Just removed hard top for 20th time. Observations & tips

[jp925]

Noobie question, I pull my front panels off all the time on my 4dr. But for the life of me I can’t figure out how to easily pull the middle panel solo without dragging it or bumping it around. I’m 6ft, and can lift and maneuver it solo with easy once it’s off the truck…. But getting the top off….. any tricks I’m missing?

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[Briley]

4) When you set the rear section on the ground, do not let it rest on the location pins. They are not designed to carry the whole weight. I put mine on some 2x6's.

I removed the guide pins the first time I took the back part off.

 

[LowerSlowerDelaware]

No Offense OP but tell us the Truth

You been skipping ”Leg Days” for awhile now, haven’t you?

You’re with the rest of us in the “Dad Bod” Bronco Club so watch your back.

You ain’t a youngster no’mo

Only thing worst than a sprained back or pinched disk is a sprained wallet if you drop your MIC

 

[subg]

No Offense OP but tell us the Truth

You been skipping ”Leg Days” for awhile now, haven’t you?

lol, I actually don't skip leg day. Just take a week to recover, not 1-2 days like back in the day.

I've had all the injuries, pretty sure in the end I'm just going to implode & there will be a pile of dust on the ground.

 

[Sholm0311]

23' 4 door took the hard top off myself for the first time just sat the hard top in my yard.

 

[Maine Explorer]

I removed the guide pins the first time I took the back part off.

A playful joking way of saying you snapped them off the first time you put it down or are you onto something smart?

If the latter, any downsides? I guess they're only there to help line things up and I can use my eyes for that. Should we all do this? They make the whole process a pain since it prevents sliding the top on.

 

[Deucey]

Noobie question, I pull my front panels off all the time on my 4dr. But for the life of me I can’t figure out how to easily pull the middle panel solo without dragging it or bumping it around. I’m 6ft, and can lift and maneuver it solo with easy once it’s off the truck…. But getting the top off….. any tricks I’m missing?

No real answer here, but I get inside the car and pop it up from underneath and kind of shimmy it to one side and then get out and try to lift it clean - with varying success. Not pretty and not easy (and doesn't answer your question) but one thing I'm going to try from this thread is sanding down the edges with 120 grit so they're not so friggin' sharp.

 

[Philvis77]

I've only taken the top off my 2-door once in almost 2 years. I don't have a garage and you need 2 (3 is the best) people to manually remove and put it back on. My son is only 11, so I really have to be reliant on help. This is one thing I am disappointed about. My brother has suggested we build a rig in my driveway out of 4x4's we can put a pulley on. I'll ponder this over the fall and winter.

 

[Discusman68]

Thanks for the observations. +1 for the Rockworks. I've had mine off and on 8 times. Attached are my removal/storage system. I use the Hooke Roade Storage Cart (www.hookeroad.com/products/doors-and-hardtops-storage-cart-jeep-wrangler-tj-jk-jl-hardtop-gladiator-jt-hardtop-ford-bronco-hardtop-b2076s) and the rear cover is on the RollnJack (www.rollnjack.com/products).

Love the rear window stickers! Go Buckeyes!!

 

[Roofus]

Go Dawgs. Beat Michigan.

 

[JonD]

Yeah, was planning on it. Thank you. I'll check those out.

Have them they are awesome

 

[Phil B]

I have some scratches on my roll bar where it rubbed while parking. Looking for some edge molding to prevent that.

 

[indio22]

I removed the guide pins the first time I took the back part off.

Same. Those Bronco hardtop pins provide little value and were an accident waiting to happen.

Reinstalling the top is actually easier without the pins, because the top can be rested down and then repositioned into place, without risk of the pins scratching the paint or cracking something if initially misaligned.

fyi, some Jeeps had locating pins (not as long) and often those were removed or lost by owners, and the tops worked fine without them.

 

[Briley]

A playful joking way of saying you snapped them off the first time you put it down or are you onto something smart?

If the latter, any downsides? I guess they're only there to help line things up and I can use my eyes for that. Should we all do this? They make the whole process a pain since it prevents sliding the top on.

No snapping. I had read here that others were doing the same because of the issues of the weight sitting on them while trying to put the top back on and get them perfectly in place. I just held the bottom with pliers and unscrewed them.
They are totally unnecessary when putting the top back on. It’s not difficult to line the top up properly without them.

 

[Eharris55]

Has anyone stored their 2-door hardtop vertically on a Hooke Road cart? Space is at a premium for me and I’m trying to figure out if I can buy a solution or build a solution.

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