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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: Tsd on March 23, 2009, 12:45:30 PM

Title: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Tsd on March 23, 2009, 12:45:30 PM
Has anyone used/seen/built one of these hoist-a-top systems? My father and brother are really tired of me asking for help to remove the top of the jeep and I really want to have "hardtop independence"  :pirate:

(http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/901/901-md.jpg)
(http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/truckstuffusa_2043_44452510)
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Jeffy on March 23, 2009, 01:26:29 PM
They work but you could just as easily make one as well.  I'd probably use a T shape and have it inside the top to give it a bit more support.  You could use a pulley system if you don't have a come-a-long.
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: chardrc on March 23, 2009, 01:57:43 PM
how does that attatch to the back? do you have to take the window out??
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Tsd on March 23, 2009, 02:21:50 PM
how does that attatch to the back? do you have to take the window out??

Apparently not. they say that you don't have to modify anything to use it.

(http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/truckstuffusa_2045_10380037)

Even my grandma could use it!
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: jfrabat on March 23, 2009, 02:22:45 PM
I think Obi Wan's site had some instructions on how to make one for yourself with Home Depot parts (very cheap to make)
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Tsd on March 23, 2009, 03:02:01 PM
Here it is:

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/hoist.html

(http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/pics/ratchet_hoist01_720.jpg)

Only problem I see is that he has to pull every single support separately. The T support looks more easy to handle.
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Jeffy on March 23, 2009, 03:15:10 PM
The other problem with that setup is it will pull the sides outwards over time.  It's not a big deal but I'd rather have the top have no weight on the sides.
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Tsd on March 23, 2009, 05:04:52 PM
The other problem with that setup is it will pull the sides outwards over time.  It's not a big deal but I'd rather have the top have no weight on the sides.

Good point! The Lange Originals is at 159$ at quadratec, that's like 370$ in my doorstep at the end of the world. I think i will design my own T support and have it made (I don't have a welder machine  :'( ).
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Mozman68 on March 25, 2009, 07:23:34 AM
I had the manual one when I had my hard top...gave it to the guy who bought my hard top.

It worked great.

It is a standard come-along (came in the original box)...the t-setup was stock square tubing that the welded.  It also uses off the shelf hooks with rubber protection.

The nice thing about it was that the center support for the t-portion was a larger tube with welded on eye socket....it let you place the connection so the top was balanced when it was pulled off.
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: Jeffy on March 25, 2009, 02:40:57 PM
Good point! The Lange Originals is at 159$ at quadratec, that's like 370$ in my doorstep at the end of the world. I think i will design my own T support and have it made (I don't have a welder machine  :'( ).
You could probably make it from 2x4's and eye-bolts if you didn't want to make it form metal.  You could even use pipe.
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: oldjeep on March 26, 2009, 05:06:58 AM
That winch they use is one you can get at harborfreight for cheap. (79.99)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40765
I use one of the heavier versions for pulling engines.


If all you are looking for is hardware independance then just get under it and stand up, that is the only way I've ever removed a hard top or pickup topper.  They arn't that heavy.
Title: Re: Lange Originals Hoist-a-Top
Post by: jfrabat on March 26, 2009, 07:36:12 AM
If all you are looking for is hardware independance then just get under it and stand up, that is the only way I've ever removed a hard top or pickup topper.  They arn't that heavy.

I dont know about that; I have the targa top, and although I do take it off myself everytime it comes off, I have to say that balancing the top can be a bit of a PITA (and getting out from under the top once on the floor is a big PITA for me, but I am 6'5", so it may be easier for you).