2 DOOR TOP HEAVY

[ChrisB351]

Not to hijack the thread, but what solution did you come up with for topliftpro on a 2dr? I don't have room in my garage for any more stuff, so a hoist is a no-go for me

Ill run it up under the top until it stops. It will lift from the inside and the top edge where the glass seals. Ill lift and move back about 8-10" and gently set it down on the side of the bronco then push it further in to get a stable lift so it doesnt teeter when I roll in the garage. Ive been in contact with them and theyre working on something for the 2dr but Im perfectly ok with this.

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[iBrad81]

Supposedly topliftpros has a 2 door version coming out, granted it’s expensive but probably cheaper then dropping the top on the ground

 

[R.A.N.M.J.]

My wife has tiny spaghetti noodle arms. So, I just take it off by myself. With a hoist.

 

[ChrisB351]

Supposedly topliftpros has a 2 door version coming out, granted it’s expensive but probably cheaper then dropping the top on the ground

Ive had mine for a year and half. Cost was $1000 after shipping at the time (theyve gone up since). It was a bday present from my parents, I never wouldve paid the money myself, Im cheap, but I can say its definitely been worth it. Couple of my friends have seen mine and bought their own. I dont have the space for any other 1 man operated lift so it was my only real option.

 

[Ground_zero298]

Cost me $40. Takes 5 minutes to take off or put on. Just back under it to park.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B082KH9RYC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[nwGTS]

Harbor Freight electric hoist. Two ten feet long nylon tow straps. One small strap to connect the ends of the ten footers. Plug in, push button and raise. Reverse process to install. BL 2D.

you forgot to add 4000 sq/ft garage.

 

[Mikey D]

It weighs 88 pounds. Not that heavy

I'm a wimp.

 

[timbal1963]

Hoist Link.

 

[Fly2Win]

4 eye bolts and a $25 set of ratchet straps. Lift a couple inches and drive out from under it. Easy peasy!

 

[Blaven]

I spent around $200 for the hoist, straps and hardware off Amazon for my setup. I have a smaller garage and it sits above the hood when I have the top off and have it parked in there. I added a screenshot of everything I ordered for the setup. The top is heavy towards the glass so make sure your hoist point is back further to lift it off level.

 

[Lifeliberty]

Did you get all 10 bolts off? Don't forget the 2 on top

There's 8 for the top to bed(4 each side) and 2 on the roll bar

 

[Dingbat]

I'm a wimp.

I just went through figuring out how to take the top on and off by myself since my wife isn’t up to the task. I’ve got a broken lower back I’ve been living with for 20 years and a screwed up shoulder from a bike wreck two seasons ago. Hope this helps you or someone else in a similar situation.

What worked for me was:
Set up sawhorse, 2x, etc. behind Bronco.
Open the tailgate fully and lay a stiff blanket, folded a couple times, over the top edge of the lower gate between the spare and hinge.
Un-bolt the top and disconnecting water/electric. (Obviously)
Lift each corner, one at a time, to break the seal with the rubber trim.
Sitting on the rear deck, facing out the back, take both hands and reach up and back above the crossmember of the roll bar, palms up against the top. I use the ridges in the top as a guide to make sure my hands are placed evenly left to right.
Get angry.
Press the top upward, lifting the guide pins clear. Take a moment to make sure hands are centered under it’s weight. If not, set it back down and re adjust until I’ve got it right.
Once it’s lifted clear, arms extended so I’m not relying on as much muscle to hold it up, slide forward off the back deck on to my feet and walk it off the back, set it on the saw horses by lowering arms until the top is touching the top of my head, then squatting until it’s on the horses.

Having the saw horses set up correctly is the other half of the trick to this. I set the horses parallel to and in line with the two sides of the top, just far enough behind to walk the top clear (See pic below), lay two 2x4x8s across the saw horses toward the ends away from the Bronco so I’ll be able to walk in between the saw horses while carrying the top. Then I lay two tires (I uses the base take-offs) on top of the 2x4s and horses. This adds some height and gives some cushion. Having things as close to fully extended height as possible makes things easier. Once the weight of the top is centered on the tires, I move the second 2x4 to the other side of the tires one end at a time. This setup is a little rough, but it’ll work until I can rig something better.

Last trick, for getting the top lifted back up on fully extended arms and back on the Bronco…
I move the second 2x4 back, get under the top with the rear glass up, facing the tailgate of the Bronco, which is fully open with the blanket in place. Find the center of its weight and squat it up. My back won’t let me go deep enough to do this on extended arms so when I’m up it’s resting on my head and hands, not high enough to clear. My shoulder won’t let me press the weight up from here either so, what to do? I squat as low as a can and still be able to go back up. Squat up as fast as I can and then use the momentum to press the top up to extended arms. Now I can walk it forward and get the top as far forward over the body as I comfortably can. I let the forward pins slide along the surface the top mates to at this point. May lay some PPF on there to keep from scratching it in the future. Turn myself around and sit on the rear deck then do the original move for getting the top off in reverse. I ask my wife to assist me by watching the front guide pins to make sure I don’t slide one off the side of the fender.

This whole business is a bit of a chore but I can do it by myself even being busted up and totally worth it being able to take a toodle around yesterday with the misses to look at the Fall color coming in.

 

[Mikey D]

I just went through figuring out how to take the top on and off by myself since my wife isn’t up to the task. I’ve got a broken lower back I’ve been living with for 20 years and a screwed up shoulder from a bike wreck two seasons ago. Hope this helps you or someone else in a similar situation.

What worked for me was:
Set up sawhorse, 2x, etc. behind Bronco.
Open the tailgate fully and lay a stiff blanket, folded a couple times, over the top edge of the lower gate between the spare and hinge.
Un-bolt the top and disconnecting water/electric. (Obviously)
Lift each corner, one at a time, to break the seal with the rubber trim.
Sitting on the rear deck, facing out the back, take both hands and reach up and back above the crossmember of the roll bar, palms up against the top. I use the ridges in the top as a guide to make sure my hands are placed evenly left to right.
Get angry.
Press the top upward, lifting the guide pins clear. Take a moment to make sure hands are centered under it’s weight. If not, set it back down and re adjust until I’ve got it right.
Once it’s lifted clear, arms extended so I’m not relying on as much muscle to hold it up, slide forward off the back deck on to my feet and walk it off the back, set it on the saw horses by lowering arms until the top is touching the top of my head, then squatting until it’s on the horses.

Having the saw horses set up correctly is the other half of the trick to this. I set the horses parallel to and in line with the two sides of the top, just far enough behind to walk the top clear (See pic below), lay two 2x4x8s across the saw horses toward the ends away from the Bronco so I’ll be able to walk in between the saw horses while carrying the top. Then I lay two tires (I uses the base take-offs) on top of the 2x4s and horses. This adds some height and gives some cushion. Having things as close to fully extended height as possible makes things easier. Once the weight of the top is centered on the tires, I move the second 2x4 to the other side of the tires one end at a time. This setup is a little rough, but it’ll work until I can rig something better.

Last trick, for getting the top lifted back up on fully extended arms and back on the Bronco…
I move the second 2x4 back, get under the top with the rear glass up, facing the tailgate of the Bronco, which is fully open with the blanket in place. Find the center of its weight and squat it up. My back won’t let me go deep enough to do this on extended arms so when I’m up it’s resting on my head and hands, not high enough to clear. My shoulder won’t let me press the weight up from here either so, what to do? I squat as low as a can and still be able to go back up. Squat up as fast as I can and then use the momentum to press the top up to extended arms. Now I can walk it forward and get the top as far forward over the body as I comfortably can. I let the forward pins slide along the surface the top mates to at this point. May lay some PPF on there to keep from scratching it in the future. Turn myself around and sit on the rear deck then do the original move for getting the top off in reverse. I ask my wife to assist me by watching the front guide pins to make sure I don’t slide one off the side of the fender.

This whole business is a bit of a chore but I can do it by myself even being busted up and totally worth it being able to take a toodle around yesterday with the misses to look at the Fall color coming in.

My back hurts just reading your post. Clever way to remove top, but still looking for ceiling winch so I can hang for space.

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