Hoist for 4runner top removal????

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swerks

swerks

Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Threads
9
Messages
42
Location
Wauwatosa, Wi.
I woyuld like to see any and all examples ???
 
Well you could get a few straps and pull under a super strong tree and run a strap through the top in a few places then run the strap to a pulley on the limb of the tree and then pull it off with a few strong friends....

or just get a few strong friends and pull it off the old fashion way, i dont have any way of making a hoist at my house so i just get a friend or two and work the thing off
 
haha i just read your post on yota tech before i saw this one... it just seamed funny to me lol
 
WarDamnEagle said:
Here's an idea from Roger Brown's website:

Toyota 4Runner Technical Information

I've never taken the one off my 85 so I have no personal experience.
Click to expand...

That is about the best idea I have seen for getting a 4runner top off easily with out the aide of friends. Problem is my 4runner is too tall for that to work and the garage door would get in the way anyway :(
 
I mounted 4 trailer tie downs for a car trailer in the rafters of my deck. (garage would work too) Then I just got 4 medium duty ratchet straps. I think I spent about $30.00 for the set. Just lift up each corner starting with the rear. ratchet it up a few inches and drive out from under it. I use the same method with my camper shell on my tow rig.
 
I would suggest asking the fellows over in the 40 section. When I had mine, I followed an example and it worked out great.

Good luck
 
A word to the wise all you 4runner owners: Take the top off and check the bed rails for deterioration. Alittle while longer and on mine in three places it would have gone through.
Looked 100% from the outside though.

It wont bite, its not a fire bird and once its off let in more water than a drain!

It'll be alright, once you put it back on. And even if it does leak alittle water wont kill yer Yota, and it'll give you a good excuse to take it off again.


cheers
 
Can you stand up under it, with the weight on your back? I don't know about the 4Runner lid, but with my Dodge canopy, it's almost too much for 2 guys. I'm going to lift the canopy and slide 2X4s about 6" wider than the topper underneath it in the front and rear. Then I'll screw some spacer boards between those, ending up with a rectangle outside of the canopy. I'll put eyebolts with big washers thru the 2X4s and then hook ropes to them. My plan is to either use game hoists (2 or 4) or maybe a hand crank winch (like on the front of a boat). Hope that gives you some ideas. :cheers:
 
I'd say get a picanic table.

I took mine off by myself, backed up my flat bed to it and crawled in like bigndn says. Drove around till I found a place to put it.

just do two things.....well, with man-up its really three, do like 2nd gen said and remove the alignment bolts and two, don't let it slip off the rails.
 
2ndGenToyotaFan said:
I just pull all the bolts including the 2 "locating pins" at the rear and slide it straight off the back and tip it down, but I'm still a young guy.... :D
Click to expand...
My girlfriend is my hoist lol. Two relatively physically fit people can lift one off without a problem. I have done it by myself on my previous 4Runners but my new one is too pretty haha.
 
Definitely a two man job unless you rig up the pully system. I have had my girlfriend or mom help me with the removal and it wasn't fun for me or the poor 4runner body. I think the top weighs around 175 lb?

Also, if you want to save space while storing it, you can prop it up vertically on the cab side and push it against a wall in the garage. It works for me.

My top is coming off for the summer this weekend!!!!

Brian
 
I just built one for my stepdad to use on his 450SL Benz, I know it's not a 4runner but that top weighs at least 150lbs. Anyways I got a $25 cable winch from harbor freight, a couple big eye bolts from the home depot and made a frame out of pvc to hold the top and rigged it with some 3/8" rope, but the pvc flexed too much so I reinforced it by putting some electrical conduit inside the pvc. Works great, I'll try to get some pix for ya. We had searched around for a ready to use hoist but all I found was one for a Jeep hardtop and it was $300! So we made our own, I was inspired by a friend who made a hoist for his jeep hardtop.
 
I have a method of taking it off by myself, although I wouldn't REALLY recommend it if you don't want to risk scratching your paint. Take off all the bolts including the locator bolts and carefully slide the whole roof straight back until you can rest the back end on the ground leaning against the bed at an angle. Then climb underneath and pick it up by the window jams (make sure the windows are open!). The thing ways a ton and you have to be steady on your feet... and always lift with your knees not your back :D

Now that I think about it, don't do what I do. I also happen to be 6' 3" so I can pick it up. :bang:

Just get one of these:
0418081042-1.jpg
 
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Ditto on this. But mine is still stock height. Harder to do with a lifted 4Runner but still doable. Lifted and bobbed becomes a real challenge though due to the shorter length of the top.

Then I get under it and put it on my back to move it. Again, Im only 34 so.... do it at your own risk.

2ndGenToyotaFan said:
I just pull all the bolts including the 2 "locating pins" at the rear and slide it straight off the back and tip it down, but I'm still a young guy.... :D
Click to expand...
 
2ndGenToyotaFan said:
I just pull all the bolts including the 2 "locating pins" at the rear and slide it straight off the back and tip it down, but I'm still a young guy.... :D
Click to expand...

thats how i get mine off too...explains why it hasn't been back on in a year and a half.:bang:
 
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