Great Video. Just a heads up reminder to those who are watching. Remember to put the 2x4 on the back outside of the spare tire before you pull forward!!!
Thanks for the video! I just installed this in my garage today and it's fantastic and cheap! I bought a 2x4x12 and had Home Depot cut it into 2 6ft sections in the store and then used the same idea from the rear of the hardtop to hold the front in place without worry of the hooks rubbing on the outside! Works awesome!
Top notch ... love all your DIY and other vids. Great editing and flow. I never feel I am burning time watching a amateur at work or play. You Sir are a Pro that values your viewers time and it shows on everything you do. Thanks for that Eddie
This guy really has talent. Some people have been blessed to see things through to the end. I have watched some of his other videos and he is pretty darn good with building that jeep. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for this diy video! I’m not the best at doing diy projects but, this was very simple to do and not time consuming at all! Plus I actually cleaned out my garage to make room.
I did this tonight - took about 30 minutes because I was by myself and I started with the hardtop on the floor of my garage. I had put it on a dolly instead of hanging it but it’s heavier than I can handle with a friend so in the process of removing it I scratched the hardtop and my Jeep! UGH! So I saw this video and after being angry I didn’t start here first I went to work getting it done. Spent $10 bucks at harbor freight on tie downs and another $5 at Lowes on eyelets and a 2x4. It took me awhile to hoist it up off the floor high enough to drive my Jeep under it in the garage but wow am I so happy I did this. You don’t need an electric hoist - I’m sure it’s nice to have but realistically you only need to raise it a few inches off the Jeep and you are good to go. Thank you so much for sharing. The only thing I don’t Iove is how the hooks hold the inside front of the top - I want to pad it with something better than foam padding so next time I will use cloth or rubber to protect the inside of the fiberglass. Otherwise this method is awesome! Thank you for sharing. Oh I did this to my JKU by the way. Save your money for other Jeep toys!
So glad that we could be of help to you with this video. For the front hooks, I just put rags between them and the top. This has always worked well for me.
My father did something very similar for his truck topper. You could also drill holes in the 2x4 and use bolts to hold the hard top to the board versus zipties to make it even more secure.
When I had mine I used 4 eyes, and 2 straps and routed the straps from “c-post” spot thru the back with window open. Was actually pretty easy to do solo too when going topless.
Thanks for the idea. I just spent under $30 & made a hardtop hoist for my TJ top. Using this method except I pit a 2x4 under the front & rear. Works great. I can finally remove & install the top by myself & it stores perfectly! Very happy with the results ✌️
Awesome! Happy to hear we were able to help you out with this video. I should note, I first came up with it back when we first got our TJ many many moons ago LOL
With a little modification, my husband and I made this idea for Hardtop Hoist, work for my LJ Hardtop. Thank you for uploading this video. We enjoy watching your videos (especially our 2 1/2 year old son).
This video is just what I needed! I had spent all my money on my lift and tires. Built this in about an hour today and it works great! Thanks. I love your channel.
Installed mine today and it works great. Only thing that took the longest was finding the studs to drill the holes for the eyelets. Once that was figured out I had it hung in less than an hour!! Thanks for such a great video. And all for less than $50!!
You win a cookie for talking about the 8 bolts and the harness and hose. Most don't. Just get some Topsy brand brackets that bolt on between the window hinges and the top. Hook your ratchet straps to those at the back. Really lessens the chance of scratches on the body and no chance of slipping out from under like the board. I saw the zip ties. Good idea.
Found this video while surfing for DIY hoist ideas. Best video out there! Really nice job! I like how I was able to buy the same hooks you showed. I bought heavy duty 6 foot cam buckle tie downs (rated 800lbs) from HF for 20bucks. They were great! and don't slip. Your video made it very easy (and entertaining) to install.
Hell yeah! Great video. Had ratchet straps, stud finder and power tools. Total cost was around $15 for 2X4 and eye bolts-plus my sweat in this Texas heat. Easily done in two hours taking my time. Almost bought one online for $300 and found this video. I’m a semi-advanced DIY’er, but someone with minimal handy skills could complete this project. For me, it wasn’t about cost of the numerous online kits, It was about overpaying for things I can get myself at HD/Lowe’s. Easy as pie. Will recommend!
I did the same thing a week ago in Texas. Super easy. But what he failed to mention is how the 40" gap between the rear and front doesn't land on a stud for the front straps installation. I had to use one of those drywall hangers with the anchor in back, to keep it stable. I was wondering if you had to do the same thing.
Thanks for this video. This was exactly what I was looking for. My wife is not tall enough and her arms aren't long enough to help lift the top off. So we've been researching lift options but didn't want to spend $200 plus on a lift system since we won't be talking if off for more than a couple days at a time. I enjoy your videos as you don't spend a lot of time with a lot of extra hype and screaming at the beginning or during your video. You get the job done. Have a blessed day.
Thank you just saved me $600 bucks! I was minutes away from ordering a hoist, I was actually looking on YT to see how easy the hoist was to use and found you!
New to the Jeep world and ran across your video. Wanted to take the top off but didn’t want to spend the money for a hoist. Simple install...BAM! Thanks for sharing. Excellent video...and only one trip to Home Depot👍
I just build an 8' x 9' "deck" in my garage at a height of 8'. I put all of the garage stuff that usually clutters the floor up on top of it and now I can back my jeep in under it. So my eyelets actually go through the decking and I hoist mine up the same way. Back in, get 4 straps to each order, hoist it up, drive out (still thinking about the best way to hoist though, this video used a board on the back and just hooks on the front, some use 2 boards so no hooks digging into the top, some no boards and just strap each side front to back instead of side to side) Just a note, this video is a JL, on the JK there isn't a electrical/washer holder, you just have to tuck them somewhere. And I believe with either, you have to be careful about not activating the rear washer fluid when disconnected or you could be washing the inside of your jeep :) Nice job on this though, very easy.
Good system! I built my own also. Consider adding two 6ft "lifting slings" (webbing) and run them front to back on each side, with the rear window in the up position. there's NO chance the roof will slip out, and you don't have to lift the top off the Jeep at all to get that 2x4 underneath it.
I have been trying to figure out how I wanted to build my hoist. Every time I come up with a plan, it is overly engineered. This was brilliant, easy and inexpensive!
I was way too distracted by the Jeep itself that I had to watch the how-to part all over again. Beautiful looking Jeep and thank you for the video. I almost ordered the $300 + tax (CDN) hoist system. You've got another subscriber.
At 1st I thought we were on the same page but ya went left on me lol. I used 4 EYEBOLTS !! LOL ( screw eyes lmao ) and two ratchet straps , feed the straps threw side window area and out the back window then hook them to the eyebolts and simply ratchet the straps evenly until top is off and high enough. This way you have no steel hooks digging into the top and ya have nice soft strap against it. Either way it beats big money or yelling for help to remove the top. And if your happy then I m happy. ... nice vid
I just installed this today. Works great. Its summer here in the mountains of Colorado now, so perfect time to take the top off....although it did just snow last weekend. Thanks for the video!
WoW this how-to video is spot on... I recently got my very first Jeep (it's a 4xe and lovin' the jeep vibes). Honestly saying I'm not a handy man but with your awesome video tutorial, It gives me confidence & believe that I can do this by myself. Planning to visit Lowe's this weekend... keep making videos, you are helping a lot of people like me.
I watched this video at lunch time at the office. I’ve been looking for a hoist system since I got my JK last weekend. I realized I already had the straps, so I hit Lowes on the way home and bought 6 eye hooks. Came home. Found the studs in the ceiling. Screwed em in. The only difference between mine and what you see in the video is I didn’t need the 2x4. My Jeep came with a Smittybuilt Defender Rack on the top so I just attached the hooks to the 4 corners and clicked each ratchet like 3 times to raise it like 4 inches. Then I pulled out on to the drive way. Getting it back on was even easier. You use your 3rd brake light as a “crosshairs and try and “split the uprights” when backing in, keeping it dead-center between the 2 vertical edges of your back window. OMG, Thanks so much for this. Out of pocket cost? $7.78.
Thank you again for your great vedio. Had a wrangler but never took the top off because I was scared of the job. Now I see how easy I can get it done and I will definately try it this summer.
You sir have saved me so much money with your DIY stuff. We have both a two door and four door Jeep between the hoist and the door hangers (another video) and they both work out great, Thanks!
THANK YOU! We were just at a dealer and I was shying away from a hard top because we don’t have anywhere to store it. Not sure if only having a soft top wouod be a drawback, so this was most helpful.
If you have spend about $125.00, buy a Harbor Freight electric hoist (use a coupon) and bolt it to the ceiling rafters. Then, using similar tie-down setup, you have a cheap-o electrified solution.
U made it look so easy and way under anyone budget and it is such a simple solution to ant wrangler owner worse nightmare when u only have one adult male at home. I probably don't have the gut to diy don't want have holes on pipe that maybe run on top garage cuz have two stories home.
Great Video, I am actually getting ready to remove my hard top and hang it up, I just took some time to find and mark the studs in my garage ceiling and tomorrow going to take it off in preparation for a soft top!!! Thanks so much
Awesome video, my garage isn't deep enough to leave the hard top hanging, but modifying the idea a little bit will allow me to be able to remove the top by myself and just store on the floor of the garage (yep losing one car parking spot in the garage, but top off in summer is the best)
Thanks for posting. Best set up a saw and I redid mine and used cam lock straps with your 2x6 back support beam. Worked out perfectly. I used the holes from the two front roof bolts for the front hooks. I assume that will be fine. Thanks again!
Can’t thank you enough for sharing this great video. You made this hoist installation look so flippin simple for someone like myself with basic handyman skills. Your measurements were clutch. Once I found the joists, I knocked it out in about an hour and a half. The most challenging part was removing the top the first time. (Ol l l lO) Ride on 🤙🏼
Great detail on setting up the lift, but I wish there was the same attention to the actual removal. I wasn’t paying close enough attention and had the 2x4 on the inside of the spare. When I went to pull away it almost slid off. Thankfully I noticed before it happened. This should have been a common sense thing, but I did miss it somehow.
I don't know why im watching this video anyways. I just bought a jlu rubi today! I did the one thing I told myself not too, and that is get the one touch power top. Man when I saw it I had to have it. It is soooooo coooool. I love it.
easy peasy, i made a similar set up for hard top removal, I just used ratchet straps so i could raise it up even higher. I want to get a small electric hoist next to raise it all the way to the ceiling
