Roof weight
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: North Potomac MD
Roof weight
I've got a 2004 C5 coupe with the painted top. Wrestling the top on and off the car is a two-person job and I'd like to have a top I could handle by myself. I called Thompson Astro Tops and they said their clear top is just as heavy as the painted one. But I've seen claims on various websites that the GM OEM clear top is light enough for one person to handle. Can anyone advise me as to whether there really is a clear top out there that one person can handle?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,319
Likes: 24,777
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
The factory clear top is very lightweight - no problem doing it by yourself IMO. If the clear Astro Top is as heavy as the solid top, try finding one for sale on the forum here. Good deals can be had on like new tops.
, it's a one person job regardless what top is on the car 
.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 0
From: TN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by npotomacbill
I've got a 2004 C5 coupe with the painted top. Wrestling the top on and off the car is a two-person job and I'd like to have a top I could handle by myself. I called Thompson Astro Tops and they said their clear top is just as heavy as the painted one. But I've seen claims on various websites that the GM OEM clear top is light enough for one person to handle. Can anyone advise me as to whether there really is a clear top out there that one person can handle?
p.s. You ARE putting a towel down when you lean over the trunk to prevent sratches RIGHT?! Shame shame
!
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: North Potomac MD
Roof weight
Well this has been a learning experience for me and frankly I feel a little embarrassed...yes, it's quite manageable for one person, and I didn't even have to go to Gold's Gym! For the record, the Owner's Manual says it's a two-person job and I guess I was taking that literally. Still, I don't think I'd want to try it in a heavy wind.
Thanks to all who wrote back.
Thanks to all who wrote back.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH
Originally Posted by npotomacbill
Can anyone advise me as to whether there really is a clear top out there that one person can handle?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 1
From: Torrance CA
Originally Posted by The Nuts
My vette originally only came with one top, the solid top and I have taken that off several times. I recently bought a "clear" top(GM original) and can tell you that the GM clear top is indeed noticebaly lighter and easier to swing your body to take it off and store it in the trunk. It's not hard for me to remove either one, but the solid top is now stored forever away under the bed!
p.s. You ARE putting a towel down when you lean over the trunk to prevent sratches RIGHT?! Shame shame !
p.s. You ARE putting a towel down when you lean over the trunk to prevent sratches RIGHT?! Shame shame
!
Seems like the GM glass top is much lighter.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,061
Likes: 38
From: Menifee CA
how much lighter could the LExan glass be?? 2-3 pounds??
maybe yuo should call Mark McGuire or maybe even Barry Bonds, I am sure they will be able to "help" you out 
Just kidding, I do it by myself without a problem
maybe yuo should call Mark McGuire or maybe even Barry Bonds, I am sure they will be able to "help" you out
Just kidding, I do it by myself without a problem