Hardtop DIY Garage Hoist

[Sigz]

This has been done before, so I don't want to "steal" credit - but I decided to create (follow) a garage ceiling hoist:

Materials from Home Depot:

x4 Stainless Steel 3/8 X 4-1/2 in. Lag Thread Eye Bolt

x4 5/16 in. x 3-3/4 in. Stainless Steel Eye Bolt/Nut

10 ft. x 1 in. Cam Buckle Tie-Down (Red) Straps with S Hook (4-Pack)/16 in. x 3-3/4 in. Stainless Steel Eye Bolt/Nut

x2 2x4 Studs

Gorilla Tape


I didn't take pictures for every step - but:

- I backed my Jeep into my garage and measured/marked the locations in the ceiling where the 4 corners of the hard top would be.

- I then measured from fender to fender (and gave myself a few extra inches) which would be the measurment for the support 2x4

- My rafters in my garage ran parallel with the parked Jeep which was nice, but on the drivers side I had to go up into the attic and place a few block spacing 2x6's where I wanted the the eye bolt to drill into.

- I drilled holes/installed x4 eye bolts into the ceiling

- I cut the 2x4's to the fender length (and them some) and installed the eye bolt / lock nut to the ends an inch in from the end. I then wrapped a bunch of gorilla tape around the 2x4 for a bit extra protection (ALSO ADD Gorilla tape to the underside NUT/bolt end)

- Add the cam straps to the eye hooks!

- Unbolt the hardtop and lift the back up and slide the 2x4 under, and follow the same for the front.

- Cam the straps down and slowly lift!

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...k-4-Pack-FH0898T/312994389#product-section-rr

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[johnh442]

How is the top attached to the 2x4?

 

[Fishee]

I did the same but without the 2x4s. I just hook S hooks to the top. This is probably better though I do have tiny scratch from the hook scraping the top

 

[Sigz]

How is the top attached to the 2x4?

Eye bolt and a ratchet strap!

 

[snazzy gladdie]

Although expensive I bought this as a kit off Quadratec. My rafters weren't parallel so I had to accommodate for that. This outfit works rather well and no need for any assistance to remove or reinstall.

 

[Lunentucker]

Although expensive I bought this as a kit off Quadratec. My rafters weren't parallel so I had to accommodate for that. This outfit works rather well and no need for any assistance to remove or reinstall.

That's the motorized Hoist-A-Top.
I did the manual winch version, removed the handle, and run it with a cordless drill.
Works perfectly!

 

[Dartboy]

How is the top attached to the 2x4?

I drop a 5/16" (?) bolt through the mounting hole of the top and finger tight nut. I used unistrut for the front and drilled a hole through a rubber furniture floor protector. It's probably not neccessarry, but I'm a bit paranoid that the top might slip off the supports

 

[dmwphoto]

What is your ceiling height?

 

[Sigz]

What is your ceiling height?

Hey a rough 5AM before coffee measurement shows it's about ~9.6ft

 

[Sigz]

Made a small change -

instead of using 2x4 studs which seemed heavier and clunky - I switched them out with 1-5/16” thick wooden closet rods/dowel and wrapped with pool noodles.

I don’t have a picture of the top off with the hoist but this will for sure be a bit easier and safer from a scratching purpose.

 

[legacy_etu]

This is also what my hoist looks like down to using 2x4’s across the bottom to support it. The only additional thing I did was I have chain at all 4 corners with shackles that I hook up to the eyebolts once everything is hoisted. These are just insurance in case the spring cam cleats in the straps fail then the chain will take the weight.

 

[TarheelJT]

Although expensive I bought this as a kit off Quadratec. My rafters weren't parallel so I had to accommodate for that. This outfit works rather well and no need for any assistance to remove or reinstall.

Has anyone just used a single line for the Lange Hoist-A-Top to lift the Gladiator top instead of the two steel cable runs? I have a HF winch already installed over my garage parking and would like to just use that and maybe combine the front/rear bars of the hoist-a-top with one carabiner, etc.

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