Hardtop Hoists
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Hardtop Hoists
I need to get a hardtop hoist to lift the hardtop off the car. I would also like to be able to leave the hardtop stored in the air, if that can be safely done, since the car also has a soft top and I really do not need the hardtop all that often.
I have looked through some of my old Ecklers, Mid America, etc catalogs, and it seems they have several versions.
Anyone with experience, maybe there is a way to make my own?
I have looked through some of my old Ecklers, Mid America, etc catalogs, and it seems they have several versions.
Anyone with experience, maybe there is a way to make my own?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 799
Likes: 1
From: Fremont CA
Re: Hardtop Hoists (Andymi)
After looking at what Ecklers and MAD have to sell, I built my own. I think I spent about $30-40 at OSH for pulleys, rope, and assorted hardware. Be SURE to use rope rated for the weight of the top (as a safety factor, I used the next larger size) Rope and upper 2-wheel pulley are attached to a ceiling beam. Lower pulley has a swivel and hook to attach the hardtop "carrier".
The "carrier" is rope running through a pvc pipe covered with water-pipe-insulation (going to replace pvc with metal electrical conduit someday - pvc bends too much!). This part runs under the width of the top about where the B-pillar meets the roof. Another rope runs from the middle of this under the rear window and up to the pully and hook.
I have a rope tie-down (similar to the ones on ships and flag poles) attached to a wall stud. I live in earthquake country and figure it will be less of a hassle to store the hardtop on the floor than fix it if it fell on my Vette. The entire removal (or install) proceedure only takes me about 20 minutes; and that includes backing the car in and getting it positioned correctly under the top.
BTW- With the help of a friend, it only takes about five minutes to put the hardtop on... WITHOUT the hoist. Plus I don't have to move the car!
Sorry, no pics. And I won't be able to get any for a while; Vette is on jack stands, big ZF is on the floor, and new clutch should be here today or tomorrow!
Good luck!
The "carrier" is rope running through a pvc pipe covered with water-pipe-insulation (going to replace pvc with metal electrical conduit someday - pvc bends too much!). This part runs under the width of the top about where the B-pillar meets the roof. Another rope runs from the middle of this under the rear window and up to the pully and hook.
I have a rope tie-down (similar to the ones on ships and flag poles) attached to a wall stud. I live in earthquake country and figure it will be less of a hassle to store the hardtop on the floor than fix it if it fell on my Vette. The entire removal (or install) proceedure only takes me about 20 minutes; and that includes backing the car in and getting it positioned correctly under the top.
BTW- With the help of a friend, it only takes about five minutes to put the hardtop on... WITHOUT the hoist. Plus I don't have to move the car!
Sorry, no pics. And I won't be able to get any for a while; Vette is on jack stands, big ZF is on the floor, and new clutch should be here today or tomorrow!
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 799
Likes: 1
From: Fremont CA
Re: Hardtop Hoists (Andymi)
OSH = Orchard Supply Hardware. Hmm, I guess they are only in CA... Any hardware store with a good selection of hardware should have what you are looking for. I wouldn't count out the little mom&pop places either! Have fun!
-Jason.
-Jason.
