Share Your Hard Top Removal Tips and Tricks

[amazingjason]

The heritage edition must be considerably heavier than the standard top then as the standard 2 door top is not that difficult for anyone without a disability.

The front panels weigh 17.4 and 17.8 pounds.
The gunner’s hatch weighs 13.8 pounds.
The rear side windows weigh 8 pounds each.
The rear hardtop without the gunner’s hatch or side windows weighs 94.8 pounds.
Altogether, the whole hardtop assembly weighs 160 pounds.

Jason

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[kodiakisland]

The front panels weigh 17.4 and 17.8 pounds.
The gunner’s hatch weighs 13.8 pounds.
The rear side windows weigh 8 pounds each.
The rear hardtop without the gunner’s hatch or side windows weighs 94.8 pounds.
Altogether, the whole hardtop assembly weighs 160 pounds.

Jason

Yeah, that is starting to get up there. The standard 2dr top is only 80lbs for the rear section, which is not that bad for two people.

 

[Elegance]

The front panels weigh 17.4 and 17.8 pounds.
The gunner’s hatch weighs 13.8 pounds.
The rear side windows weigh 8 pounds each.
The rear hardtop without the gunner’s hatch or side windows weighs 94.8 pounds.
Altogether, the whole hardtop assembly weighs 160 pounds.

Jason

Ah, I was told the rear hard top is 68 pounds. In that case, if it's 160 pounds, it weighs considerably more than I do.

 

[amazingjason]

Ah, I was told the rear hard top is 68 pounds. In that case, if it's 160 pounds, it weighs considerably more than I do.

That might be true for the 4 door. My numbers are for the 2 door heritage edition.

Jason

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Ah, I was told the rear hard top is 68 pounds. In that case, if it's 160 pounds, it weighs considerably more than I do.

@amazingjason has a Heritage with the mod top which is heavier, the MIC top is lighter so you're probably right on the weight.

 

[BobN - USAF]

I have a 23 BB 4 door. Mine came with the dual top option. Hardtop installed and awkard and heavy softtop stuffed in the back with the rear seats folded down. Which was funny because one of my grandsons when with us to "look" at Broncos. Traded in my 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison diesel. Had the sales people remove the soft top so I could transport my grandson home. LOL. Then drove up on the following Tuesday to fetch the top. Watching FOUR guys put this in my Bronco was interesting. Getting it out by myself was even more entertaining.

But to the main question. I had to figure out how to get the hard top off by myself. I went with the J-Bar system coupled with a small electric winch from Harbor Freight The J-Bar includes a stout metal bar with clips and then straps designed for the removal of the Bronco top. It is pricey. Mounted the winch in my barn/garage. And this made it very easy to remove the top. Next up was the soft top. There was no way my wife and I were going to be able to pick this up over our heads. So I called a buddy and he came over after work and we lifted it into place. But that sucked. So I bough two kayak hand winches and that worked but it wasn't smooth. So I bought another Harbor Freight winch and installed it. This allows me to remove and install the soft top. I use the kayak slings to wrap the folded down top. Not satisfied with the single winch hook, I'm going to try steel gambrel to spread out the loop attachment points. Once I remove the soft top, I lower it onto a it's original shipping platform that I place on top of a cart so I can move it around my barn as needed.

I've included a few pictures that show my hard top hanging around. I use extra straps to keep it from spinning around and maybe add a bit of safety (from falling). Also, pictures of my kayak slings in use to remove/install the soft top. Guess I was so excited that my 2nd winch worked so well out removing/stalling the soft top, I for got to take pictures. But from now on it is a one man show to switch tops.

I don't think I would have ordered the dual tops. This was in March 23, so inventory was still fairly tight in my 50 mile radius. Dealer only had two, the red one I bought and a green one with aftermarket wheels and a Rough Country 2 inch lift at a hefty mark up. Still the dealer in this small town had a 10K market mark up. I told them I wanted the red but they needed to loose the 10k for the sale. They balked. I said look at this way, for 10k I can fly the family anywhere in the country to a Ford dealer not doing mark ups, have a great trip home and still have money left over. They sold me the BB for about MSRP. Now I see they aren't doing markups but charging $3000 for some BS protection package.

With the dual tops you get to experience the best and worst of both tops. I think I finally have mastered the rear passenger window panel on the soft top. It used to pop out at 70 mph on the highway or just about every time I opened the hatch. No more popping out at speed. Mostly does not pop on opening or closing the hatch. Secret? Fold the top back to the first position. After installing the panel pull it from the top toward the front, push the panel in the catch. Hopefully, making it very tight. On the top of the panel push the panel behind the wire that is in the top. And of course, connect the straps and then as I'm pulling the panel toward the front, I get the velcro in place. Easy.

 

[Oldhippie]

I think your best option would be a top lift pro and storage unit (might even be able to share with neighbor)…leaving the top out in the condo parking lot is not something I would recommend…I see no way to mount a hoist in a parking lot and finding a couple big guys when ya need them may involve a trip to the home depot parking lot…I will also throw out a cheap battery drill/inpact as an alternative to those fancy knobs…topless is kool!

 

[Elegance]

I think your best option would be a top lift pro and storage unit (might even be able to share with neighbor)…leaving the top out in the condo parking lot is not something I would recommend…I see no way to mount a hoist in a parking lot and finding a couple big guys when ya need them may involve a trip to the home depot parking lot…I will also throw out a cheap battery drill/inpact as an alternative to those fancy knobs…topless is kool!

Heard loud and clear. For clarity, I've got a single family home that I own. It's a new construction but has no space for a garage. We're working on purchasing a shed for storage, so I won't be without options forever.

 

[Shane78]

I got the Harbor Freight winch and straps to make this lift...it's pretty cheap and easy to install and you can see it has a control for operation. I'm 69 and this takes 10 minutes to hook up the straps and stays in the ceiling...just a thought

Don’t know why but when I saw the pic of your garage I instantly thought “that looks like a StL neighborhood” and then saw the license plate and your signature, sure enough! I’m in Manchester. Not many 2 doors, probably seen you around.

 

[raptorusmaximus]

I got a winch mounted in the garage rafters and it works very easily for 1 person.

 

[Johnny Mo]

Front 2 panels easy, mid-panel at 5'9" trying to walk it off towards the back is super clumsy given the girth of the Raptor flares, so I just take it off solo to the side and that seems to work ok. The clamshell - I built a hoist and floating shelf system in my garage. The floating shelf can also support the mid panel to get it out of the way from dangers of everyday garage life - moving stuff, finding tools etc. I could probably add another set of threaded rod and shelf support towards the front, but the panel passes the midway point and I use some paracord to just tie a safety on the end so it can't tip forward.

 

[ThatWilsonGuy]

Front 2 panels easy, mid-panel at 5'9" trying to walk it off towards the back is super clumsy given the girth of the Raptor flares, so I just take it off solo to the side and that seems to work ok. The clamshell - I built a hoist and floating shelf system in my garage. The floating shelf can also support the mid panel to get it out of the way from dangers of everyday garage life - moving stuff, finding tools etc. I could probably add another set of threaded rod and shelf support towards the front, but the panel passes the midway point and I use some paracord to just tie a safety on the end so it can't tip forward.

I did something similar. I wanted to have the weight of the top rest in its normal mounting surface so built an aluminum frame that the guide pins index into. I put the middle section on top of the rear cap and can put the two front panels inside if I need to.

 

[Milo1963]

Here's a picture and my youtube post of my home made top solution. Hope you guys like.
2024 Ford Bronco Top Lifter DIY

 

[gbub]

I have a 24 Badlands 4dr with a hardtop. I have not removed any of the top sections yet. I have a need to remove the center section. Can I remove it without removing the front two panels first? Or must the front panels come off first?

All the sections will eventually come off when I have a Ursa Minor camper installed. This thread has been very helpful for when I need to remove and store the hardtop.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

I have a 24 Badlands 4dr with a hardtop. I have not removed any of the top sections yet. I have a need to remove the center section. Can I remove it without removing the front two panels first? Or must the front panels come off first?

All the sections will eventually come off when I have a Ursa Minor camper installed. This thread has been very helpful for when I need to remove and store the hardtop.

You have to remove the front drivers side first, then front passenger, then mid panel, then clamshell (if you were doing that). Install in the reverse order.

Just watch this first:

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