Hi all,
I just put together my Lange Hoist-a-Cart (not Hoist-a-Top) yesterday and took the hard top off with it so I figured I'd share my experience for any considering this relatively new product.
--I purchased from Quadratec with the forum discount. Just PM Rick. Shipped via Fed Ex. It is heavy, about 105lbs. It was just laying in the middle of my driveway when I got home. LMAO...FedEx guy was probably pissed.
--Packed well and each part is individually wrapped in bubble wrap
--Instructions: This is a sore spot. Frustrating when you spend hundreds of dollars on a product and get instructions that are simply comical. In fact, the instructions in my box only had step 5 listed...no 1-4. Fortunately, I found some online, which were marginal at best. Get ready to play a game of "guess which bolt you're supposed to use in this step!" and "I bet you can't tell which part this diagram is supposed to represent!". Really....just a shoddy effort. You'll guess on which bolt etc, occasionally guess wrong which will require you to backtrack, etc. The parts list, has the wrong count for some parts which adds to the difficulty in identifying parts. That being said, if you spread everything out, look at the picture of the completed product, and have some general fix-it know how, you'll be fine. It simply SHOULD be much easier. There is also a video that you MUST watch as the instruction online simply stop partway through the assembly.
--Build: It's damn solid....really solid. Don't worry yourself about that any further.
--Rolling it: it actually has fairly large casters on it. I used it in my storage facility with an asphalt parking lot and it rolled fine. Two swivel, but it's still tricky to navigate. Going over a lip required me to lean the cart back and then lift, but I managed to do so by myself.
--Height: It telescopes, very tall when removing the top obviously, but after you lower the top, it collapses back down to where the tallest part of the rack is below the semi-vertical hard top. Should fit in any garage if it fit in my storage unit
--Function: Pretty dern nice. It lifts the top right off, by using two pulley cables. One cable goes to a strap that goes around the front of the hard top, and the other to a hook that goes between the rear glass and the top itself. I strongly recommend using a drill to lower and raise the top instead of the handle as it will be much much faster with the drill. (Note: Sliding the end of strap under the top while it is still on the Jeep is a little tricky and takes some strength and is just a bit awkward. I think most guys could do it, but small statured ladies, like my wife, would not be able to do that part alone.)
Overall, I must say, I was pretty irritated when installing it. I think companies have to provide reasonable install instructions. I'd say the instructions that come with Ikea furniture, would run circles around these. The function however, was served. The engineering that went into it is pretty impressive if you ask me. It allowed me to remove my top, solo which is the whole point. It also serves as a nice storage cart. At this point, I am glad I bought it. I would buy again.
Mike
I just put together my Lange Hoist-a-Cart (not Hoist-a-Top) yesterday and took the hard top off with it so I figured I'd share my experience for any considering this relatively new product.
--I purchased from Quadratec with the forum discount. Just PM Rick. Shipped via Fed Ex. It is heavy, about 105lbs. It was just laying in the middle of my driveway when I got home. LMAO...FedEx guy was probably pissed.
--Packed well and each part is individually wrapped in bubble wrap
--Instructions: This is a sore spot. Frustrating when you spend hundreds of dollars on a product and get instructions that are simply comical. In fact, the instructions in my box only had step 5 listed...no 1-4. Fortunately, I found some online, which were marginal at best. Get ready to play a game of "guess which bolt you're supposed to use in this step!" and "I bet you can't tell which part this diagram is supposed to represent!". Really....just a shoddy effort. You'll guess on which bolt etc, occasionally guess wrong which will require you to backtrack, etc. The parts list, has the wrong count for some parts which adds to the difficulty in identifying parts. That being said, if you spread everything out, look at the picture of the completed product, and have some general fix-it know how, you'll be fine. It simply SHOULD be much easier. There is also a video that you MUST watch as the instruction online simply stop partway through the assembly.
--Build: It's damn solid....really solid. Don't worry yourself about that any further.
--Rolling it: it actually has fairly large casters on it. I used it in my storage facility with an asphalt parking lot and it rolled fine. Two swivel, but it's still tricky to navigate. Going over a lip required me to lean the cart back and then lift, but I managed to do so by myself.
--Height: It telescopes, very tall when removing the top obviously, but after you lower the top, it collapses back down to where the tallest part of the rack is below the semi-vertical hard top. Should fit in any garage if it fit in my storage unit
--Function: Pretty dern nice. It lifts the top right off, by using two pulley cables. One cable goes to a strap that goes around the front of the hard top, and the other to a hook that goes between the rear glass and the top itself. I strongly recommend using a drill to lower and raise the top instead of the handle as it will be much much faster with the drill. (Note: Sliding the end of strap under the top while it is still on the Jeep is a little tricky and takes some strength and is just a bit awkward. I think most guys could do it, but small statured ladies, like my wife, would not be able to do that part alone.)
Overall, I must say, I was pretty irritated when installing it. I think companies have to provide reasonable install instructions. I'd say the instructions that come with Ikea furniture, would run circles around these. The function however, was served. The engineering that went into it is pretty impressive if you ask me. It allowed me to remove my top, solo which is the whole point. It also serves as a nice storage cart. At this point, I am glad I bought it. I would buy again.
Mike