How do you store your hard top?

Agreed.

Les, all the weight of the rear of the top is resting on those two small contact points. That could possibly cause deformation/damage in that area of the hard top.

Tom

There was a guy on eBay selling a top that was in 'Perfect Condition" except the impressions from sitting crossways on a 2x4 every summer.

I suspend mine on ropes from the garage ceiling with a pulley system that I made. I backed the Jeep into the garage all the way and installed 4 strong hooks in the ceiling 2 of which are exactly above the 2 center boltholes that hold it to the Jeep and the other 2 above the front, over-the-door section. The exactly above the 2 center boltholes ones are the ones that really are holding it up. I hung a strong pulley on each of those 2 hooks. Put another 2 hooks/pulleys in the ceiling by the wall. Got a strong rope and used that to do the lifting. I ran the rope around the outside of the top and up through the hole bottom and tied it off in an overhand knot (inside the top), ran the other end of the rope up through the 2 pulleys and down the wall. Installed on the wall at eye height are 2 boat chocks that grab the ropes at stop points while I am pulling it up, and 2 cleats to tie them off on under that. It pulls up easily and stays there. Once up I use the other hooks to wrap another rope around the front of the top for stability. and covered it with a blanket. Then marked the floor exactly where I want the tires to be with spray paint, then drove out. It hangs there out of the way and behaves.

When I want it on again I just drive under with the soft top off to the marks and lower it down onto the Jeep. Easy as cake. I do not seem to have any warpage as it all just fits normally when installed. I believe the trick is to have those hooks exactly over the mounting holes. I can put it up or down by myself (have done it with trepidation) but I absolutely prefer having another capable person there. I suppose adding more pulleys would make it easier to lift, but this is OK for me.

My US$0.02, Tomes

I've been storing the top for several summers like this with no adverse effects. I would almost think there is a steel plate built into the mounting flange. Wouldn't a couple of lifting eyes that fold flat built into the hard tops be just the most awesome thing Jeep could do to them?

I have a couple of stumps out back with a 2x4 across them and a couple of saw horses. Can't say as it's exactly flat and level, but Dawg kinda likes fiberglass doghouse in the summer.

OH S*IT!

LMAO! fine, just FINE!

LOL

: >

: > hey... what's THIS? .(look down here ?) I need to go look at this methinks. : > "twaldron" wrote : >

: > : Ahem......'scuse me??? : >

: > : : > : Kate wrote: : > : : > : > Geeze... all this property and not a damn place to put a hard tip. : > : >

: > : > Hmmmmmmmmmmmm : >

: >

Thanks Matt for the info!

: > : > : > Is anyone using the vertical cart system? : > : > : > Any other suggestions? : > : > : > Hubs is getting ready to build an electric hoist and rack system : > for : > : > it, : > : > : > we : > : > : > may just leave it up there like a pinata... : > : > : >

: > : > : > Kate : > : > : >

: > : > : >

: > : > : : > : > : : > : >

: > : >

: > : : > : : >

: >

: :

Thanks Tomes :) There is some good stuff in there. I am pointing Evil Sock Boy (aka hubs aka Dick) to this thread so he can gather all this good information

"Tomes" wrote in message news:Rt2Yf.2473$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net... : : "Kate" wrote in message : news:ANGXf.3220$ snipped-for-privacy@bignews4.bellsouth.net... : >I am looking at all of this stuff on the web and my owner's manual says : > store it flat on the floor. : >

: > Is anyone using the vertical cart system? : > Any other suggestions? : > Hubs is getting ready to build an electric hoist and rack system for it, : > we : > may just leave it up there like a pinata... : >

: > Kate : >

: >

: I suspend mine on ropes from the garage ceiling with a pulley system that I : made. I backed the Jeep into the garage all the way and installed 4 strong : hooks in the ceiling 2 of which are exactly above the 2 center boltholes : that hold it to the Jeep and the other 2 above the front, over-the-door : section. The exactly above the 2 center boltholes ones are the ones that : really are holding it up. I hung a strong pulley on each of those 2 hooks. : Put another 2 hooks/pulleys in the ceiling by the wall. Got a strong rope : and used that to do the lifting. I ran the rope around the outside of the : top and up through the hole bottom and tied it off in an overhand knot : (inside the top), ran the other end of the rope up through the 2 pulleys and : down the wall. Installed on the wall at eye height are 2 boat chocks that : grab the ropes at stop points while I am pulling it up, and 2 cleats to tie : them off on under that. It pulls up easily and stays there. Once up I use : the other hooks to wrap another rope around the front of the top for : stability. and covered it with a blanket. Then marked the floor exactly : where I want the tires to be with spray paint, then drove out. It hangs : there out of the way and behaves. : : When I want it on again I just drive under with the soft top off to the : marks and lower it down onto the Jeep. Easy as cake. I do not seem to have : any warpage as it all just fits normally when installed. I believe the : trick is to have those hooks exactly over the mounting holes. I can put it : up or down by myself (have done it with trepidation) but I absolutely prefer : having another capable person there. I suppose adding more pulleys would : make it easier to lift, but this is OK for me. : : My US$0.02, : Tomes : :

That WOULD be pretty cool. I know when we brought ours home and the first thing we were instructed to do was take the top off, I became concerned. I am not a strong person and it was all we could do to lift it off and set it safely on the floor. There it remains.

Kate

Dang Jeff... I just cant see myself putting that brand new top outside on a stump.

: > Is anyone using the vertical cart system? : > Any other suggestions? : > Hubs is getting ready to build an electric hoist and rack system for it, we : > may just leave it up there like a pinata... : >

: > Kate : >

: >

NP Kate. Maybe I can take some pix.... Tomes

Kate, I have trouble understanding your reluctance to expose that top to the environment it was designed for. I have a topper for my MJ that sits on 2 4x4's on the ground in direct sun/rain/snow for probably 11 months out of the year. When it comes time to put it on for a trip with the wife (she can fill it with luggage for a one night stay!) I walk out with the hose, open the rear hatch and spray all the leaves, spiders, and assorted mud off it then roll it on. The finish on the topper seems to stand up better than the factory paint on the Jeep ever did.

If I lived > Dang Jeff...

Hey Will, Well ya see it's like this...

So, that's about it- I don't know what else to say in my defence.

Kate

: > : > Is anyone using the vertical cart system? : > : > Any other suggestions? : > : > Hubs is getting ready to build an electric hoist and rack system for it, : > we : > : > may just leave it up there like a pinata... : > : >

: > : > Kate : > : >

: > : >

: >

: >

: : : -- : Will Honea

I don't blame her. The day the top is manufactured, it begins it's trek back to it's base elements. How fast that journey is, largely depends on the treatment it's owner gives it. Properly stored, the top will outlast the owner, plus a thousand years or so. Make a dog house or fish pond out of it and see how much faster it decays. I've seen some brand new looking CJ7 tops and some that aren't worth the airspace they are taking up. No one should ever be faulted for taking care of their property. Store it properly if you have the room.

tw _____________________________________________________________________

"There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'."

Pronunciation: 'jEp Function: noun Date: 1940

Etymology: from g. p. (G= 'Government' P= '80 inch wheelbase') A small general-purpose motor vehicle with 80" wheelbase, 1/4-ton capacity and four-wheel drive used by the U.S. army in World War II. _____________________________________________________________________

Will H> Kate, I have trouble understanding your reluctance to expose that top

No defense needed . Ever consider that if a twister managed to tear up and toss a well tied down top, you probably wouldn't really care anywho? And note that my garden hose fronts 85 psi water pressure - that trumps the daubers every time. I'm not convinced that external storage affects the appearance of those tops near as much as it does the Jeep paint, although I've seen several folks around here who use a cover/tarp to protect it.

That last point renders all other argumenrts moot - I never argue with a picky gal. Like the 105 year old man said when they asked how he kept his wife happy for 80 years of marriage: "two words: Yes, Dear".

Given the choice, I think I would opt for the rafter hangers myself - much more convenient than anything else I've seen. A cheap ATV winch would make removal/installation a one man (that's a generic "Man", BTW) job. My problem is that the idiot who designed this house managed to completely screw up the space above the garage - I barely have room for a radio aerial in mine.

A hint for easy positioning when re-insatlling: slide a 1 inch length of PVC pipe under the top so that it rolls as you maneuver the top into position. Saves lots of cussing and sweat when you need to move it just a little - lots easier than just sliding it.

On my former YJ (before my now TJ) I laid my top outside. It blew, rained, flipped it over, filled it up with water and then froze. It spent a lot of time upside down with frozen water until it thawed. Light still worked though when it was installed again, but now I hang mine. I was not going to do that with my TJ one. Tomes