Hard top Hoist

[David K.]

Anyone use one on a C1? Or wouldn't you use one?

[Stuart F.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

I have one on a C-2 H.T. and it works well (I only use it when I move). Can't say about a C-1 as it seems the balance may be quite different. With the C-2, the main support "padded" cross bar sits right in the window notch, w/ straps up from the sides and under the center of the back window. Mine is in a zipped bag and seldom sees the light of day. The only time I know it is up there, over my hood, is when it blocks my light. I never would (again) try to lower it on to the car with the hoist, that's why (plus my door opener) it does not sit over the cockpit. I tried, in my youth, to lower it onto the car once by myself and scratched my deck - never again! Best to lower it onto the floor, and then with a good buddy, bring it up over the windshield and carefully guide it into position. You could come up over the rear, but I've always snagged my antenna. Having the doors open when you come from the back helps too. Otherwise you each have to lean over the side of the car more, and that thing can feel a whole lot heavier then, specially for us old guys w/ arthritis in the back!

Stu fox

[David K.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

Thanks Stu. I always used a helper, but sometimes it would be nice to take it off without a helper. I think I will pass on the idea and stay with a helper.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

Perhaps if the winch (not the wife) was powered, it would allow you both hands free to guide it. Don't know if they make such an animal or, if they do, what it might cost. That was my problem; it almost takes two hands to operate the hoist as there is very little M.A. there for the weight.

Stu

[Bruce B.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

Dave,
I have a manual hard top hoist and it works pretty good once you figure out the balance points.
The only thing I don't like is that you have to be real careful with the rear deck seal or you can tear or crack it. I put a folded towel under the seal and it seems to protect it .
Bruce B.

[Jack H.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

The one complaint I've heard is hoists wind up being a long term storage system and the straps 'bite' into the hard top's weather stripping resulting in rather permanent deformation....

[Stuart F.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

Jack;

I can attest to that as that is exactly what has happened to mine, and I really don't care. I doubt I will ever use it again in my life time. The last 3 times on the car was to move it when we moved. But, oh well. I have it and it's worth another $1,200. to my car (according to the latest "Corvette Magazine" market report). It never fit all that well, and there is a worse blind spot with it than the convertible top.

Stu Fox

[Bryan B.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

I came up with a idea to not have my top suppended over my car without worries. Most hoist don't for long term suppension so I used garage door channels and the garage door roolers. I built a moving shelf that will slide under the top when suppended and then lower it onto the shelf to take the pressuer of the top and the hoist. I can move the shelf out of the way to get to things above it and it fits nice over the garage door. Just and Idea.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

Bryan;

Sounds like a good idea. It always bothers me having that top hanging over my car. The last time I got really worried was during the Hurricanes of 2004. I could see my garage doors moving in and out and the wind was whistling in. I did use a extra large eye hook and my pulley rope is well secured, but still---- Maybe I should sell the thing.

Stu Fox

[Ralph A.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

I store my 71 HT over the garage door. If you have 2 ft clearance when the door is open. I took some 2 x 4 and built 2 U hangers. This does take 2 people to put up but works great. I happen to have exposed ceiling joices but if you have sheetrock then you need to put a plat on a joice.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

My garage has tile with same finish as the indoors. Every time I put a hook or hooks in, be them for the hoist or my fluorescent fixtures, I have to use a stud finder to locate a ceiling joist. Nine times out of ten I miss it and I carry a tube of bathroom calk to patch up my missed attempts (my standard procedure). Finally I strike pay dirt, then drill a pilot hole and thread in my hook. I use big ones that you need a tool to turn them in with. My hardtop is hung right under a bedroom that we use as an excercise room, so you know I'm always taking it easy on the treadmill, Ha!

Stu Fox

[Chuck L.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

Just one other problem that hasn't been mentioned. In addition to splitting the weatherstrip where the rear center strap rubs, I saw the right and left stainless drip moldings starting to get indentations where the straps rubbed on them, so I also had to stick pieces of terry cloth between the straps and the moldings. This worked fine for many years. Also, I found the original rope to be very hard to pull through the pulleys, so I eventually replaced it with a smoother nylon cord like clothesline cord. Worked much smoother.

[Steven B.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

Perhaps if the winch (not the wife) was powered, it would allow you both hands free to guide it. Don't know if they make such an animal or, if they do, what it might cost. That was my problem; it almost takes two hands to operate the hoist as there is very little M.A. there for the weight.

Stu

Two things I will NEVER do again:
1. Use the wench---my wife, and
2. Remove the top on my '57 myself, although in my younger years and standing up straddling the tunnel with the top on my head I nearly dropped it. Dumb.

My '57 top does not balance well in the hoist so I always get someone who understands to help.

Steve

[Gerald C.]

Re: Hard top Hoist

I use a hardtop hoist for my 63 which won't go back on the car until I sell the car (God forbid). However, in addition to the hoist holding the top up in my garage (over my 50th anniversary, so I need to be careful!) I put to safety ropes around the top to the ceiling bracket. Just be overly cautious.