange Hoists to choose from, from manual to powered. They seem to work really well also.
Let me know if you have any questions and I'll get you a quote!
Racor hoist is awesome. Also has a place for the freedom panels. I might redo the way I have the strap next time so my rear glass is down. Not sure if the current way will negatively effect the shocks.
Ordered my Racor through Homeless Depot this morning and got the additional 5% off with Discover card. Better ratchet straps at Lowe's it would appear that allows for more take up of excess strap. Rafters 48" spaced based on overnight measurements.
Oyster Farmer, do the freedom panels unbalance the hard top and ever slide off? Do you secure them with anything? Also, is it possible to use the Harken with a closed rear window? Can the straps exit under a closed window?
Agree with Rubi above. This set up is very stable and secure. No issues. I actually don't close the back window but others say there are no dramas with the window closed.
Racor with freedom panels stored on top rack. I will store the soft top and windows there during winter too. Either hand crank using the extended hand held pole or use the supplied fitting with a drill to raise and lower. Love this thing.
I went with the Power Lange Hoist version because of its simplicity setting up.
Mounted winch on wall and 2 eye hooks on a rafter and it was done.
This picture is not mine but it is the exact way I mounted mine.
Rob .....
The only thing you may run into is, Many of us use "pool noodle" sections on the straps where they contact the top (front and back, Four places) depending on whether you do this and how big your noodle is it may interfere with your rear glass closing.
You don't have to noodle your strap, some us just like to
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