Is taking the top off a two person job?

[BlueCT]

I saw a video of a guy online do it solo without a hoist. Has anyone taken there top off and more importantly put it back on with one person. No way I could have done it myself with my JLU. Watching the video I think I could get it off myself but I am not sure I want to try, no way I would try putting it on.
Thanks
Chris

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[Moe_Fugga]

If you’re talking about hard top, yes. I removed mine by myself. I am 6’5” though and have the arm span of an orangutan. This definitely helped reaching the front of the rear hard top to the bottom of the back glass while lifting it off. Installation was a bit tricky and a second person to guide It down would be a big help, but again I did it without breaking anything.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

It can be a 1 person job but given the costs involved with failure, one is none/two is one.

Hoists are nice but not required.

 

[Cleankat]

I'm sure it's possible, but I'd hate to slip up trying to be He-man

 

[sass JT]

I take off and put on my top alone all the time... but I retro fitted my JKU hard too puller.

 

[BlueCT]

Sounds like I need to grow 5 inches, get a hoist or phone a friend lol.
Thanks

 

[OfiveRLAND]

I’ve removed and replaced mine 2x so far (well, had “assistance” from 7 & 3 year old first time watching!)

I stood in the bed and reached my hand in through opened sliding window. It seemed pretty simple, but as I get into my 40s I may not want to continue doing so.
Where do y’all store your hard top if not suspended by a hoist?

 

[Xenephobe]

How much does the hard too weigh?

I’ve removed and replaced mine 2x so far (well, had “assistance” from 7 & 3 year old first time watching!)

I stood in the bed and reached my hand in through opened sliding window. It seemed pretty simple, but as I get into my 40s I may not want to continue doing so.
Where do y’all store your hard top if not suspended by a hoist?

This is exactly what I have decided I'm going to to do when spring comes around. It seems pretty easy to me I guess, depending on how much the top weighs. Being able to stand in the bed and also have access through sliding window is a huge advantage.

 

[drBassman]

My JT has scars that would prove hard top removal is definitely a 2-person job! Stupid scratches from my own stupidity!

 

[futzin']

My JT has scars that would prove hard top removal is definitely a 2-person job!

Look like trail scratches to me . . . possibly from a tree that kept you from tumbling down a mountain side while attempting the rescue of a litter of baby groundhogs (not sure why the groundhogs were in the mountains).

 

[WhatExit?]

IMO it is, without question, a 2-person job to safely remove the hard top without scratches (or worse!).

It's only a 1-person job if you have a hoist or way to hold the hard top while moving it or the Gladiator (out from under it).

Why would anyone try to do it by yourself when the risks far outweigh the "rewards?!"

 

[drBassman]

IMO it is, without question, a 2-person job to safely remove the hard top without scratches (or worse!).

It's only a 1-person job if you have a hoist or way to hold the hard top while moving it or the Gladiator (out from under it).

Why would anyone try to do it by yourself when the risks far outweigh the "rewards?!"

I attempted it because my wife's back was bothering her a few days ago, and I didn't want to make it worse by having her help me remove the top...No good deed goes unpunished, apparently...

 

[Icebird1976]

I'm 5'9". I did the removal myself... and probably got extremely lucky, being this is my first experience with a jeep top (or any convertible, for that matter). I have a storage rack in the garage, and that's where I'm storing the top. Standing in the bed, and after everything was unbolted, I lifted the bottom edge under the window, and went left hand there. With my right, I gripped the passenger side rain gutter. Not the smartest thing to do, but I was able to swing and lift the top to the rack, and was then able to properly get under the top to finish lifting it. Once in place, I secured it with a ratchet strap that I had strung up the day before. Definitely going to be a two person job for reinstall! All in all, three and a half hours from beginning of hard top removal to completion of soft top installation (the last 30 minutes was trying to fit that damn plastic back window into the grooves).

 

[drBassman]

All in all, three and a half hours from beginning of hard top removal to completion of soft top installation (the last 30 minutes was trying to fit that damn plastic back window into the grooves).

Yes! you *MUST* put the rear window in on a warm, sunny day the first time! When I put the soft top on the first time it had gotten dark by the time I attempted to put that window in; I had to wait overnight until the sun was out to warm the window enough to get it to snap in all the way around!

When I put the top on for the 2nd time, the window was *MUCH* easier to snap in -- not sure if that was because I had the sun & warm day, or it had stretched from the first time...

 

[drBassman]

My JT has scars that would prove hard top removal is definitely a 2-person job! Stupid scratches from my own stupidity!

Happy ending! Body shop was able to wet-sand the scratches out -- none had gone deeper than the clear coat!

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