2 people for the roof if you dont have a rigged contraption to hold it up. The you can remove the two sides. if its in pieces its easier to store and put back on.
It helps to have three. What i did was lift up one side and stuff a piece of foam pipe insulation under it between the top and tub. Then I did the same to the other side. This allowed me and the other guy to get our fingers under the top easily on the side and lift from there. Then you can simply just walk straight back but if you have the third they take some weight but mostly balance it........
I did it all myself by hand in less than an hour. I took the side and rear doors off first before I did the top. Make sure you get all the top bolts including the ones that bolt into and along the windshield. The roof itself is relatively light. It's just its size is a bit unwieldy. The sides are really easy too. Just make sure you get the bolt that pins the side post into the door frame loosened before you attempt to lift off the sides. My top, sides, and doors are neatly stacked along the garage wall.
Oh and you may or may not need an inpact driver with a large phillips head. I did but i still stripped one or two of the back door screws. If that does happen stainless ones are fairly cheap and the paint doesnt chip off of them so while you are cruising around with no top you could have them ordered if that happens. If they do strip i took a die grinder and cut a deep slot in the screws large rounded heads and used a large screw driver with a set of vice grips clamped to it and removed easily
Dont forget that there are about 14" long posts that slide down into your door frame. Not only do you have to lift the top but you have to clear the posts before walking it back off the truck.
I have never broken the roof down into its pieces to take it off, it always seems easier to me to have a couple buddies come over and help.
When I finish the new garage, Im gonna rig a pulley system to lift it off.
I pulled mine off in pieces by my self. As ststed before it's not the weight of the pieces but the size. I fought for a least two beers before I knew about the long posts inside the door jam. And renenber its always better to ask a question and look stupid than not to ask and prove how stupid you are. ( 3rd grade teacher quote)
I would take it off to check for any rust issues under the top , or around the rear corners. Plus it builds your understanding of rusty screws and snapped bolts. Then soft top all the way.
First, Take off the spare tire. It makes it easier. Remove the rear ambulance doors if you have them. Probably the hatch type will need to be removed also but not sure. Remove all the bolts from around the bottom of the top/sides. remove the bolts from the front windshield and the side posts of the windshield. remove the bolt holding the long tube going down the body behind the door. have one person on each side at door lift up. have a person at the rear door lift up and slightly forward. this will wedge the tube and allow the people at the door to reposition their hands to below the sides of the top. lift up until you clear the door tube and walk backwards.
If you have the room build a platform to sit the top on that is the same height as the rear floor. Undo all the fasteners as others have listed, get your back under the top so you have the weight on your shoulders, lift it high enough to clear the door tubes and walk it off the truck and park it on the platform.
If you have to put it on the ground it is probably better to have help although I have done it using a couple of 2x12s to make a ramp.
I am not a muscular athlete and am about 5'6'' tall so this is not a superman stunt.
