Removing hardtop first time, surprise help with wire harness

[cbrenthus]

One thing I'm terrible at is removing wire harnesses. I don't know why, but I break a lot of them even though I'm being gentle. So, when trying to remove the hardtop wire harness, I was being very gentle, but couldn't get it. I looked up some videos on removing the top, and the first I saw didn't even mention the harness (or washer hose, which I also struggled with), but the second did show how to remove them. The guy did say to press the button on the washer hose (I thought it was a check valve and didn't want to squeeze it) but when it came to the wire harness he just showed himself removing it but didn't try to show actually how, which is a pet peeve of mine on many of these videos is that they show them self removing connectors but don't really describe where you press and squeeze and apply pressure...

So, after watching the videos and such, my 6 yo daughter who wanted to help (and was in the back of the bronco removing the hardtop bolts I had loosened) said "I got it!: and lo and behold, she did! I put it back together and had her show me what she did, and I'd describe it as pressing the release (which I knew about) and pushing down on the outer shell.

I guess hardtop removal is so easy a 6 year old could do it! And I let her figure out where the washer hose and wire harness are stored with the top off.

And for anyone wondering, I lifted the roof by myself with 4 ratchet straps around rafters and attached to my half rack - I used 4 because they can only lift a few inches at a time, so I would lift with 2 until they couldn't go anymore, then lift with the other 2 and release the first 2, and repeated until it was high enough to back the bronco under.

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[hec1]

Huh

 

[Bugkillah]

Pics or it didn’t happen.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

And for anyone wondering, I lifted the roof by myself with 4 ratchet straps around rafters and attached to my half rack - I used 4 because they can only lift a few inches at a time, so I would lift with 2 until they couldn't go anymore, then lift with the other 2 and release the first 2, and repeated until it was high enough to back the bronco under.

One of my attempts at a home built lift system used a game hoist pulley system. It used a ratcheting lock, so when you let go , it locked in place.
This would work GREAT for your system.

 

[HotLap]

Harkin Hoister FTW, under $200.00 and comes with everything you need to hoist/store the hardtop

UPDATE: I did purchase a pool noodle to cut into 3“ sections and put between the straps & clamshell weatherstripping so straps will not dent/damage the rubber.

 

[cbrenthus]

Pics or it didn’t happen.

Pics of my ratchet strap system?

 

[cbrenthus]

Huh

I had a few drinks, sorry if I wasn’t coherent!

 

[cbrenthus]

One of my attempts at a home built lift system used a game hoist pulley system. It used a ratcheting lock, so when you let go , it locked in place.
This would work GREAT for your system.

when I finish the garage, I’m planning on putting in an electric hoist to lift the top, and then just having some safety straps, just in case

 

[cbrenthus]

Picture of current set up, I snugged all four straps for redundancy! And then I tied them off as well.

 

[Bugkillah]

Picture of current set up, I snugged all four straps for redundancy! And then I tied them off as well.

I like how you attached to the roof rails. Good job! BTW, which roof rails are those? I like that they’re only attached to back. Weight limit?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Harkin Hoister FTW, under $200.00 and comes with everything you need to hoist/store the hardtop

I have one now, but have not set it up yet.

A buddy has one for his old K5 Blazer. He loves it.

 

[cbrenthus]

I like how you attached to the roof rails. Good job! BTW, which roof rails are those? I like that they’re only attached to back. Weight limit?

It's the Hooke Road 1/2 rack, attaches to the factory roof rack points. Forget the actual weight limit, but if it can hold 2 snowboards at highway speeds it can hold the weight of the rack.

 

[HotLap]

I have one now, but have not set it up yet.

A buddy has one for his old K5 Blazer. He loves it.

Yeah, I’ve had great luck with mine and it’s really cool being able to remove/install the top solo in just a few minutes. Being OCD measured mine (at least 10 times ) before drilling eyelet holes but it came out great.

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