Soft top storage

[Scoothand]

Any updates on how people are storing a soft top for the summer? Any lift system?

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[buck_6G]

Bump on this. Would love to see if anybody has found aftermarket solutions for safely storing the soft top - I haven't.

Unlike my former Jeep's soft top, this can't be leaned up against a wall because the mechanism has metal framing all around, and the pneumatic struts cause it to pop open.

I was able to ratchet-strap mine closed, then hang it like an upside-down U shape on top of a plastic garage shelving system, but it was sketchy because of the weight.

 

[BobN - USAF]

I hung a board from the garage ceiling with that metal that they hanf garage door tracks with. The rear sits on that and the front of it hangs by chains through two of the holes at the very ends of the metal parts. it seems to work as I can get the heavy part on the board and then raise one side then the other on the longer chains. When you do it yourself you need to be resourceful right.

I have a 23 with the dual top option. I bought the J-Barr lifting bar and a 120v electric winch that looks like yours. Worked so great to remove the hard top from my Bronco by myself. But when it came time to install the soft top I had to get a friend to help me lift it into place. I'm tempted to buy another 120v winch to remove and store the soft top. Can you post some more pictures of your set up? How do you use the winch? What loops or whatever do you use to lift up the top? Thanks!

 

[DenNut]

I got the GarageSmart hoist system. It’s designed for a hard top, but I figure with a few adjustments it’ll work with the soft top as well.

can you share the secret of using the GarageSmart hoist with a soft top?

 

[Bonnie6G]

can you share the secret of using the GarageSmart hoist with a soft top?

I’m still attempting to find the best path. I’ve so far only taken the top completely off once. I used some straps and bungies tied to the metal H frame of the lift. It came off, but was not balanced so it ended up hanging vertically in the garage. Need to make some tweaks with the tension of the cables/straps next time.

 

[Essmith94]

Here is my solution. Winch off of Amazon. Single piece of Unistrut 24”, lag bolted into ceiling joist. A couple of straps to hang and balance.

 

[Gladdox]

I ordered my Bronco with the dual tops option. It came from factory in January with the hard top. The soft top was stored in the back on a large hard foam pallet. It was super sturdy and surprisingly light weight, which made it easy to remove from the cargo area

Since the weather was still cold, I kept it in my garage on the pallet and covered it with a canvas drop cloth to keep dust out. We have a few 4’x4’ overhead storage racks in our garage so it was easy to just put it on one of those to keep it out of the way.

A quick Google search shows that similar foam pallets are readily available online. But seeing how other people have hung them on j-hooks also seems like an elegant solution.

That said, we are about to do the hard top to soft top conversion this weekend for the first time. Hoping I can use the same pallet for my hard top.

 

[Drafting_Monkey]

I tried @StyleGuy solution. Install was straightforward but getting the soft top off the Bronco took two people. Getting it up on the wall, I was on my own. What a PITA.

 

[01tundra]

I used Essmith94 's idea and it works great, thanks for the inspiration!

 

[SkiSquatch]

Do you have the links for the parts -to save a little trial and error on my part!

thanks!

 

[Gronco2024]

Anyone have any new ideas on soft top storage? I got the Smarter Home hard top ceiling lift and that works awesome. I'm thinking of making a platform and using the same lift for soft top storage over the winter but I'm curious to see if anyone else has come up with other ideas.

 

[JWBroncoATL]

Anyone have any new ideas on soft top storage? I got the Smarter Home hard top ceiling lift and that works awesome. I'm thinking of making a platform and using the same lift for soft top storage over the winter but I'm curious to see if anyone else has come up with other ideas.

I am working on the exact same thing!

Have the SmarterHome Lift for my Hardtop and want to rig it up to do my Soft Top for the winter!

we should compare notes!

 

[RedTailHawk]

I am working on the exact same thing!

Have the SmarterHome Lift for my Hardtop and want to rig it up to do my Soft Top for the winter!

we should compare notes!

I'm looking to do the same with my Smarter Home hoist and a OEM soft top take-off I just bought.

 

[JWBroncoATL]

I'm looking to do the same with my Smarter Home hoist and a OEM soft top take-off I just bought.

I think I have a design worked up with some pipe from Home Depot and 90 degree elbows

I'll attach the pictures which will give you an idea (keep in mind the soft top is upside down).

The idea is:

* 1/2" galvanized pipe with 90 degree elbows
* build basically a "sled" that will go under the soft top
* the "front pipe" will lock into place (see the image) on the bracket
* the "back pipe" will support most of the weight across the back ledge
* The "Side pipes" will take some of the weight and hold it all together as a box/sled
* use the Smarter Home strap/net that lifts the Hard Top to lift the sled (just run the straps under the galvanized pipes - the back and front)
* the balance should be about the same as the hardtop (fingers crossed)

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