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Removed my hardtop by myself

4K views 31 replies 24 participants last post by  jes64 
#1 ·
Not the best idea, not the worst. My sons wanted to run around without the top for the day so I went for it. It's not exactly easy without some help, but it's definitely doable. I basically just sat in the back to move it forward until it was about to tip, then "Atlas"ed it onto some pallets. Putting it back on was a bear, but it made missing the gym yesterday acceptable. Anybody got any tips for taking it off by yourself without a hoist?
 

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#3 ·
I did something similar when I had the TJ back in my prime. I would crouch in the back seat, "atlas" it up and jump off the back. Did this three times. The last time I did it I crouched too low after jumping, was stuck bent over for a good 5 minutes, thank god no harm came from it.
 
#6 ·
If you have a garage, the cheapest and easiest solution I've found is done with less than $40 of material and takes less than 15 minutes to install.

4 eye bolts
2 ratchet straps.

Put the eye bolts into the ceiling above your Jeep.
Run ratchet straps from one eye bolt to the other by going into the back window and out the passenger window. One for each side of the Jeep.
Then ratchet up about 3" and drive out.

Edit:
I was inspired by this video, but instead of using 4 straps like she did, I did 2 and it's much faster.

https://youtu.be/bI19Tqyhkhg
 
#29 ·
Yeah this is really smart, and if I had my own garage and not an underground space in my apartment, I'd rig up something similar, possibly even with pullys. Depending on how high/how deep the garage is, you could potentially hang it there semi permanently when not using the hard top.


I'm sure I could do it myself but why take a risk on such an expensive top? $100 might as well be built into the price of a jeep with hardtop. Small fraction of a $40k jeep.
Yeah, unless I had some sort of safety plan to avoid dropping it, I'd never try taking it off on my own. I can't imagine having that hard of a time carrying it weight wise, but just the awkwardness and tripping, etc. I'd sooner just have a buddy help me if it came to that.
 
#16 · (Edited)
I took my hardtop off a week after I got my Jeep, had a friend over to help take it off and it was super easy.
About a week after that we had a hailstorm on the way so had to get the top back on with just my wife to help.

Her side slipped, landed on the taillight and made a tiny crack, that's all that happened.

I knew I was the luckiest guy on the planet right then.

I ordered my hoist that night.
So for me - one manual on/off cycle was enough to know I never want to do that again.
With the hoist I've probably had the top on/off 6 or 7 times already in my 2 months of ownership. Easy every time.
 
#11 ·
If you're gentle with the electrical stuff (specifically, the rear defrost button connectors), you can remove the rear glass from the top. Two struts, four bolts, electric and fluid connections. It makes the top significantly lighter, more balanced, and easier to manage.
 
#15 ·
I have a 3 sided 'wall' I built the same height as the Jeep in the driveway. just back up to it and slide the hardtop off. Revers that to put it on. Works great and is so much quicker than a hoist...btw, will have a Lange hoist to sell shortly.
 
#21 ·
When you just don't care! Lol.

I can be done like that. But not quite like that! Lol

Slide it and transfert to a purpose made rack where you can walk in the middle. Will be stored of the ground away from most criters, and will always be dry.

But like others mention, best is garage celling lift or two people.

Anyway is good, as long as you keep control of the thing. Lol
 
#25 ·
After taking my hardtop off by myself, I would have gone in the house to tell my wife. She would take one look at me.....and say, "Did it make you feel like a man?"
I would definitely say, "Yes."
And her response would be "Good. Now don't do it again."
 
#27 ·
Harbor Freight worm gear winch $27 minus 20% coupon.
2000 Lb. Capacity Geared Winch

2 6.5 foot straps from harbor freight $9.99 each
6-1/2 ft. 2000 lb. Capacity Lifting Sling

Some 2 foot sections of 3/16 chain with hooks and 2 pulleys mounted on a 2x4 on garage ceiling.

Mount the winch vertical on the back wall of garage about shoulder high with a pully directly above it on the ceiling, then anther pulley straight out further.

You can use a 20V electric drill to turn the winch to raise and lower the roof off of the Jeep.

Works flawlessly and very safely. :winner:
 
#28 ·
A new hard top is somewhere in the neighborhood of $3,000. It would suck that one time you drop it! I built my own hoist in my garage using some pulleys and nylon rope from Lowes. I started with a 7 to 1 pulley I bought on Amazon but eventually upgraded to an electric hoist I bought at Harbor Freight. Works great!

I also notice that you have one of those Tuffy overhead security consoles. I could never get that thing to stop rattling when offroad. The biggest problem though, is we kept hitting our heads on it! That thing would wreck your skull in a roll over. I thought my wife was going to need stitches after she hit her head on it one night.
 
#30 ·
I also notice that you have one of those Tuffy overhead security consoles. I could never get that thing to stop rattling when offroad. The biggest problem though, is we kept hitting our heads on it! That thing would wreck your skull in a roll over. I thought my wife was going to need stitches after she hit her head on it one night.
It rattled a bit when I first bought the Jeep, but I've got it pretty well quieted down now. I have, however, knocked my dome on it more than a few times.
 
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