New Years weekend project

[adl3026]

I bought my Bronco with a soft top on it, but just happened to have a hardtop laying around in my garage...lol. Anyway, I got the top painted last summer and put it back in the garage because I enjoyed driving the truck topless. Now that it's winter.....FL winter anyway, with temps as low as the 50's....terrible isn't it? I decided to put the top on. I've been wanting a lift system for it and have viewed all the different posts on the subject and finally decided on my own setup.

I purchased the Racor overhead storage system from Amazon for $123. I then purchased 2 6' pieces of 1" square steel tube and a 4x4 1/2" sheet of plywwod from Home Depot. I used the tubes and plywood for a platform to hang from the Racor cables and then used a couple of nylon straps to hang the top. In all I have just over $200 in the setup and it works great! I installed the top on New Years day and it was an easy task with the lift. I don't know what took me so long to getting around to it, but my wife says it's called procrastination. What do you guys think?;D

Oh yeah, I think it's been over 10 years since the bronco has sported a hardtop.

 

[Stockbroker5]

I like it!
I also been contemplating doing something very similar. On mine I'll need a track to slide it into a side area of my garage so it's out of the way, but slide it on the track to drop it on the bronco. Also my cieling is only 8 foot high not 12 like yours so if it's on the middle it's a hazard in the workbench area.

Thanks for validating my inspiration. Not enough posts on here about hard top storage. Seems like people must let them rot in the elements.

 

[adl3026]

Thank you! My ceiling is 10' and I have purchased shorter straps to raise the top higher for storage purposes next time I take it off. I'm also going to add a couple of cables during storage for an extra precaution. I don't want the top falling on the truck.....lol

 

[sprdv1]

Looks great man Nice set up there and Not that expensive. Bronco looks great too

 

[Stockbroker5]

Do you think the hoist would release and let it fall? That's a scary thought!

 

[adl3026]

No I don't think the hoist would release. It seems pretty solid and has a locking mechanism, however, I would rather err on the side of caution.

 

[ford man]

That's a sharp bronco looks good with top.

 

[dmplatt]

adl3026 - is the plywood/tube frame necessary or could you just attach the straps to the cables with carabiners (or something of the sort)?