Those with 'electric hoists' (Hard top hoists)

[Janster]

Greetings!!

For those of you who have electric hoists to lift your hard top -

Do you store it just hanging on the hoist?
Or
Do you have something you swing it onto to hold it so the load isn't on the hoist?
Or
Do you have an emergency 'backup' catch device in case the hoist fails?

Granted - we won't leave it up at the ceiling long term. Maybe a few days at a time (as weather permits). I'm not sure anything is needed, but I wanted to ask.
We will be parking underneath it while it's suspended from the ceiling (probably put the truck bed underneath it).

My husband and I are beginning to put together pieces and parts for our hoist setup.. Including a Vevor 880lb hoist, Unistrut, hoist trolly rollers, brackets, yadda yadda yadda. We still have to build a strapping mechanism to actually hold the top. We have it all planned out.....and excited to get it started.

Thanks for the feedback!

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[TheOpa]

There are a few hoist threads but I’m pretty sure they just talk about buying vs. building a hoist. Those are good questions and I don’t think I have seen where they are directly mentioned in the other threads. I’ll be watching this one to learn from the responses.

 

[TJJT]

I bought the Lange hoist and it’s been great. No issue leaving it up there for weeks at a time and I don’t have any backup straps

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Boat winch. Not electric. Not sure if that matters - I'd hope most electric "hoists" for this purpose have a brake of some sort.

I do have hooks in the trusses and paracord loops I made so I can secure it up there just because I'm paranoid, but they aren't necessary.
Takes seconds with my dowels and loops of paracord. Slip look through hole in roof, slip dowel through the loop, secured.

 

[TJJT]

I bought the Lange hoist and it’s been great. No issue leaving it up there for weeks at a time and I don’t have any backup straps

Also worth noting, I can remove or put it back on in under 5 minutes

 

[Y-Guy]

I use the Racor Hoist with my drill, it does have a locking mechanism to help prevent it from releasing and dropping the rack/roof. However, since I leave my top up for about 120 days I ran a safety strap under it for extra piece of mind.

 

[RCott77]

Will be working on an E-hoist soon for my top. Nice to see some great examples of attachment points here. I had considered three points of contact through the rear window and front corners but these examples look much more stable. Looks like there is a place for the Freedom Tops on a rack above too. Perfect!

 

[Y-Guy]

@RCott77 I avoid touching the window in any way, I broke the slider in my 2005 F350 - they didn't even have spare parts available at the time.

I do put the panels in a bag up on the rack on mine. In the winter months I store other things up there. I've used that rack for my previous Wrangler JKU - and that top was heavier so I know it can hold the weight.

The attachment points on my project came from another member here, I can probably find that thread if you want.

 

[Mad Mac]

I noticed that Gladiator Pro uses clamps on the rain gutters.
This got me to thinking.

What about buying a roof rack that clamps to the rain gutters.
Then just hoist it up attaching ropes or tie down straps
wherever convenient on the roof rack to keep it balanced.

Kill two birds with one stone.
Use the roof rack to lift and store the top.
Have a roof rack to use on the truck when you need one.
Leave it hanging from the ceiling when you don't.

It could be as simple as two crossbars
or as elaborate as a basket.
The freedom panels could be bagged and stored
in a basket roof rack before lifting.

I tied onto the ladder rack on a truck camper shell
and a Rube Goldberg pulley and rope system
on my old pickup.

For my Jeep Wrangler TJ,
I just use tie down straps,
hooked to the ceiling and the hardtop,
lifting one corner a little at a time.
This works for me and I am 76,
precision sized
and weak as a kitten.

 

[Janster]

Will be working on an E-hoist soon for my top. Nice to see some great examples of attachment points here. I had considered three points of contact through the rear window and front corners but these examples look much more stable. Looks like there is a place for the Freedom Tops on a rack above too. Perfect!

With our situation…we’re putting the hoist on a unistrut trolly system so it can be pushed out of the way and lifted up higher (for storage). That’s why I was wondering if we need a ‘backup’ in case of hoist failure.

As for the bar & strap setup - we’re going to re-create/copy one of the setups that you can buy ($$$). It uses straps/gromets in the hard top mounting holes. We’re still researching exactly what we want to do…..

 

[TarheelJT]

I noticed that Gladiator Pro uses clamps on the rain gutters.
This got me to thinking.

What about buying a roof rack that clamps to the rain gutters.
Then just hoist it up attaching ropes or tie down straps
wherever convenient on the roof rack to keep it balanced.

Kill two birds with one stone.
Use the roof rack to lift and store the top.
Have a roof rack to use on the truck when you need one.
Leave it hanging from the ceiling when you don't.

It could be as simple as two crossbars
or as elaborate as a basket.
The freedom panels could be bagged and stored
in a basket roof rack before lifting.

I tied onto the ladder rack on a truck camper shell
and a Rube Goldberg pulley and rope system
on my old pickup.

For my Jeep Wrangler TJ,
I just use tie down straps,
hooked to the ceiling and the hardtop,
lifting one corner a little at a time.
This works for me and I am 76,
precision sized
and weak as a kitten.

I like this idea.

 

[TJJT]

I have the Lange originals lift for mine, loved the concept so much that I did the same for my rack and rooftop tent. Added straps to the corners for some insurance, since the setup weighs about 340lbs

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