Unlimited hard top storage

commodore_dude · 02-20-2009, 01:36 PM

Well I just bought a house a few weeks ago, which means I finally have somewhere to store my hard top and put the soft top back on that hasn't been on in over 2 years! I'm trying to come up with the best way to store the hard top, but most of the threads on here seem to focus on the TJ top and I don't know if the extra size/weight introduces any complications into some of the storage methods.

I've wanted one of the Lange powered lifts, but I'm not entirely sure if it will work in my garage (it's deep, but I'd have to back my Jeep well into the area I plan to use as a workshop to get clearance beyond the garage door) and I can't follow the installation instructions at all. I do have enough space to use one of these (http://www.quadratec.com/products/12020_200_07.htm), and I might have a line on a used one for 50 bucks, it would be nice to save 400 off the lift

. Is anyone using a dolly with their LJ? Any concerns about stress from having it in a vertical position for 8 or 9 months per year?

**GOLENJEEPTJ** · 02-20-2009, 02:23 PM

I have 4 beefy hooks on the garage ceiling with 4 tie down straps that I hoist the hardtop up with.Cheap and works great.With an LJ I would go with a nice size eye bolt.

**Unlimited04** · 02-20-2009, 04:11 PM

I built a dolly for my top and I built a hard top hoist. see the Fab link in my sig.

mrbillbrown · 02-20-2009, 10:58 PM

Im also curious about the long term damage of storing vertically? I built a dolly out of scrap lumber. Solid as can be. But I havent heard anybody's experience with storing our LJ tops vertically year after year. Hopefully some longtime users will chime in.

jeep06 · 02-20-2009, 11:35 PM

I hang mine in the garage with 2x4's running underneath it. I'm not sure about storing a LJ top vertically, they are heavy and the fiberglass might start bowing storing it that long.

Grt_Ape · 02-20-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLENJEEPTJ

I have 4 beefy hooks on the garage ceiling with 4 tie down straps that I hoist the hardtop up with.Cheap and works great.With an LJ I would go with a nice size eye bolt.

x2. I made a quick and dirty frame out of a few 2x4s laying around to reduce stress on the fiberglass.

jeep06 · 02-20-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grt_Ape

x2. I made a quick and dirty frame out of a few 2x4s laying around to reduce stress on the fiberglass.

Yep that works for sure! I went to the trouble and me being pretty anal..haha, of making short hangers out of 3/16" vinyl coated steel cable so after I get it lifted in place, all the weight is on the cable and not the straps.

timmyt · 02-21-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grt_Ape

x2. I made a quick and dirty frame out of a few 2x4s laying around to reduce stress on the fiberglass.

same jeep here and i did the same thing but without the 2X4's but now i have to go get some 2x4's great idea to take the stress off!

Grt_Ape · 02-21-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeep06

Yep that works for sure! I went to the trouble and me being pretty anal..haha, of making short hangers out of 3/16" vinyl coated steel cable so after I get it lifted in place, all the weight is on the cable and not the straps.

I thought about having some cable made up, but never got around to it. You can see where the straps are tied off to prevent any slipping. Maybe one day I'll follow you're idea and make up some cables.

TJorDie · 06-25-2009, 11:34 PM

Grt ape...

Just curious, I like your idea.

How do you finagle the hardtop on to this contraption and vise versa?

Or is it just purely a place to store it?

Grt_Ape · 06-25-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJorDie

Grt ape...

How do you finagle the hardtop on to this contraption and vise versa?

The answer depends on whether I have help, or if it's just me.

Just me: I back in with just the straps hanging, unbolt & unlatch, hook the rear hooks to the upper corners with the rear glass open, pass the fronts under the top but over the roll cage and latch in the middle. Lift just enough to drive out. Then use a second set of straps to bring up the 2x4 frame and relieve the stress from the first set of straps & tie off.

With help: We lift off the top and set it on the frame that is on the floor. Two people then use straps to lift the frame up and tie off.

Neither way is as easy as a hoist...but meh, it works for now.

SurfnSnow · 06-26-2009, 12:50 AM

I've have both actually. The lift worked great in my old garage, a cheap winch from harbor freight and some bars and cables from quadratec and it worked but I moved and now I use the dolly because the garage ceiling is too low. the dolly does work and handles the hard top with no problem

**grogie** · 06-26-2009, 05:40 AM

I have the manual lift that I bought from Quadratec and it works very well. It took me a several attempts to get the eyebolts just right, plus four attempts to get the top to hang perfectly level.

I would not buy the power option as the the manual works just fine. I did put some additional straps on it just since when I take the top off, I leave it off for awhile and my wife parks under it... Just added security!

Rugby_3 · 06-26-2009, 10:31 AM

But has anyone had trouble with long term storage for an LJ top if it bows when stored vertical on a dolly?

SurfnSnow · 06-26-2009, 12:07 PM

So far, no long term issues with the lj top on the dolly