To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Truck canopy lift

jonesy16

Active member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
36
I am looking to outfit my garage with some sort of contraption that will allow me to lift the canopy off of my truck by myself, and allow it to hang from the ceiling when not in use. Has anyone else had any experience with a similar project? Pictures would be of real value to me. Thank you!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

ffjosh

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
475
Location
IN
Cheap electric 1500lb winch from TSC.
attach winch to very top of ceiling near the roof.
Hoist it up to the ceiling with straps.
climp up ladder.
Un hook and drop into attic.

Also works for hanging your deer:thumbup:
 

metaleltr

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
2,680
Location
Western Ohio
They make lifts for the jeep hardtops.

Hoist-photo-first-version.jpg
\

You could make a cradle that lifts from the rear glass and the sliding window openings if you have them. Other wise a thin plate that would slide between the bed rail and the canopy could work.
 

Bender78

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
1,422
Location
Northwest CT
Check out member "The Shrine"s garage build thread. I seem to recall that he had such a set up in his garage.
 
OP
J

jonesy16

Active member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
36
Excellent posts by the three of you so far. I hope to see more ideas and pics from others as well. NEVER too many ideas!
 

R6 Racer

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
1,632
Location
Northern Ontario Canada
It's not a truck top but I have a rope & pulley system for the roof top box that we use on our car.

Steve
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4538.jpg
    IMG_4538.jpg
    94.6 KB · Views: 70
  • IMG_4539.jpg
    IMG_4539.jpg
    52.7 KB · Views: 57
  • IMG_4540.jpg
    IMG_4540.jpg
    89.2 KB · Views: 53

Matt M PA

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
3,174
Location
SE PA
My Dad and I had something similar rigged up to lift a hardtop off his car.

We had it mounted all the way at the top of the garage...then had a partial floor so that once it was lifted we would just pull it onto the "floor".
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

denis4x4

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
510
Location
Durango CO
Here's the HF winch installation I used to lift the cover off my "pond". Bolted the winch to a couple of 2X4's and then I used 3/8" threaded rod to hold the winch in place with two more 2x4's in the attic.
 

Attachments

  • DSC03198.jpg
    DSC03198.jpg
    134 KB · Views: 62
  • DSC03197.jpg
    DSC03197.jpg
    139.6 KB · Views: 72
  • DSC03199.jpg
    DSC03199.jpg
    135.5 KB · Views: 81

daveroy

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
735
Location
Omaha NE
Hope your garage is deep or high. Otherwise the Canopy against the cieling is going to be in the way of the garage door...maybe back in to take it off?
 

On1Wheel

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 17, 2011
Messages
349
Location
NE Texas
I know guys who just use ratchet straps on the four corners to lift their tops off their Jeeps. Bolt four eye hooks into ceiling rafters, attach the straps and slowly ratchet them up in small increments until it's out of the way. Cheap, easy and assuming you aren't doing it every weekend, not too big a pain in the ****.

If you fab up a hoist like the Jeep lift posted earlier, the main concern would be to get the balance point exactly right.
 

Stuart in MN

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23,135
Location
Minneapolis
I know guys who just use ratchet straps on the four corners to lift their tops off their Jeeps. Bolt four eye hooks into ceiling rafters, attach the straps and slowly ratchet them up in small increments until it's out of the way. Cheap, easy and assuming you aren't doing it every weekend, not too big a pain in the ****.

When I had a topper on my truck this is what I did. It was a little slow as you have to go around and around, lifting each corner a little at a time, but it works.
 

metaleltr

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
2,680
Location
Western Ohio
Two people can lift one off so unless you make a habit out of removing and installing it it shouldn't be a big deal.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom