Hard top storage?

[MikeHynes]

I've got a couple of hard tops that are taking up way too much room just sitting on the floor. What's the best way to get these things out of the way? How do you store yours?

[toplessexpat]

On top of my spider if you've got a couple just laying around!

Otherwise - there are wheeled racks that work pretty well. The Porsche Boxster one is insanely expensive but fits really well ($1800!), I've seen ones designed for mercedes that look pretty similar (around $400), and generic ones that probably work very well (around $200 from memory... Which may be rose tinted!).

I had a removable hard top on an old Freelander. It was really (really) a pain with just one person. So, I built a simple ceiling hoist out of two block and tackle sets in my garage. Reversed in, unclipped the top, put a simple wooden frame inside, hooked on the block and tackle ends, and hoisted it off. Took about 2 mins in operation, and a weekend afternoon to install. I put in an emergency wire to allay my fears of falling (it never did), kept the hardtop nicely out of the way, and looked kinda cool.

A

[joelittel]

Like Topless I hang mine from the ceiling of my garage. Once you have your hoist built it's super easy to put the top on or take it off. I simply pull a rope to lift or lower the top. For storage I tie the rope off on a hitch and the hardtop stays suspended above the car all summer. But it does get CRAZY dusty up there in the rafters of your garage, so keep that in mind.

I built mine based on a bicycle hoist I saw advertised in Bicycle Times a few years back. Mine uses 4 pulleys and two separate ropes. I connect it to the hardtop using zip ties.

[MarkKrieger]

You'll find fine generic hardtop holders for about $100 on ebay. My old MB and old Corvette both have hardtops, and both cars use these to store the top in a fraction of the space it would take otherwise -- since it sits vertically. And the holder comes with a light canvas cover too.

[MikeHynes]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll try the Harbor Freight kayak holder upper. That should get them up off the floor. Now I'll just have nightmares about them falling down!
Mike

[bradartigue]

PVC pipe works fine; you can build a floor standing vertical stand (essentially a box) that you slip the top into with a few pieces of PVC and about $20 invested.

[DieselSpider]

Just be mindful of the seals and how the top is constructed. You do not want to put stress cracks in it from spreading things that are not meant to take a constant lateral pull or be cinched so that you end up with a distorted top or damaged leaking seals.