Hardtop storage

[YayMud!]

The rack that DBravo made works really well for one person if you have the room in the garage. I had to put mine on wheels to move around. I found some six inch casters and reduced the corner posts by seven inches (after seeing the extra space for mounting). I wrap bungies around the front brackets to keep the top from bouncing when I move the rack. I've also put some heavy duty hooks on the sides to hang the doors.

I don't have the ceiling room nor do I trust myself with the pulley lifts.

It takes me about 30 min to remove or put everything back on without assistance. South Texas heat keeps me from buying the soft top.

Nice! I like what you did with the doors. I got the hard top because of the extreme cold we get in the winters in WI.

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[Mad Mac]

Don't have my Gladiator yet but trying to plan ahead.
For my 1998 Wrangler TJ, I've been using tie down straps
to remove my hardtop and suspend it from the ceiling
just like TewlTalk does in this video for a JT.
Hardtop Removal and Storage System
I'm 73, short and weak as a kitten, but I can do it by myself.
Why wouldn't this work?

 

[Mad Mac]

Here is a picture of the setup for my TJ
using tie down straps.
Probably would have to relocate the hooks
but I'm thinking something like this.

Will also probably hang doors high up on the wall
or even from the ceiling. It's going to be a tight squeeze.
My garage is not quite 20 feet deep
and the Gladiator is just over 18 feet long.

 

[YayMud!]

I ended up using a winch on the ceiling and a bracket for an older Wrangler top that I changed a bit to work with my Gladiator hard top. It is a pretty slick set up.

 

[steve68]

I built a cart, designed off the cart I had for my JKU hard top, covered it in the green fuzzy type carpet stuff from the Depot,

Last weekend I broke it all down and removed the hard top, much lighter than the JKU top, I have a 40x40 shop at my house, store it in there, wrapped in plastic, I'll get a couple pics,

 

[Dartboy]

Anyone know the weight of the rear section? I got a catalog for Miata accessories showing a HT sling for under $70. Thinking it might be easier to adapt it to the JT top than starting from scratch. Miata top weighs about 45 lbs, Ive wrestled the JT top on and off a few times by myself, but the awkwardness makes it hard to judge weight. Never lifted a Miata top, so nothing to compare to

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Anyone know the weight of the rear section? I got a catalog for Miata accessories showing a HT sling for under $70. Thinking it might be easier to adapt it to the JT top than starting from scratch. Miata top weighs about 45 lbs, Ive wrestled the JT top on and off a few times by myself, but the awkwardness makes it hard to judge weight. Never lifted a Miata top, so nothing to compare to

I used 2 $14.00 bicycle hoists! The cords lead to a cheap boat trailer winch on the wall.

 

[HuskerMojave]

I was cheap 2 2x4s and 3 ratchet straps. Just put bolts in the factory mounting points worked great. Hasn’t crushed the car yet.

 

[Cromation]

I had heard the hard top can become misaligned after staying on a hoist for more than a few hours at a time. Anyone experience anything like that?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I had heard the hard top can become misaligned after staying on a hoist for more than a few hours at a time. Anyone experience anything like that?

No problem here but then with my system of pulleys, the load is equalized, no corner is being held higher or differently than any other. Mine dropped right back on into place and is just fine.

 

[YayMud!]

I had heard the hard top can become misaligned after staying on a hoist for more than a few hours at a time. Anyone experience anything like that?

It is a pretty twisty piece so it would be easy to "re-align" it if it got a curve/bend in one of the mounting points.

 

[GladLad]

I put mine on the wall.

Got my wall mount all set up. I like how much space it doesn’t take up and that I didn’t have to fool with winch lines and cables and shit. I don’t like how the bottom is pushed forward and the section on the 2x4 isn’t resting flat. I may end up running a strap across the bottom to keep it against the wall. Does yours sit like this @Bobh62000 or is yours flush against the wall?

I did the same thing as Bobh62000 and it worked out great in my garage!
The doors are sitting on I beams made of 2x4s... worked ok for my 2 door Jeep but I think I'll eventually make something to hang them from the wall.

I like this on the wall setup. Even though all those that did it are long gone or banned, so I can only assume it's an illegal process.

I'll talk to my lawyer and consider it for next year. For now I've got it on the floor in the rubber feet and leaning on a chair. It will go back on the truck in late fall.

 

[Doctor7474]

Hung min on the wall, less than $30 to do it. Waiting on wall brackets to hang the doors below the top.

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