|| BJ42 Hardtop storage ||

[creamycanuck]

Hi,

As spring approaches I plan to remove the hardtop from the BJ42 and have a Super Top installed. Does anyone have any recommendations how I can store the hardtop.

I have a car currently in storage so I am thinking I could make a wooden platform for the top to be stored on top of the car. I have never had the top off so I have no idea if it needs any specific bracing. Any ideas of pictures would sure help.

Thanks everyone.

James

 

[steverb]

you can take it all a part and it stores in a pretty small space. mine i just stand it up in the garage. just keep it off the wet ground.

 

[AJAEbj42]

I've stored mine for the summer on wood blocks to support the back and front. There are two 'pipes' that stick down into the tub right behind the front doors, so it doesn't sit perfectly flat. A couple of saw horses and a stack of short 2X4's should do the trick.

 

[creamycanuck]

It comes apart? Is this recommended to do?

Anyone with some pics so I can see what I am working with?
My space is very limited unless I make so saw horses to have the top sit over my stored car.

Pics would be really great if anyone has some.

thanks.

 

[Enigma]

40's are like a big lego set, the whole truck comes apart quite easily. There are rubber gaskets between all the parts for the roof, so I don't think its a big deal separating them. It's actually much easier to remove this way if you are doing it by yourself, as the fj40 top is rather cumbersome and heavy to do it solo, without some kind of hoisting mechanism.
Speaking of hoists, if you have the overhead room, a friend of mine with a ramcharger used a simple pulley system to remove his hardtop, and suspended it from the rafters. He could still drive in and out of his garage with the hardtop hanging there.

 

[Granite Grinder]

I don't have pictures (heck, I don't own a hardtop anymore). This is what I used to do: Unbolt the very top (white roof) from the sides. Slide it onto the floor, headliner facing up, make sure it is close to where you want to hang it. Put the straps around it, attach mini block and tackle (pulley). This can be tricky, the straps want to slide, I left the Thule rack on to help keep the straps in place. Start removing the sides, back door braces (whilst snapping every 10mm bolt you encounter) and place the pieces (with shipping blankets) resting on the headliner of the top. Once completed, hoist the whole thing up and out of the way. The height restriction is the radius corners of the side panels.
GG

 

[calixto]

I've heard that once you take the tops apart they never go back together very good.?? Also Creamy, the top is super f'ing heavy so be sure to take the rear tire off and I would reccommend 3-4 people, I did it with 2 and it was a nightmare and I scratched my truck. I would lift the top up so the posts that slide into the door area are exposed, wrap them with some towels and tape tight before continuing to lift the top off the rest of the way....trust me on this one.

In terms of storage, a simple lift is definitely the way to go, do a search there are a bunch of pictures on here. I rent so I just made a simple support frame out of 2x4's and plywood to keep the top off the ground and supported. When I move I am going to screw some wheels into the bottom of the "rack" so I can transport the top to my new place in a Uhaul or whatever.

You will definitely be loving having that top off...not sure I am going to ever put mine back on.

 

[AJAEbj42]

I agree with Calixto, removing the hardtop can be done with 2, but it's a nightmare. Three or even four is the best way to go if you want to keep the top in one piece. Because your's is in beautiful rust-free shape, you might get away without breaking bolts, if you do decide to dissassemble it.

 

[creamycanuck]

The hardtop is in near mint condition so I plan to keep her in once single piece. I'll be sure to have 4 guys for the job, thanks for that tid bit of info I would be pissed if I scratched the truck doing this. I'll do a search and find the best dimensions for the sawhorse design to keep her stored. My only issue will be finding the best space to store it.

 

[Enigma]

Yah buncha pussies! When I was your age i removed the hardtop by myself, in one piece! Uphill both ways and through the snow!


I did actually do it a couple times all by my lonesome.
1. Loosen & remove all hardware
2. Open tailgate
3. Bendover awkwardly while standing inside the truck, inside face of roof on your back, and HEEEEAAAVE.
4. Duck walk forward, precariously balance now free standing hardtop on tub, scratch a good deal of stuff while doing so.
5. Shuffle forward and slide top onto sawhorses or some similar structure
6. Curse lots.

 

[calixto]

You are a real man!

 

[kim]

Yah buncha pussies! When I was your age i removed the hardtop by myself, in one piece! Uphill both ways and through the snow!


I did actually do it a couple times all by my lonesome.
1. Loosen & remove all hardware
2. Open tailgate
3. Bendover awkwardly while standing inside the truck, inside face of roof on your back, and HEEEEAAAVE.
4. Duck walk forward, precariously balance now free standing hardtop on tub, scratch a good deal of stuff while doing so.
5. Shuffle forward and slide top onto sawhorses or some similar structure
6. Curse lots.

That's an excellent description of the sequence of events.

 

[BC40]

Yah buncha pussies! When I was your age i removed the hardtop by myself, in one piece! Uphill both ways and through the snow!


I did actually do it a couple times all by my lonesome.
1. Loosen & remove all hardware
2. Open tailgate
3. Bendover awkwardly while standing inside the truck, inside face of roof on your back, and HEEEEAAAVE.
4. Duck walk forward, precariously balance now free standing hardtop on tub, scratch a good deal of stuff while doing so.
5. Shuffle forward and slide top onto sawhorses or some similar structure
6. Curse lots.

Yup, except the cursing might start as early as step 1 .

 

[WrenchMonkey]

I always just slide 2 8 ft. 2x4 in between the roof and body and lift those then you are free and clear of the truck when moving it and you and a buddy can walk it right over top of some saw horses or whatever and set it down. Nothing worse than trying to make your way to the back of the truck trying to hold the hard top 6+ inches off the body. But with the 2x4s no problem.

 

[AJAEbj42]

Holy thread revival bradman!

 

[WrenchMonkey]

Well now, how the hell was this at the top of the page someone liked it or something??

 

[Road Warrior 808]

Here is how i stored mine. 4 pallets screwed together and a couple old pieces of plywood for shelves and my wife has a little gardening shed (with a back window that opens for ventilation!). Top is bolted to the pallets.

 

[Fantom]

Nice! but don't you end up using the roof when the weather is bad and then the shed is unprotected?

 

[Road Warrior 808]

I just built it, but the hard top has been off for over a year now. Soft top will be on for the winter. No top on this summer!

 

[AJAEbj42]

I sold my hard top and run a soft top or no top now exclusively. Much easier to remove and store!