Electric top hoist for garage - my solution

[feeble]

I needed a way to remove and store my 2-door hardtop - here is what I came up with.. Everything was bought at Menards. I didn't use the brackets that came with the hoist and made my own. I was able to lag into three roof trusses with the 2 x 6 which should easily support the weight. The only thing I had on hand was some hardware and the materials that I made the hoist bracket out of - 1-3/4" square tube about 12" long and some leftover pre-punched flat bar from a garage door install. Cost me $220 after the 11% rebate including the hoist, ratchet straps, pre-punched angles and square tube, j-hooks, eye bolt, pool noodle, etc.

Took a little experimenting to find the CG front to back.

My ceiling is ~10'4" and the bottom of the hardtop is ~6'-8". I'm 5'-8" so this isn't an issue.

At some point, I'll likely add some means of storing the two removeable front panels.

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[MayhemMike]

I really like the connector you have as the go between , and I might make one of those myself, but the ratchet straps, no way. Ten foot long nylon straps work for the two door top. I would lose sleep knowing my irreplaceable top was relying on those ratchets. Well done.

 

[Gilligans_off]

how is the rubber seal holding up afterward? Is there any deformation? I'm just worried about creating leakage points for water/air after having the straps sitting on the gaskets.

 

[feeble]

how is the rubber seal holding up afterward? Is there any deformation? I'm just worried about creating leakage points for water/air after having the straps sitting on the gaskets.

Don’t know yet, but that is definitely on my mind

 

[jdawg]

Stop messing around with the lift and get that hot rod going! Made me think about the Ford XB Falcon GT. What is it?

 

[DudeBronco]

I did the same, but mounted the electric winch in the attic and dropped the cable and remote through pipes.

Here's a link to the 8' straps I used if anyone's interested: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0078RPGD4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Stache12]

Good ideas, I have a 4 door coming and I'm thinking of trying to utilize the 4 roof rack mounting points to hoist up the rear section.

 

[Jroub21]

I have a gladiator, waiting on my bronco, of course. So instead of ordering a specific gladiator lift knowing I would have to possibly Jerry rig it once the bronco came, I made my own as well.
It ain’t pretty but it does work. I was right around $100 on the entire set up.

 

[cmcbronco]

Had a thread awhile back about this. Definitely critical to find the balance point of the top. Also you’ll want a safety catch just in case for some reason your lift were to fail. Especially if you park your bronco under it like I do lol.

 

[KANE COUNTY ILLINOIS]

I have a gladiator, waiting on my bronco, of course. So instead of ordering a specific gladiator lift knowing I would have to possibly Jerry rig it once the bronco came, I made my own as well.
It ain’t pretty but it does work. I was right around $100 on the entire set up.

I love the color of your Gladiator! I was so close in ordering that same color late last year while my Bronco was sitting at MAPS! Lucky you! I need to install a hoist, too!

 

[Jroub21]

I love the color of your Gladiator! I was so close in ordering that same color late last year while my Bronco was sitting at MAPS! Lucky you! I need to install a hoist, too!

Thanks. It seriously was the color that totally sucked me in. Went in thinking I was gonna get a wrangler out of frustration for waiting on the bronco, then this Gecko was sitting there and I fell in love with it.
I used to talk so much shit on gladiators too.

 

[Joemama]

Had a thread awhile back about this. Definitely critical to find the balance point of the top. Also you’ll want a safety catch just in case for some reason your lift were to fail. Especially if you park your bronco under it like I do lol.

Where did you get the straps? the 2 middle ones that go to the winch cable?

 

[atx_chance]

Some awesome looking broncos, gladiators, and fun toys in these garages haha. Nice job on the lifts

 

[niterider006]

Surprised no one has come up with a way to stick mounting points on the hardtop so you don't have to wrap straps around the whole top.

 

[BottleShark]

I needed a way to remove and store my 2-door hardtop - here is what I came up with.. Everything was bought at Menards. I didn't use the brackets that came with the hoist and made my own. I was able to lag into three roof trusses with the 2 x 6 which should easily support the weight. The only thing I had on hand was some hardware and the materials that I made the hoist bracket out of - 1-3/4" square tube about 12" long and some leftover pre-punched flat bar from a garage door install. Cost me $220 after the 11% rebate including the hoist, ratchet straps, pre-punched angles and square tube, j-hooks, eye bolt, pool noodle, etc.

I did the same, but mounted the electric winch in the attic and dropped the cable and remote through pipes.

Had a thread awhile back about this. Definitely critical to find the balance point of the top. Also you’ll want a safety catch just in case for some reason your lift were to fail. Especially if you park your bronco under it like I do lol.

My plan was to hook to the front bolt mounts for my front attachment point, so I wouldn't be on the gaskets. Any reason y'all didn't

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