Author Topic: Hard Top Hoist - I Have Not Seen One Like It Before (Read 4367 times)

Pawel66 · « **on:** October 18, 2020, 09:10:05 »

Has anybody tried this one? Hard top mounting seems to be more reliable than "calssic" ones:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Mercedes-SL-W113-Pagode-Hardtoplift-Hardtop-Lift-mit-Seilwinde-hoist-Pagoda-neu/352565523641?fits=Platform%3AW113%7CMake%3AMercedes-Benz&hash=item52168af4b9:g:zYAAAOSwHU9dzIme

They come also with electric winch.

JamesL · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2020, 16:54:51 »

I have to say I'd want to know more about the support for the rear of the hardtop. A Single point would worry me though that's the obvious approach if they use the same sort of claw bracket as the fronts

Pawel66 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2020, 17:12:43 »

You would worry that it tilts to the side? Could be...

rusty747 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2020, 23:38:09 »

I have used one of these with my R129 Hardtop for the last 3 years. Really easy to use and no chance of 'slippage'. Highly recommended.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2020, 11:12:35 »

Thank you.

Having read some of the stories about the SLS type (gutter clamps) hoists - I lost some of my confidence and now I found this one, that looks more solid...

68_white · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2020, 03:10:00 »

I would like to see more details. May be some photos from different angles.

Shvegel · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2020, 02:37:18 »

I made one today out of a gutter clamp ladder rack for a van. Works like a charm.

Ross Wilson · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2020, 16:00:12 »

Hi

I have used this hoist for the last 5 years. I have the manual pulley, which I can handle by myself as a one man job.

It is very easy to install or remove the hardtop.

I store the hardtop on a hardtop cradle just to be sure I am not deforming the rubber.

Highly recommend it.

Ross Wilson
68 250SL

Pawel66 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2020, 16:15:25 »

Thanks, I just bought it. It looks solid to me, happy you are confirming.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2020, 02:20:49 »

I made this up back in 1982

68_white · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2020, 05:27:04 »

Thank you for the detailed photos Ross.
Looks nice.

I also like su8pack1 gadget. Very innovative.

Rahul · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2020, 05:55:43 »

I've been looking at the offering from Top-Hoist, https://www.top-hoist.com/

Anyone have a view on that one, or which one might perform better? Thanks

RAY · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2020, 10:20:14 »

i made one, by coincidence, to the same design as su8pack1 even using the same clamps which I got from America but it was made of 4 x 2 aluminium box section and doubled up side by side with 4 clamps for good fail safe measure. Works brilliantly, rock solid and no movement. I store the top in a stand but if i had the height in the garage would have no problem leaving it in the hoist full time.
Best
Ray

GM · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2020, 16:05:55 »

Rajiggyfizzle - I have a Top Hoist, and it's flawless and easy to use.
I wanted the comfort of a support UNDER the top as the ultimate fail-safe, especially after reading about a member's disaster with a failed hoist (apologies for not remembering who)

Rahul · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2020, 21:21:09 »

Thanks Gary... Yep that is how I feel also, seems to make a lot more sense. For some reason I just cannot get comfortable with that gutter rail design.

Garry · « **Reply #15 on:** October 31, 2020, 22:10:38 »

I was one that had a dropped hardtop about 15 years ago that was a gutter gripped type hoist. One side was not correctly tightened, slipped out and the top dropped and punched a hole through the top of door and also into top of rear guard. Luckily i had the windows fully down otherwise it would have taken out the glass as well.

I still use the gutter hoist but now i add a safety strap around the underside and looped onto the hoist O ring and tightened to hold if it does happened to let loose again.

I looked at the ones that latch front and back but felt even more unsafe as there was no fallback at all.

Garry

Pawel66 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 31, 2020, 22:15:43 »

Quote from: rajiggyfizzle on October 31, 2020, 21:21:09

Thanks Gary... Yep that is how I feel also, seems to make a lot more sense. For some reason I just cannot get comfortable with that gutter rail design.

Neither can I...

Atazman · « **Reply #17 on:** October 31, 2020, 22:36:14 »

Like you guys, I don't trust the gutter clamp system. Nor do I like the speed of an electric hoist. So I built my own system. Attached are some pictures, but I will describe very briefly since the pictures don't show everything. With this design, the weight of the hard top does not sit on the rubber above the windows. And, there is very little metal that can bang against the car or hard top while getting everything in place.

Manual hand winch mounted on wall.
Three ropes from end of winch cable above hard top down to the hardtop; 1 on the front and 1 on each side.
One metal "C" clip that slides under the front/center of hard top; rope runs from the "C" clip up to winch cable.
Each side has a rope loop which connects to the side hard top latch; lift one side of hard top and slip rope in place; rope runs up to winch cable on each side.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 01, 2020, 18:05:35 »

My hardtop is secured by the nylon hoist rope holding the weight, with ropes around both sides of the cross bar and another around the entire hardtop just in case. It's been hanging there since 1982 with no problems. I do put it on occasionally, but most of the time its been up in the air.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2020, 00:34:54 »

Nice garage!

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Author Topic: Hard Top Hoist - I Have Not Seen One Like It Before (Read 4367 times)

rusty747