How to store a large turtle top?

[HiccaBurp]

I have one messy garage documented here... http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79707

I've been working on it and you all will be proud soon One thing I'm trying to figure out is how to store our large turtle top? Any suggestions?

 

[Lynnhowlyn]

On top of one of your cars?

 

[bchee]

That definitely needs to go on the ceiling with some kind of rope or straps, or hoist. If it fits in that attic opening then even better.

 

[jerseywild]

Fits nicely in the attic.

 

[JCQuick]

That definitely needs to go on the ceiling with some kind of rope or straps, or hoist. If it fits in that attic opening then even better.

I was thinking the same thing

 

[rodnok1]

Easiest way I have done is to build a bracket that slips into the mounts on one side(hinge side) with a round lug extending from bracket up and hang on lag bolt into wall. It is very easy with two people to hang in just a minute. I hung mine that way for a long time until I build a mount for the hitch and bolted it to that, now I just hang the whole deal as one.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

screw four eye bolts into ceiling joists 2 bungee cords accorss bottom and done

 

[usmc_noma]

How does it attach to the vehicle? Maybe you could rig something on the ceiling to have it attach the same way, but just upside down.

 

[jocool1585]

Depending on how you've got the vehicle attachment part setup on it - put 4 eye bolts in the ceiling (joists), permanently tie one end of the rope to two of the bolts, and then run the rope through the other 2 bolts and down. Let the rope "sag" down in the middle. I use 2 or 4 caribiners to hook the rope to the car top carrier and then pull it up... make sense?

 

[LEVE]

For a few bucks you could do what I did... I had a wading pool I didn't want cluttering up the garage, or sitting out in the weather over the winter. I took some 1/2" PVC pipe and made a cradle for the pool. Then I took some 3/4" PVC pipe and made hinges. The hinges were screwed to the wall above the garage door (wasted space?). I could then just place the pool in the cradle and use a rope to raise/lower it in a matter of seconds.

 

[beltfeed]

That thing looks large enough to be use as a boat in the off season! How about a platform with pulleys to the ceiling. Then just raise it up to store it against the ceiling.

 

[xcgates]

I've got one sitting in my yard I'm looking at ways to mount, and my current thought was to rig up PVC pipe for the box to clamp onto (just like the roof crossbars).

Stick some elbows on the ends of the pvc, possibly even 2 45* elbows on each end of the pipe to reduce the chance of scuffing the rope, and rig up some pulleys mounted to the ceiling. When I want to mount it on the car, all I'd have to do is lower it onto the car. (assuming it would fin through the garage door, don't use it enough to care, though)

I'll go measure my attic access, though.

 

[HiccaBurp]

Some great ideas!! The attic access is not big enough to get this thing thru..

The upside down on rope or bars sound good and easy. My only concern is the lid pulling on the hinges and latch all that time?

I've got an idea brewing in my head similar to what LEVE did.. I think I'll be going to the hardware store soon.

Keep'em coming!!

 

[Buckled]

I don't have a "turtle top", but instead have one of the open Thule roof baskets. I store mine on the ceiling using 2 bike hoists. I'm able to lower it onto the roof and lift it off when done ( http://www.racorinc.com/Products.aspx?id=104 ). I'm thinking about replacing it with one of these electric hoists http://www.garagegator.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GG&Product_Code=GGR125

Sometimes the bike hoists lower it unevenly, so one side of the rack lowers faster than the other and I have to relevel it. My rack is all metal and somewhat heavy so I prefer to lower right onto the roof rack. The fact that it comes down out of level worries me that I could end up damaging the car so that is why I plan on switching to the electric hoist. Your turtle top might be lighter than mine and the bike hoist might work out OK for you.

 

[mobetta]

I throw mine up on the roof of the shed

 

[nate379]

Just something to think about, maybe flip it upside down so come summer you don't have 10lbs of grinder dust, sawdust, paint overspray, etc in the pool.

For a few bucks you could do what I did... I had a wading pool I didn't want cluttering up the garage, or sitting out in the weather over the winter. I took some 1/2" PVC pipe and made a cradle for the pool. Then I took some 3/4" PVC pipe and made hinges. The hinges were screwed to the wall above the garage door (wasted space?). I could then just place the pool in the cradle and use a rope to raise/lower it in a matter of seconds.

 

[arizonaadam]

Lol, I just spent my morning thinking about the same thing while drinking a few PBR and cleaning/remodeling/repairing my 40yo garage. I've settled on a wood/pvc mounting bracket on the wall since I've got some unused space behind the door. Other option if I had higher ceilings was rope and pulley. HF sells everything you could need for such a project. Third option - rejected due to cheapskatery - was a purpose built lift platform sold by costco. Good luck, and please post PICTURES when you're done.

 

[LEVE]

Just something to think about, maybe flip it upside down so come summer you don't have 10lbs of grinder dust, sawdust, paint overspray, etc in the pool.

I considered that, but there's more strength to the pool when it's stored in this manner. Otherwise the rim may have become bent from sitting on the mount. I'm wondering just what insect/critter may try to move in. They're going to get a surprise (me too!) come summer.

 

[Lippyp]

Mine goes in the attic of the house. Which reminds me, I need to take the roof bras off it and shove it back up there for the winter as its currently cluttering up the garage after our last french trip.

 

[ChristopherLutz]

You are in luck - I just so happen to have this very same Yakima. I assume you also have the cross bars?

If so, put the box on your car - exactly the way you want it to fit. Then, instead of taking the box off the cross bars, take the whole thing (while clamped to the cross bars off the car.

I then used large "C" hooks, right into my studs up as high as they could go...hang the cross bar on the hooks and the box stays up nicely very close the wall.

I'll try and get a pic - it's tucked away and the garage is a disaster right now....