Newbie Questions

I understand the itch to have hardtop off. I live in So. Calif. where the weather is a bit more friendly towards that. Now I often have “things” that need to be secured so now I seldom take it off. My Rubi came with a soft top that I finally trashed. I really only enjoyed the soft top while on vacation in Moab.

The key for you is taking it on and off semi quickly and maybe doing it by yourself. You might want to investigate the hard top lifts out there. You make me want to design and build a rolling hard top lift that comes apart easily with trailer hitched parts.

Wow, that's awesome! Wish I had that kind of room 😬

Butter Bean said:

I live in Illinois. This is what I built from leftover wood from building a couple of workbenches. The height is at the tub line (in the first pic I am on the elevated portion of the lift). Basically, I pull the cart to the back and slide the top off effortlessly. The longest portion is removing the hard top bolts, etc. The shelves are for the doors. I put some flip-down casters (second pic) for easy moving for storage. I use a small piece of wood to secure the rear hatch in the down position.

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I want your lift!!!!!!!

First tip, make sure your doors are open or you will scratch them.
Second tip, if the top has been on for a long time, the rubber gasket below it will stick it to the tub. to break it free, remove the bolts and standing on the seat slowly lift the top near the front so the angle will slowly break the seal.
Third tip put it down slowly and carefully, torquing the top can crack the window.
Forth tip, for the front bolts, the nuts are not secured in plastic, and will drop behind the seatbelt and disappear. put your hand below it holding it when removing the bolt..

Elwarpo said:

First tip, make sure your doors are open or you will scratch them.
Second tip, if the top has been on for a long time, the rubber gasket below it will stick it to the tub. to break it free, remove the bolts and standing on the seat slowly lift the top near the front so the angle will slowly break the seal.
Third tip put it down slowly and carefully, torquing the top can crack the window.
Forth tip, for the front bolts, the nuts are not secured in plastic, and will drop behind the seatbelt and disappear. put your hand below it holding it when removing the bolt..

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Great info, thank you! I've done it twice now and the only casualties so far is some scratches to the rear corner of the right 1/4 panel because it is too heavy for my wife to lift easily when reinstalling . . . trying to figure out how to modify an engine hoist to do the job from the inside easily, almost there . . .