My DIY Electric Hoist for Bronco Hardtop

[JimCA]

This is literally the best video I can recall - the hooks suddenly descending in unison made me laugh out loud at the ingenuity and surprise of it all, well done and thanks for sharing Rob!

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[rsmag9]

This is literally the best video I can recall - the hooks suddenly descending in unison made me laugh out loud at the ingenuity and surprise of it all, well done and thanks for sharing Rob!

thanks guys, the whole group has me laughing at the comments. If anyone decides to do a similar setup I’ll try to get an actual parts list and some more pics/vids

 

[jonboy1225]

I saw some cool Jeep hardtop hoists online and made one for my 2 door Bronco. I can have the top on or off in about 5 minutes by myself.

That's a pretty sweet setup! Crazy I was just thinking of an electric winch contraption while driving for work today, and this popped up in my Google feed

 

[Lazarus327]

I saw some cool Jeep hardtop hoists online and made one for my 2 door Bronco. I can have the top on or off in about 5 minutes by myself.

Rube Goldberg would be proud my brother, nice work!

 

[Signal Ahead]

It’s a little overdone but it works perfectly and I figured the super quick top removal or install was worth it. I also like how everything gets sucked up into the pvc tubes and is out of sight when the top is on the bronco.

Agree completely. Clean, concise and barely noticeable from the garage. Hey I am sure you know this, but I didn't because I never removed my top(prob never will); but I have heard several horror stories and seen pics of folks who aren't careful with the "Guide Pins'' and the entire lower flat lip, which, from every post I have read, is agreed to be beyond flimsy, cracks horrendously!

Oh, god I see some of the pics and there are these horrific cracks running from the large torx screws that hold the top down. I have also heard that Ford will not cover these issues because they claim it is a handling mistake when removing and placing the tops back on.

From what I have decided after reading both sides, it seems like Ford (rather whom Ford hired/subbed to build the tops)built the lower flanges rather cheaply and they are in no way able to withstand the weight of the entire top on the two centering pins. But arguing from the buyer's perspective, there most certainly should be warning stickers in the user's guide/owner’s manual! Maybe a set of those silly red lightning bolts explaining to we the stoopid how the probability of horrendous and unacceptable fractures may occur. God! I have seen the pics and it would drive me absolutely crazy.

Yes, if needed, I could fab plates to cover the back and probably blend them in so you couldn't see them with a few days work and a lot of material I don't possess and would need to purchase to cover the large and structural unsafe cracks, but who the hell wants to do that to a 35 to 70 thousand dollar truck?

 

[Signal Ahead]

Key Note Roll Bar. If rolled it won't do nothing but collapse. So you're correct. Why not a Chromoly round tube roll cage that fastens to the Frame from front to rear. At least as a option that you could pay for. I would rather have a full cage with off road seats and 5 point harness over air bags.

Absolutely. I think, or should I say, hope, Ford took the time to figure all this out for strength. I don’t like how the windshield is free like a Miata. They could have easily run something down the center that would stop the majority of the windscreen folding in on you like a Denny’s serving tray coming down a mountain with three or four rolls. You would think with the research in the last decade and especially with this most horrendous F250 roof crush deal, which they are looking to get 3 billion out of, that roofs and folks safety would be a pretty important thing.

I will say, although the truck feels planted b/c of its weight. I have sat and looked at it after waxing on a Sunday and wondered what , if anything, that honeycomb resin back top would look like after three or four rolls down the side of a highway embankment. My immediate guess is not too good.

 

[MrParticular]

That's a tighter fit than my garage!

 

[eugenemoyer8]

How much does the top weigh on a two-door

 

[Hupp]

yes, if you can’t get heavy hooks you’ll want to find some weights

Awesome job on this rig! I'm going to steal this idea and rig one for my Bronco.

Curious if you remember where you got the heavy hooks. I'm having a hard time finding some that will have enough weight to keep the cables taut. Thanks!

 

[Mike D]

I’m trying to find an option other than Garage hoist. Admittedly, I’m not the most mechanically inclined person. I was thinking about installing a manual hoist under my deck in the backyard. Anybody have any thoughts on this? This space is wide enough and tall enough, shouldn’t be a problem to back underneath it.

 

[Mike D]

In case it wasn’t clear, this is for removing the hardtop.

 

[Dorf2point0]

I saw some cool Jeep hardtop hoists online and made one for my 2 door Bronco. I can have the top on or off in about 5 minutes by myself.

That is SO COOL.. Great job!

 

[rsmag9]

Awesome job on this rig! I'm going to steal this idea and rig one for my Bronco.

Curious if you remember where you got the heavy hooks. I'm having a hard time finding some that will have enough weight to keep the cables taut. Thanks!

sorry I don’t have a source for the hooks. I would recommend line weights, really the heavier the better.

 

[Hupp]

I ended up rigging up something similar but I didn't have the space to run the cables above the ceiling. Instead I routed the cables through a section of 4" irrigation pipe to prevent sagging when there is not much weight attached.

Works well for the hardtop on my vette as well!

 

[Dadsquatch]

I’m trying to find an option other than Garage hoist. Admittedly, I’m not the most mechanically inclined person. I was thinking about installing a manual hoist under my deck in the backyard. Anybody have any thoughts on this? This space is wide enough and tall enough, shouldn’t be a problem to back underneath it.

You should be able to make this work. Although, your biggest challenge may be that you're not mechanically inclined.

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