Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Racor Ceiling Rack - Hard Top Hoist

15K views 32 replies 18 participants last post by  Liberty_2112 
#1 ·
I'm sure this has been done many times before, but just got done installing and thought I would share. Paid $130 for this rack from Amazon, but have seen it as low as $99. Works well and I figure if I ever get rid of the Jeep (not likely), I can still use it to store stuff.



Ceiling Room Technology




Room Furniture Photography Technology Desk
 
See less See more
2
#8 ·
Just curious, why did you go with a rack like that?

I have the Harken Hoist and because there isnt an extra rack there it can go up higher. I am able to get it up high enough so that I have room to walk under it with my 10' ceiling. (I am 6'3")

Dont mean to hijack your thread, but I put my freedom panels on top like you see. Is that safe?
 

Attachments

#9 ·
I don't know if it's safe. I was afraid to put all that weight directly on the roof. Also, with the rack, I can store my soft top on there during the winter. If I had 10' ceilings I would be able to walk under the racor. That was just dead space for me anyway, above the car.
 
#10 ·
I have 12' ceilings in the garage, so plenty of height with it lifted all the way up. I bought this rack so I could use it to store other things besides the hard top. In the winter I can throw the soft top and boxes up there and if I ever get rid if the Jeep, still use it for storage.

I used large lags for the 2x4s. 4 lag bolts evenly spaced into the joists. I had to use the 2x4s to drop the rack a bit to clear the lighting. It's extremely sturdy.

This might give an idea of how high it is:

Room Furniture Shelf Photography Desk
 
#15 ·
OMG, that is SWEET! Now THAT'S a Vette! Not like the new ones that don't even look like a Vette, lol. :awesome: ....are you the original owner? You could have always taken a picture of it next to your Jeep, lol.
 
#20 ·
I don't know why, but I'm not seeing any pictures from you...what year's your Vette? I've got a 66 hogging up my garage and wasting all my Saturdays with vacuum leaks around the carb.
I am new to Jeeps and my skill level is still in it's infancy. All I have done at this point really is install a lift (control arms, springs, shocks, front and rear track bar, sway bar links and discos, brake line extensions, bump stops, re-center and square axles, reset pinion/caster, self alignment), front and rear bumpers, winch, tire carrier, relocation of tag and third-brake light, sPod, off-road lighting (windshield, LED bar on winch, rock lights), wheels, sliders, soft top, cargo straps, and some stick-ons (sill plates, decals, etc.). Some pretty basic stuff. I feel at this point with my limited knowledge, it is better to leave the posts to the pros.

And the Vette's a 1970, with no vacuum problems at the carb. However, the headlight buckets are slow to go up. I think the vacuum canisters need rebuilding. 66s are very nice. 67s are my favorites.
 
#18 ·
Racor is a VERY popular choice for Jeepers. I use the rack when the top is on for summer stuff and the hard top and panels for other times.

One thing I've done and some others have done was to use pipe insulation to protect the Jeep top when lowering the top.

 
#25 ·
Just curious, some homebrew solutions I saw on YouTube used large padded J-hooks to grab at 4 (some only used 3!) points instead of straps. Any thoughts on that? And do you think using the Racor without the rack would diminish the stability at all? I don't really need the rack, but could use the extra bit of clearance.
 
#26 ·
My buddy installed clips on his hardtop to attach the hoist. He likes the way that works, but it adds another inch to the height of the jeep with the hardtop on. In his case he is BARELY able to pull the jeep into the garage with the top on.

Running straps under and around to hoist it seem to work pretty well for everyone else I have talked to.
 
#30 ·
Have the Harken hoist for the top (it's awesome) and I have a ~9' garage ceiling. Wasn't the easiest to put up myself, so if you have a 2nd set of hands (aside from a wife....trust me) it would be much easier. Now that it's up, I love. Keep in mind, it sucks the first time you're working on the jeep or park it in the middle and go throwing yourself up in the front seat, while hitting your head on the underside of the top. You won't do it more than once or twice though.



Built the hanging racks for the doors, freedom tops, soft top in winter, etc. Works fantastic. Huge space saver.

 
#32 ·
I use two 1500# rated straps. I hook one end to the rack and weave it through the rack until end, it then wraps under the back of the hard top, I use a couple foam wraps to protect the seals, then it runs inside the top. Unlike the photo at first I now wrap it through by the rear doors and use foam to protect the corner. The strap then runs to the ratchet.






 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top