Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

TopLift Pro by Alien Technologies Review (Easy Hardtop Removal)

63K views 138 replies 55 participants last post by  chomorro 
#1 ·
LINK TO COMPANY PROMO: https://youtu.be/z_en3fPS5z0

I picked up a TopLift Pro during their 2016 Black Friday promotion and just had it delivered a few days ago. I had been seriously considering buying one since I bought the Jeep last year, but was trying to justify the cost in my mind vs need/want. I had a sunny 52 degree day in Chicago yesterday, and got it together in a couple hours. All I can say is WOW! I love it! It is everything I hoped for and accomplishes everything I wanted it to.



Overview:

The TopLift Pro slides into the rear cargo area of the Jeep, kinda like a forklift on 4 wheels. You use a “handbrake” to lower the unit and position it inside of the cargo area. Then, all you do is push down on a large handle and the unit will raise and press against the top of the hardtop until it is lifted off the Jeep. There is no danger of “dropping” the top down on the Jeep, as a gear will click and lock the TopLift Pro into position as you raise the hardtop. Once you are “clicked” into a desired height, simply wheel the TopLift Pro straight back and the hardtop comes with it. You can then wheel the unit wherever you’d like and either raise the hardtop so you can park underneath it at a later time, or lower the hardtop for storage in your garage out of the way. When you’re ready to put the top back on, simply replace the steps and lower the hardtop back onto the Jeep. My time to remove the freedom panels, two top bolts and hardtop (with added thumbscrews) was just over 5 minutes my first time and 4min 17 secs my second time.

I chose this unit because my garage is not set up for any sort of pulley system, nor did I like the idea of having to use eyebolts and run straps each time I wanted to take my hardtop off. The floor Lange hoist thingy just looked like an overcomplicated piece of junk to me, and required way to much work to get the hardtop off and then even more work to store it. With the TopLift Pro once you remove the hardtop you are already in hardtop “storage mode”, and I can leave the unit in my driveway and pull the Jeep directly upto and under the TopLift Pro to maximize parking space if I wanted to. You also can place the Freedom Panels directly on top of the hardtop for storage, if you’d like. I just throw mine against my bar.


Pre-Purchase Concerns:

First and foremost was cost. Even with the Black Friday price, my concerns as a consumer shelling out this kind of money to a company I had never heard of was mainly two-fold. 1) Will this thing work as advertised? and 2) Will my top fall off the TopLift Pro or cause the TopLift Pro to fall over under the weight of the hardtop, or will it get bumped and topple over?

Ladies and Gents, all I can say is that this thing works as advertised. Once the TopLift Pro is assembled it is rock solid. It is not squeaky or creaky, but remains incredibly strong and stable while being incredibly light on its four casters. Once the hardtop is on the TopLift Pro it is very secure. I was not worried about it falling off while moving the unit. There are also two support arms that actually click and lock into the TopLift Pro and clamp the hardtop in place so it can’t fall “forward”. I forgot to put those arms in place for the first hour the top was off the first time and had zero issues. But, will always remember to put them on immediately from now on.



Shipping:

No issues with shipping. Two boxes came FedEx in the general timeframe I was quoted. Due to the Black Friday promotion I knew I was in for a wait over winter, but didn’t really care because I live in Illinois. I do NOT believe there is a wait time any longer. Materials were packaged very well and I experienced ZERO missing pieces or scratches/damages due to shipping

Assembly:

Took me about two hours, taking my time. You will use basic hand tools (socket set and hex keys). If I could do it over, I would have used a power drill with socket. The TopLift Pro comes with a full-color instruction manual, HOWEVER, use the manual along with the online video. I think I would have had issues with assembly if I hadn’t had the video along with it. The paper instructions didn’t “suck”, per se…but some of the pictures were not at the best orientation.

Here is the link to assembly video: https://youtu.be/sKTKE1OeweM


I had one minor issue with fitment of the steel tubing during assembly, but after a 3-minute phone call with the inventor I was back on my way. I can definitely say that customer service has always been top notch from my original order time in November to this day.


Any questions or concerns, feel free to let me know. I feel pretty confident I could answer most questions besides any having to do with longevity of the unit. I don’t work for this company, know anyone who does, nor am I getting any kickbacks for saying positive things. So, let me know. But, if you are on the fence or in a similar situation as me…buy it. If you are about to spend $500 on the Lange hoist, wait a summer and get this instead….trust me. If you already have a garage/hoist that works for you, save your money and spend the extra few minutes to run straps and eyebolts.

Biggest pros are listed above, biggest cons are price and size of unit. For many the footprint of the TopLift Pro wont matter because you will simply pull your Jeep up and “under” the bends of the unit in your garage. So, it won't really take up much "extra" space for you. But, for me my Jeep is not stored in the garage so I will need to clear space for the TopLift Pro in the corner somewhere.

Hope it helped!
-Mark

P.S. Yes, the unit is adjustable for stock and lifted Jeeps.

 
See less See more
3
#5 ·
i like the top lift, but that blue and white GTS in your garage is my dream car from when i was younger!!!
 
#9 ·
Man, you do buy the "garage gadgets!" I've seen the "hermetically sealed positive-pressure atmospheric car bubble" tents advertised for decades but never knew anybody who used one. When do we get a review of that? :D

I too have a GTS, but it's a year-rounder in Atlanta.
 
#28 ·
Actually, I live in Oklahoma, so we're coming into Tornado and Wildfire season, and it's ALWAYS earthquake season here, (we have more than even California! So, yeah, I would actually rig a way to strap it down to the floor of the garage just because.

But as others have said, this seems like a much better option than hoists. I think I'm going to bite the bullit and order one, don want to wait, and fight the top all summer, we'll see, still on the fence. But this was a great review, and thread. Thanks all!
 
#24 ·
This would be perfect if there was a way to lower it to the floor and back it out. Maybe Gen 2 will have that ability. This would be ideal for me but I do have an actual garage I could wheel it into. And I just don't like the idea of leaving my top out. I live in the country and it might disappear.


Tap'd from my 7+
OIIIIIIIO
 
#25 ·
haha, but it's safe from flooding..duh.

In all seriousness, you can either lower it for storage OR raise it to park under. In my pics I left it at the exact height I used to remove it from the Jeep. If you can kind of picture it being in the "middle" of it's total travel height. So, it can be lowered a lot more and raised just as much more than in my pics. I would have zero issue parking under it because ,after going hands on, I know how secure it is. I'll def let you know how it does in one of the major wind storms we have out here.

As for cost, balls expense and more than it should be. I really hope they lower costs for more sales. For me, the buying factor really came down to how much I would use it. I have never owned a Jeep before, but have always wanted one. Because of this lift I will now 1000% take the top on and off daily (if I need to) in order to maximize my summer enjoyment and Jeep experience. To me that's priceless.
 
#26 ·
I think it is expensive, but the Lange Hoist is $500, and from the videos it look like a pretty crappy design. Lots of setup and running around, and it looks flimsy.

I am hesitant to spend $900, and I have been thinking of making some kind of hoist myself, but it has me tempted. I don't have any wall space. So, connecting a winch to the wall is not easy. My ceiling is a little higher than normal > 10ft, so I have to either borrow a ladder or buy another one. I installed large ceiling mounted led lights, basically flourescent replacements, so I have to move many things out of my garage to align up with an empty spot. I have 5 lights, and they are over the car spots and the center, so I have to move garage junk and my motorcycle to be under the empty spot on my ceiling.

The more I think about it, the more of an option it becomes. I hope they lower the price, so I don't have to think so hard.
 
#29 ·
Thanks for posting this thorough review. I actually made a post in a thread about this yesterday because I was thinking about buying it. So your review was perfect timing for me. Now I feel better about purchasing it. For me it comes down to being able to take the Hard Top off whenever I want. I have a 2002 TJ Soft Top that I have driven for the last 15 years and I take the top down a lot. I'm selling it and I bought a new Recon and taking the Hard Top off was one of my concerns. I've never had a hard top before.

With this I can take the Hard Top off whenever I want. The price is now $899 and I was just curious was it cheaper than that on their Black Friday Sale?

Also, according to their Pros & Cons Section on their website it lifts underneath the Hard Top without any straps to damage the seals (causing leaks).

Cheers!
 
#32 ·
Cheers and 5th4X,

Glad the timing was right and the review helped! The lift is a blast, works perfectly and painlessly. If I could do it over again, I would in a heartbeat. Yes, it WAS cheaper on Black Friday, but not by too much.

As for the HiLift mount, you DO have to remove the HiLift prior to removing the top because it comes so close to the rollbar. My HiLift is mounted inside only during the winter months, so not a biggie for me. Otherwise, add however much time it takes you to remove the HiLift and add it to total time to get everything off :drinks:
 
#33 ·
I've been looking at this, too. It's expensive, but I don't have a garage or big tree for a hoist system. I need a way to get the hardtop off myself without bugging folks...especially since our weather changes on a dime. I emailed the company about it, and he was very responsive. I asked him specifically about the ease of use for an average sized woman.

Thanks for the review!
 
#35 ·
Well, I decided to pull the trigger and order the Top Lift. I ordered it Sunday morning, and I've already received notice from Fed Ex that it's on it's way!

I looked at the Top Off, the Lange Hoist a Cart, and this Top Lift; and even though the price was high, I think this will be the best for me and my situation.

I'll let you know how it goes!
 
#40 ·
Emailed the owner and he was very responsive. I was really impressed and he seemed like a very nice guy.

Was particularly impressed with one of his responses in his email:

"What makes it work for me is that I am just very happy to have had the opportunity to be able to offer this product and those using it are excited to have it. That’s what makes my day really. I’m just some guy that likes to invent things that could make things much easier for us all."

He seems like the type of guy that you could call if you have any problems or need help during installation.

If anyone is interested in ordering it and you are going to Jeep Beach 2017 you can order it and pick it up there without having to pay the shipping costs. That's what I'm going to do if my Jeep is finished from the factory in time.

He also sent me a picture of his next invention. It hasn't been announced yet and he is negotiating with manufacturers so there is no information or pricing yet. He gave me permission to post it here (I asked first). He said it is designed to fit on the side wall or back wall of the garage, making it as narrow as possible and it comes with a cover.

Cheers!
 

Attachments

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