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How I managed the one-man hardtop removal

80K views 32 replies 27 participants last post by  GABHANN 
#1 ·
I just got done removing the hardtop from my Jeep yesterday by myself with no straps/winches/rope. Seems impossible, unless you do a little work.

I started by removing the rear glass. The rear glass has quite a bit of weight and removing it would definitely make removing the roof easier.

1: Disconnect the wires that connect to the rear glass. This includes the wires for the heating elements and the harness for the wiper motor. To remove the wires for the heating elements, just pull them straight off. They snap on/off. To remove the harness and hose, pull off the cover over the motor. It's held by clips and comes off easily by just pulling it off. Undo the harness and remove the hose.

2: Disconnect the shock absorbers. I didn't have the right size tool for removing them from the roof, so I had to remove them from the glass. Easy, as just some quick work with the wrench takes them off. Fasten the nuts back onto the glass so you don't lose them after the shocks are removed.

3: Unscrew the four bolts that fasten the glass to the roof. To make this step easier, just unscrew ONE bolt from each side completely, then unscrew the other bolt from each side 90%. This way you won't be holding up the heavy glass very long when one side is disconnected.

4: With the glass removed, unscrew the six bolts that hold the roof to the body.

5: Place some towels on the ground behind your Jeep. This is where we will be placing the roof. You can also wedge some towels between the roof and the body if you want to prevent scratches. I did this.

6: Here comes the fun part. With the rear hatch closed, lift the roof off its pegs and slide it backwards until it almost reaches its tipping point. Be VERY careful as to not let the roof slide too far to the left or right, as it will slip off and could destroy your roof. Slowly let the roof tilt backwards and grab the roof from the frontal lip with your "weak" hand and the rear lip with your "strong" hand. Continuing this sliding motion, let gravity slide the roof until it's completely off, then softly place the bottom rear lip on the towel and let the roof lean back so it's sitting vertically.

All done! Hop in your Jeep and enjoy being exposed to the elements!
 

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#29 ·
Did my JK that way twice but after a failed one man put on, I never tried that again and convinced me I needed a soft top
 
#3 ·
kjeeper10 said:
I removed my Tj top myself "once" lol

I squatted in the rear facing out. Lifted the top and walked off the back. All while balancing the top with both my hands.
Then sat on my rear and laid flat on my back, sat the top down and done.

Never again lol
Lol. I did something very similar with my hardtop. I'll never do it again.
 
#4 ·
Taking the glass off will make it easier. I use a couple closet dowel rods, two 2x4's and a set of saw horses. Pull out of garage, undo mechanical connections, roll it almost all the way back, onto the 2x4's. (you gotta lift over the alignment pins) While the front balances on the dowel, set sawhorse and block it up a hair. Drive out. Not easy, but possible.
 
#5 ·
I found that taking my hard top off myself was much easier than removing my soft top... more brawn then brain I guess
I would just squat underneath it and stand up a bit and duck walk on or off the back of my unlimited
 
#6 ·
mattr said:
I found that taking my hard top off myself was much easier than removing my soft top... more brawn then brain I guess
I would just squat underneath it and stand up a bit and duck walk on or off the back of my unlimited
X2


I took my TJ top off all the time by myself. I'm too lazy to do the weight reduction. I unscrewed the locks, open the tail gate, clump inside, stand up with top on my head, walk off back of Jeep. Granted off your lifted more then I was you will need steps. A great step idea would be the steps they sell to get on to a horse. They are solid and not crazy expensive and easily manageable.. They can be purchased at any tractor supply store.
 
#11 ·
Dang, I was hoping it was easier to do this alone. I tend to go "off the grid" for weeks at a time and I don't have a soft top. I hate trying to find someone to help me take the whole thing off and then put it back on when a storm starts a-brewing.

Duck walk? Like Chuck Berry or Angus Young?
 
#12 ·
I just throw a blanket or some carpeting over forks on my front end loader and remove all hardware from top, open back window, run forks in, then lift off and have a special spot in my pole building to set the top. When I put the top back on, I lay a couple of 1X4's across the tub, then set the top on the 1X4's until it is lined up, then remove boards and VOILA!! Then re-attach all hardware!! Practically effotless!!:dance:
 
#31 ·
I did it that way also when I got my TJ way back in 03. It was kind of a PITA and I never put it back on so I sold it. Hated the hard top. Didn't even get one for the JK.

Years ago I had an 81 Bronco and the top removed the same way as a hardtop Jeep. It was about twice as big as the TJ's but it was definitely easier than the Jeep to remove that way. Or maybe I was just younger.:whistling:
 
#15 ·
Did mine solo as well, removed front freedom pannels undid the 6 bolts, unplugged harness then with rear door open just muscled it up a couple of inches and walked it off. Have to watch out for the spare tire though. I set it on a couple of half shelves I have that stand about 36" and placed moving blankets on them to protect the base of the top.
Car Vehicle Furniture Room Automotive exterior


Land vehicle Vehicle Car Jeep Motor vehicle
 
#17 ·
I've done it once by myself after I youtubed it and watched some vids. Seems like most who do it with ease are about 6' tall. Me - 5'10" and it's a PITA!

I did the squat in the back, lift, walk out a bit. Balance it and get out of the Jeep,...military press and squat....lightly set it on the ground. Then calmly say F-THAT...NEVER AGAIN. As your shoulders, thighs and nerves slowly uncoil.
 
#18 ·
I've done it once by myself after I youtubed it and watched some vids. Seems like most who do it with ease are about 6' tall. Me - 5'10" and it's a PITA!

I did the squat in the back, lift, walk out a bit. Balance it and get out of the Jeep,...military press and squat....lightly set it on the ground. The calmly say F-THAT...NEVER AGAIN. As your shoulders, thighs and nerves slowly uncoil.
6'2" here, yeah if she sat any higher it would be hard doing myself.
 
#19 ·
:whistling: I got one up on you boys. I'm 5'4", and weigh about 115 soaking wet. I needed to get the hardtop off hubby's Rubi so I could go pick up his new soft top. I backed it up to my 2009 Cummins that I traded in last month for the Gecko, climbed into the Rubi and spent the next 30 minutes walking that thing into the truck bed.

Multiple people drove by me while I did this, and I'm pretty sure I created much laughing all around. But I got it done all by my wittle self.:rofl:

But now hubby comes home from deployment in a week and his Rubi is ready to go for one very fun summer.:punk:
 
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#25 ·
:whistling: I got one up on you boys. I'm 5'4", and weigh about 115 soaking wet. I needed to get the hardtop off hubby's Rubi so I could go pick up his new soft top. I backed it up to my 2009 Cummins that I traded in last month for the Gecko, climbed into the Rubi and spent the next 30 minutes walking that thing into the truck bed.

Multiple people drove by me while I did this, and I'm pretty sure I created much laughing all around. But I got it done all by my wittle self.:rofl:

But now hubby comes home from deployment in a week and his Rubi is ready to go for one very fun summer.:punk:
Impressive! I'm 6'0" and 205lbs. I would be afraid to try that myself. But then again, I'm 47 and I have bad knees.
 
#20 ·
Removing it by myself was easy. not fun but easy. Put putting it back on again, now that's another story
 
#21 ·
If you need to put it back on again, drop me a line. I don't mind to help someone out. When I took mine off, I kept thinking about all the things that would happen if I dropped it.

I made a u-shaped wooden contraption a little taller than the rails. All I have to do is pick it up an inch or two and slide the top back. The hardtop stays on it until I decide to put it back on.
 
#23 ·
Yeah, forgot to mention. You can of course take it off yourself. Putting it back on, unless it's on a rack, almost impossible.
 
#24 ·
snochick said:
:whistling: I got one up on you boys. I'm 5'4", and weigh about 115 soaking wet. I needed to get the hardtop off hubby's Rubi so I could go pick up his new soft top. I backed it up to my 2009 Cummins that I traded in last month for the Gecko, climbed into the Rubi and spent the next 30 minutes walking that thing into the truck bed.

Multiple people drove by me while I did this, and I'm pretty sure I created much laughing all around. But I got it done all by my wittle self.:rofl:

But now hubby comes home from deployment in a week and his Rubi is ready to go for one very fun summer.:punk:
This HITS on so many levels! awesome
 
#32 ·
I realize this is an old thread, but I did this myself last night and thought I would add my 2 cents.

I was able to remove the hard top on my JK by myself. It wasn't too bad, I just put several blankets down on the ground immediately behind the Jeep, undid the fasteners, and lifted the top slightly so that I could put some old bath towels between the hard top and the sides of the jeep, enabling me to slide it backward easily without damaging the paint.

Then with the gate fully open, I sat on the back edge of the interior facing out the rear of the jeep, closed the back glass, and slid the top foward carefully until it was near the balance point. Then I just lifted it with my head and two hands and walked a step or two before kneeling and setting it down on the blankets. It ended with me lying on the ground underneath the top and lifting the glass so I could crawl out from under it, but I was done.

It was heavy, but I'm not a strong guy (6'3", 200lbs) and I was able to carry it a couple of steps without an issue. From there, I just scooted it up onto a furniture dolly and rolled it into its storage location. You just have to be careful to keep it balanced, and to make sure the top is totally clear of the Jeep before you start to lower it to the ground.

Getting it off can be done with one person. I don't think I'd want to try to put it back ON the Jeep that way, though.
 
#33 ·
I'm thinking of making a hinged frame with heavy duty slide extensions that would slip under each side of the hard top and let you roll it back. once you clear the spare tire, close the glass and let the hinge pivot the top to the ground, sitting vertically on a furniture dolly. Just need to work out the balance & supports, but here are the slides - 36" full extension with 500# load capacity (422.10.990)

Hafele Accuride Ball Bearing Heavy Duty 9301 Drawer Slides Pair 422 10 930 | eBay
 
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