Hardtop hoists

You know, when we are out hunting we use game hoists to pull the animals up into trees etc. A hardtop weighs much less than a mule deer or elk, so building your own should be fairly easy if you get a game hoist to start from, or you could rough it like me and just use the ragtop. We have not been above freezing for days and it stayed warm inside even at 10 degrees.

Sean

nieces/nephews,

The trick is adding the hooks to grab the hardtop securely yet avoid scratching it. When I used to have sports cars with hardtops always meant to get around to hacking a garage door opener into a power hardtop hoist... but usually someone would drop by at about the right time and could be bribed with a beer or whatever.

Roughly 1/6/04 10:53, Sean Pr> You know, when we are out hunting we use game hoists to pull the animals up

You can buy a couple of sticks of lumber, some rope, a few pullies and some eye-bolts, and make one yourself. I think my brother is in his hoist about $10 ...

Were you planning on letting the poor guy *out* of that hoist any time soon?

Here is what I did and it has worked fine for years now, both on my old YJ and now on my TJ.

I screwed hooks and pulleys into the rafters in my garage exactly over the middle screw hole that attaches the top to the Jeep. Another pair of pulleys hang next to each other from hooks in the rafters at the wall. Below that corner pulley set, I mounted on the wall at eye level a pair of those ceramic boat cleats (herringbone thingy that one pulls rope thru and it stays - I bet there is a real name for this...) sized for the rope I used. Under that is a chock (? - the thingy that on boats one wraps the line around a couple of times to secure it [I bet I have the words chock and cleat reversed....]) that I wrap the rope around and acts as the final securing point. Oh, I also installed an eye hook just above the 'cleat' to keep the rope close to it. I also screwed in 2 more hooks above the front part of the cap. Cost me the price of 4 pulleys, 6 hooks, 2 eyes, 2 cleats,

I unbolt the cap from the Jeep and lift it enough to get the rope end under it and then just feed it thru the center hole from the bottom and tie an overhand knot in the end. Then I pull on the other end of the rope and it goes up and stays up. I use the 'cleat' to temporarily hold a rope in place while I pull on the other side's rope. I pull up one side a couple of inches and then the other side, alternating as I go so it goes up evenly. (I also put a blanket on top so if it hits the ceiling it causes no harm.) Once it is raised, I tie off the ropes on the 'chock' and then run the cinch straps around both the entire main body of it (for back-up to the rope) where the rope is and also around the front part (to stabilize), also using the same hooks above.

I can do (have done) this lifting job all by myself, but it is better with 2 people as it can teeter a bit going up. I have not had a problem with warping as it bolts right on each time it is replaced upon the Jeep. I painted lines on the floor for where the wheels go to position the Jeep in the same spot every time, this helps a lot. I backed the Jeep in so the cap is raised at the rear of the garage pointing outward and is very much out of the way, hanging over the hood of the minivan. After a while the wife actually got used to it there after an induction period of trepidation.

Hope this helps, Tomes

A boat trailer winch is great for this application, thats what I have.

I run the tie down straps thru the back w>Here is what I did and it has worked fine for years now, both on my old YJ

Hi Jeepster,

I don't know about his idea... with his 8' ceiling, it would be in the way. He has no way to lower it to the floor, so it can be kicked back on a two-wheeler and moved out back to the shed. What do you do with yours?

-- JimG

nieces/nephews,

Yep, I used to just leave it sitting on the ground at the corner of my driveway until I got tired of chasing it down after a good wind. One time it flipped over and filled with water and then froze. That was it for a good part of the winter, not able to use it, lol, until it all thawed out. Dome light still worked though. That convinced me how dumb I was being and I then concocted my method. Tomes