- First Name
- Doug
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2024
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 76
- Location
- N.E. Wisconsin
- Vehicle(s)
- 1969 & 1997 GT Mustangs and '24 Bronco Big Bend 7MT
- Your Bronco Model
- Big Bend
- Thread starter
- #1
When I took off the hardtop and put on the soft top last spring pulling the hardtop with the Lange Hardtop Hoist I bought was a piece of cake.
Putting the soft top on was a bit of a struggle due to it's awkwardness and that was with 3 of us. I'm surprised we did not scratch anything setting it in place.
Anyway, I also had bought a generic hoist from Harbor Freight and built a custom lifting frame around the Styrofoam pallet that the soft top came on so I could store it on that up off the floor. So I figured I could somehow use the hoist after I brought the soft top down to install and remove it from the Bronco.
Figured some sort of straps would work and the goal was to lift it somewhat level.
First bought a single 20' tow strap from Menards and marked the center so I'd have even lengths going to each side then did some creative wrapping to use up the rest of the length so we could remove the top. This worked but it was still awkward even with the 3 of us guiding it up. The strap wanted to slip and it did not want to lift level, but we got it off.
I figured 2 equal length shorter straps / 1 for each side would be the answer and bought (2) 4FT & (2) 6.5FT x 2" wide from Amazon. Well the 4FT ended up being the perfect length. Also made lifting bar consisting of a simple 2x4x5FT long with a 3/8-16 Eyelet screw long enough to go though the 3.5" width at the middle (nut & washer on the bottom) and two wood screws on the ends so the straps cant slip off.
I did not have a 5' 2x4 or a 4" or longer eyelet bolt laying around so mine is made of a 2x3 & 2x2 screwed together and a shorter eyelet bolt.
With the awkward single 20' strap:
With the two 4FT Lifting Slings ... lifts nice (level enough for me) and just one wrap of the strap on each side catching the lip at the back and routed as a choker:
Putting the soft top on was a bit of a struggle due to it's awkwardness and that was with 3 of us. I'm surprised we did not scratch anything setting it in place.
Anyway, I also had bought a generic hoist from Harbor Freight and built a custom lifting frame around the Styrofoam pallet that the soft top came on so I could store it on that up off the floor. So I figured I could somehow use the hoist after I brought the soft top down to install and remove it from the Bronco.
Figured some sort of straps would work and the goal was to lift it somewhat level.
First bought a single 20' tow strap from Menards and marked the center so I'd have even lengths going to each side then did some creative wrapping to use up the rest of the length so we could remove the top. This worked but it was still awkward even with the 3 of us guiding it up. The strap wanted to slip and it did not want to lift level, but we got it off.
I figured 2 equal length shorter straps / 1 for each side would be the answer and bought (2) 4FT & (2) 6.5FT x 2" wide from Amazon. Well the 4FT ended up being the perfect length. Also made lifting bar consisting of a simple 2x4x5FT long with a 3/8-16 Eyelet screw long enough to go though the 3.5" width at the middle (nut & washer on the bottom) and two wood screws on the ends so the straps cant slip off.
I did not have a 5' 2x4 or a 4" or longer eyelet bolt laying around so mine is made of a 2x3 & 2x2 screwed together and a shorter eyelet bolt.
With the awkward single 20' strap:
With the two 4FT Lifting Slings ... lifts nice (level enough for me) and just one wrap of the strap on each side catching the lip at the back and routed as a choker:
Sponsored
Last edited:
!!! Love this!
