Another question on Hardtop hoist

[Maddog B]

While digging through many of the hardtop hoist methods and racking my brain on a simple solution I came upon canoe lifts on Amazon. They are rated at 125 lbs capacity and utilize a cam lock system to make raising and lowering easy. I know several folks on here use the ratchet strap method, but how easy is it to lower? I've never taken my top off, so I don't know how heavy it is. Has anyone tried using the canoe lifts? Just so everyone is clear, I would use two of these, one lift for the front and one for the rear. I would take 2x4 and run left to right under the front and rear and attach the straps. Thanks.MDB

 

[lgdpt]

While digging through many of the hardtop hoist methods and racking my brain on a simple solution I came upon canoe lifts on Amazon. They are rated at 125 lbs capacity and utilize a cam lock system to make raising and lowering easy. I know several folks on here use the ratchet strap method, but how easy is it to lower? I've never taken my top off, so I don't know how heavy it is. Has anyone tried using the canoe lifts? Just so everyone is clear, I would use two of these, one lift for the front and one for the rear. I would take 2x4 and run left to right under the front and rear and attach the straps. Thanks.MDB

I think the top is 200lbs. So two of them would be fine weight wise.

 

[Pops68]

I have one of these (Cabela's version) that I used to use for a 10' kayak stored above my Bronco. Not the easiest setup to operate, so not sure how easy it would be to coordinate 2 of these at the same time. Maybe it was me??? If a plastic kayak hit the garage floor, no biggie.....not so sure about a Bronco top though.

I have since relocated the 2 kayaks and hang them from heavy J hooks - had bicycle hooks earlier, till one broke and a kayak hit the floor (luckily wife was at work!!). Now the ratchet system is basically unused.

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Also not sure I would trust the hooks at the end with the weight of a hard top.....look about like bicycle hooks size wise, though you have 2 instead of 1 at each point. Zoom in on a pic of the hooks to see what I am saying......the flat U-shaped portion looks really iffy.

 

[Maddog B]

We’v Got a Harken Jeep top hoister for my wife’s Jeep but it’s only rated for 145lbs. For the folks using 4 ratchet straps attached to I hooks, how difficult is it to lower? Thanks MDB. I definitely see what you mean by the iffy looking hooks now.

 

[Mike Bryan]

Roof Hoist

Here is what I came up with, seeing I am always by myself. I purchased a hand crank boat winch, equipped it with.250” cable, used two steel pulleys, a two straps that go around the top where the front window is, and another strap out the lift gate. These two straps meet to hook onto a hook on my cable. When raising the top, I had to add a little ballast to even it out. A one man job, the crank has a ratchet so it stays raised up in my garage ceiling allowing room for my ski nautilus to fit under. Works great, very little cost. Oh yea, the crank is mounted on one of my 6 x6 supports. Where the pulleys are, added some bracing to make sure the pulleys would not pull through.

 

[BRONCOchild]

This thread is just another reminder that I need to remove the plywood in my garage ceiling and use the exposed 2x4s to mount a hoist system.

Something to do over the summer. BTW...I concur...use two of the canoe hoists. You should be fine, but always insure the safety by having another system keeping the top in place. I would hate for the hoists to give and your top come crashing down.

 

[tirewater]

I used four ratchet straps attached to four eyelet lag screws attached to ceiling joists. I used two 2x6's to hold the top with four eyelet bolts at ends of 2x6s.

It works, it's not convenient as raising and lowering requires you to go to each corner. I would look for a more convenient method of hoisting if I actually removed my top seasonally.

 

[Maddog B]

Tirewater, how difficult is it to lower since ratchet straps freewheel when you loosen them. I have no problem with the 4 ratchet strap method except I had visions of popping a ratchet strap loose and things going sideways literally. I really like the idea of the boat winch.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Here is what I came up with, seeing I am always by myself. I purchased a hand crank boat winch, equipped it with.250” cable, used two steel pulleys, a two straps that go around the top where the front window is, and another strap out the lift gate. These two straps meet to hook onto a hook on my cable. When raising the top, I had to add a little ballast to even it out. A one man job, the crank has a ratchet so it stays raised up in my garage ceiling allowing room for my ski nautilus to fit under. Works great, very little cost. Oh yea, the crank is mounted on one of my 6 x6 supports. Where the pulleys are, added some bracing to make sure the pulleys would not pull through.

Smart man. Do it right the first time.

 

[Bradsp8]

I use the four ratchet strap method and it works but it sucks. The answer to your question is that lowering the top is scary at times because the ratchet straps do freespool. I let it drop 4 to 6 inches corner by corner. I usually have my shoulder under the top to brace/support it so I can let it down gradually about 6 inches at a time then click the ratchet again to re-engage it. I like the idea the guy above mentioned who used the boat winch. Where it takes me 15 minutes to lower (or raise) my top corner by corner he can probably do it in 15 seconds.

 

[Slowleak]

Tirewater, how difficult is it to lower since ratchet straps freewheel when you loosen them. I have no problem with the 4 ratchet strap method except I had visions of popping a ratchet strap loose and things going sideways literally. I really like the idea of the boat winch.

That’s what happened to me when lowering a fiberglass bed cap. One side turned loose and swung down into the concrete. I don’t trust ratchet straps for lowering, at least for heavy stuff. They are made to turn loose....

 

[Maddog B]

Thanks guys. I think I’m going to go the boat winch route. Seems very simple and effective.

 

[1strodeo]

Here's what I did

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277451

but looks like the price has gone up to $300 As I recall I paid less than $200, and it aint all that great, good luck

 

[David63]

I installed a Harken Hoister Garage Storage 4-Point Lift System and a couple 2x4s because it is cheap (~$145) and easy to install. I use ratchet straps in the storage position just to take the load off the pulleys for long term storage. I am pleased with the setup and have had no problems.

 

[tirewater]

Tirewater, how difficult is it to lower since ratchet straps freewheel when you loosen them. I have no problem with the 4 ratchet strap method except I had visions of popping a ratchet strap loose and things going sideways literally. I really like the idea of the boat winch.

I forgot to mention that I double up the ratchet straps with cam buckle straps. For lowering I remove the ratchet straps and use the cam buckle straps.

As I mentioned, certainly not convenient on a regular basis. For me it was a one time deal to store the top while working on the rest of the vehicle.

 

[Maddog B]

Hey David63, that’s good to know that the hoister can lift it. We really like the Jeep top hoister and I just noticed they make one rated for 200lbs.

 

[BigB]

You could piece yourself together a lift system based on that harken and modified to suit for way cheaper than buying it.

I bet the pulleys/sheaves you get would be better quality.

Some 2x4 for supports.

Eyebolts through the 2x4, cheap as chips @ home depot etc.

Some rope @ home depot.

Sheaves/pulleys from amazon etc, not sure if hd has them.

Put something like this on a wall/post etc to tie your rope off to. You wrap the rope around once and then figure of 8 after that, it will not come loose if done correctly.

https://www.amazon.com/LEANINGTECH-...at&qid=1550021053&s=gateway&sr=8-9-spell&th=1

Done.

Satisfaction of DIY...check

Or buy over priced chinese junk.

 

[Pops68]

My father-in-law had made me a t shaped lift for my daughter's fiberglass Wrangler top. Similar to 1st Rodeos set up. I used a ratcheting boat hoist (90* crank offset from normal direction) and a couple screw eyes and pullys. He used rectangular metal tubing that had slots on 1 side......this allowed for the eye bolt attaching the lift to the cable to be re-positioned for ideal balance.

Worked fine and only was minimal expense - boat crank, eye bolts, pullys.

 

[Maddog B]

I’ll say this, the Harken Hoister we have for the Jeep top is pretty high quality made in the USA stuff, at least mine was. I do agree you can piece it together and that’s why I’m leaning towards the boat winch and cable. I really like the idea of being able to crank it up and down. The capacity on the $30 boat winch is 600lbs and a couple 420lb pulleys are about $8 a piece. Less than $50 and I’ll have a pretty good hoist for the top. Thanks for everyone’s input, Spring is just around the corner.

 

[BigB]

I’ll say this, the Harken Hoister we have for the Jeep top is pretty high quality made in the USA stuff, at least mine was. I do agree you can piece it together and that’s why I’m leaning towards the boat winch and cable. I really like the idea of being able to crank it up and down. The capacity on the $30 boat winch is 600lbs and a couple 420lb pulleys are about $8 a piece. Less than $50 and I’ll have a pretty good hoist for the top. Thanks for everyone’s input, Spring is just around the corner.

Didn't realize it was US made, from the photos I saw it all looked pretty dinky...so I just assumed it was imported.

Still over priced and I think you are going to end up with something much nicer for much less.

Boat winches are not rated for lifting so be aware you will have some tension on that handle when you release the brake. You are well within the SWL but they are designed for pulling and usually when released the boat is in the water, and also on rollers.

Incase you didn't know.You can make it even easier on yourself by also having pulleys attached to the 2x4, if you use them. Each time the rope goes through a pulley it reduces the amount of effort required on the pulling or business end.

Not just talking out of my a$$, one of my trades is as a Rigger.