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Ratchet VS cam VS other straps for raising hardtop

CK5

CK5

In my underwear
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So, I used ratchet straps to raise my hardtop up to my garage ceiling and although it worked fine to raise the top it sucked bringing it back down, almost dropped the top entirely when the first strap suddenly lost all tension when I attempted to released it.
Is there a better type of strap to use for lifting a hardtop? I may end up using an electric hoist but lets discuss straps for now.
 
Hand winch, maybe two of them mounted to the ceiling, or 4 small block and tackles.
 
I don't think that's give you enough leverage to do it.

Like mentioned, I'd put a pulley in the ceiling and a boat winch on the wall. Worm gear style.
You can take the handle off and run em with a drill, and they won't free spool down on you.
Or go the electric route

Screenshot_20250917-170058.png
 
shady said:
I don't think that's give you enough leverage to do it.

Like mentioned, I'd put a pulley in the ceiling and a boat winch on the wall. Worm gear style.
You can take the handle off and run em with a drill, and they won't free spool down on you.
Or go the electric route

View attachment 513625
Click to expand...
I thought of those things and keep thinking way more effort than I want to put in for taking the top up and down once or twice during the next 20 years or so, that and some kind of straps put the top right at the ceiling, any kind of hoist or pulley setup I will loose height due to pulleys, hoist etc.
 
Not sure what you exactly want but I use lots of cam straps with my raft and came across strapworks.com. Any size, any style, any length, any color made to order. Figure out what works for your setup and get exactly what you need.
 
CK5 said:
I thought of those things and keep thinking way more effort than I want to put in for taking the top up and down once or twice during the next 20 years or so, that and some kind of straps put the top right at the ceiling, any kind of hoist or pulley setup I will loose height due to pulleys, hoist etc.
Click to expand...
It depends how you do it.
You can have the top touching the sealing with 4 small pulling, the ropes attached to the bottom of the top on 4 corners, or 2 planks front and back that you slide under the edges of the top, and all 4 ropes attached to the hand winch.
Under $100 for the whole thing.
I even have an electric winch bought new for $50 although now probably $75 that can be even easier with the same budget
 
I would just use the exact system that I have always used (4 ratchet straps and two cross bars)... but now I have a new roll cage in the way so now I can't slip the front bar in like I did before. The amount of time I have wasted just thinking about this. :doah:
 
Put the crossbar above the top and use some hooks on pieces of strap to grab under the side of the top. Then you could lift the same way and avoid the roll cage.
 
CK5 said:
I would just use the exact system that I have always used (4 ratchet straps and two cross bars)... but now I have a new roll cage in the way so now I can't slip the front bar in like I did before. The amount of time I have wasted just thinking about this. :doah:
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You can still slip the bar under the front, this is a full top right?
Lidt the front at the door a couple of inches to get over the cage.
If you go close enough to the b pillar it should be strong enough
 
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Make some of these. Or similar.
Pop the top up, have some one stick one under, go to next corner.

Pay no attention to the 3rd grade drawing skills lol.

Screenshot_20250917-202208~2.jpg
 
Hopefully I will get inspired when I get the Blazer back and I can actually look at it again, I haven't had the top on for over 6 years.
 
I used to lift the top at 4 corners and put chunks of 2x4 between the bed rail and top, then put eye bolts (with fat washers) in the 4 corner hardtop bolt holes and use those for lifting.

If you want to stick with ratchet straps, there is a style that can be reversed for safe lowering. Look for "reversible" or "back-off" in the descriptions.

With pulleys, I've used a come-along style and lowering was inconvenient. I have a hand winch now (boat trailer style) of the gear type (non-worm) and it works very well.
 
This is your old way of doing this.
1758209756777.png

I would move your 2x4 to run front to back and attach U brackets to the front and back. Add padding to the inside surfaces that touch the top as this design may rotate a bit when lifting.
1758209970079.png
 
They do, which is why I would go side to side and bolt to the 2x4's on the bottom. I used to unbolt the top from the truck, slide it back, bolt the 2x to the back of the top on both sides and hoist it up slightly off the bed, then lift the front of the top up while pulling the truck out till the front part of the top was near the back of the truck then install the other 2x4, lift it up a little, pull the truck all the way out then hoist the top.
 
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Do this version and run a ratchet strap over your roll bar like this. Tighten it up a bit as it goes up if you have to

1758209970079~2.jpg
 
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