Hardtop hoist

[Richard G]

Does anybody have ideas on a lifting frame for hardtop?
I now have a hoist in roof . I assume a lifting frame or strap would need 3 points of lift,ie one under rear window.

Rg

[Motorsport Micky]

Try doing a search under Hardtop lift (like I just did) there are 25 posts including photos. If you sift through it you'll probably find what you want.

Micky

[DJT]

For the past 13 years I've been using an old, sturdy, roof rack to lift the hard top on and off. Attached to a wall mounted trailer winch via pulleys. You could use roof bars instead of a roof rack.

[uzbek]

I adapted the straps from an old boot-mounted bicycle carrier. I took the straps and clips designed to hook on the bottom and top of the boot lip and attached them with two slings per side onto a wooden cross bar that is then hoisted up via a pulley (and now a newly fitted electric hoist). I think you could add fore and aft fixings but it is pretty stable as I have done it.

I tried some roofbar mounts but they did not seem to fit as well onto the gutter.

Be aware the balance point is quite a long way back due to the weight of the window-as you lift it you don't want the whole to pitch backwards and dig the corners into the paintwork.

[uzbek]

I adapted the straps from an old boot-mounted bicycle carrier. I took the straps and clips designed to hook on the bottom and top of the boot lip and attached them with two slings per side onto a wooden cross bar that is then hoisted up via a pulley (and now a newly fitted electric hoist). I am sure you could add fore and aft fixings but it is pretty stable as I have done it.

I tried some roofbar mounts but they did not seem to fit as well onto the gutter.

Be aware the balance point is quite a long way back due to the weight of the window-as you lift it you don't want the whole to pitch backwards and dig the corners into the paintwork.

[Westfaling]

Here's one I made (modified) earlier. It was a German one intended for a Mercedes SL. It needed modifying to make the front strap longer for the Stag hardtop with a bit of seat belt webbing.
Not too hard to make one if you've got some old seat belts.
Nick
Hoist2.jpg