Hard top hoist

C

cj10jeeper

Lifer
 Lichfield, England
I know BMW makes a hoist for hard tops, probably expensive and manual, but what about adapting this?

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_4959.htm

For just £40 I could get an electric hoist, capable of lifting the hood easily (and probably the engine if the garage woudl support it). It could simply use a couple of appropriate slings to lift the hood and lock off for the Summer.
 
I bought a cheap version of the hard top hoist kit from IMC Manufacturing and then got an electric hoist almost identical to the one you show for my Honda S2000. IMC is the manufacturer of the one that Roadster Solutions sells.

Worked like a charm and made one person hardtop removal/install a piece of cake.
 
cj10jeeper, yours looks a little beefier than the one I have which is rated for 100kg. Searched and searched but couldn't find anything smaller or one with a longer remote control cord. http://www.toolprice.com/product/8950L/ ... 0_LBS.html. Price remains the same !! I purchased the BMW support being too nervous to risk damaging the hardtop with a non-OEM fit.

Due that the garage ceiling is unusually high and the remote cord is 6-7', I have the hoist installed on a couple of L brackets on the wall next to the car. The cable runs up and over through a couple of spare Bowflex pulley's. This summer, I'll probably swap out the cable for a heavier gauge as when I stop it when lowering, it bounces a bit. With extra towels rolled up as cushions when lowering the top, it works fine. ...dean
 
Almost forgot with working on the AE project yesterday that I picked up the hoist mentioned above.

Does anyone have a picture, diagram or any information on the way a BMW OEM hoist mount looks like? I can then replicate that rather than fab from scratch

Thanks
 
Finished this little project finished tonight to get a hard top hoist made up using my recently sourced £40 ($80) ‘Aldi’ winch.

The hoist 125kg capacity (library shot)
cable_hoist_Wk0521.jpg


Basically I fixed the winch above the garage ceiling such that I was able to hoist the top all the way to the ceiling and not have it hanging down 2 feet due to the depth of the hoist and strap attachments. This leaves roof to walk under and open the garage. Wired to mains and remote control reachable from anywhere near Zed

Hook retracted flush in ceiling (I have no idea what the black ring was but I found it in the garage so if I ever need it it's safe on the ceiling... :rofl: )
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Remote (before extending cable)
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Initially I tested with ½ ton straps. One looped under the hood and 2 to the rear of the screen. Lifted it a dream, but seemed a tad unstable if safe

Test 1 – Straps only
DSCN2358.jpg



For Version 2 I took an old Jeep soft top hoop chopped it up a bit and used ½ ton nylon covered cable threaded through the tube and looped to the lift hook.

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Single Mountain bike strap with flat plate coated hook holds rear level
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Foam pads protect any tubing to frame contact and a single strap reaches to the rear screen to steady in a horizontal plane.

Using the tube has made it rock solid yet can be revolved from lift to store position then locked to the ceiling.

Remote control means a 1 man operation and I reckon I can now have the top off in under 2 minutes allowing for turning the 3 catches and slipping the cradle and straps into place.

Subsequent to these photos I’ve doubled the winch cable with a snatch block, not for strength, but to slow it down as it takes the roof up so quick and I prefer the finer control to lower fractions at a time.

Some images

Lifting
DSCN2378.jpg


Up we go
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Revolved to store
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Where do you get all that energy from ...

Sure looks good though what you did there.
 
highstream said:
NICE! But I would be scared to have something hanging above my car like that :D
Click to expand...

Me too. I therefore built the whole thing out of half ton strain materials with the hoist capable of lifting and braking permenantly 125kg (now 250kg since I've looped it.) I also tested it by lifting myself with it. Considering I can carry the top myself it can't be very heavy.

For permenant storage I'd loop a safety strap under or will rig up 4 corner anchors. :)
 
I just went for the cheaper option ... get my son / wife / daughter / daughter's boyfriend / neighbour to help me lift it off the zed, put the top in its cover and hang it vertically on the garage wall using the cover straps ... :) Not too much of a problem when I'll only do it twice a year ... and the cover keeps the top clean.
 
Ah but the weather is great in the W Midlands today. Hardtop off and been out to enjoy while nobody is around :)
 
Hey Cj,

I finally got my hardtop this past summer and it will be on until end of winter. So I was wanting to get this system setup for its removal and storage this spring.

I am going to do the brake winch method instead of the electric (cheaper), but i don't know where to get any hoop tubing like you have in test #2? Any suggestions?

I had thought about just using the straps method you used in Test #1 and then storing it on the wall? Would the straps be sufficient for just lifting off then storing else where? I don't plan on leaving it suspended in mid air all spring.... Thanks

Todd
 
BettyBmw03 said:
Hey Cj,

I finally got my hardtop this past summer and it will be on until end of winter. So I was wanting to get this system setup for its removal and storage this spring.

I am going to do the brake winch method instead of the electric (cheaper), but i don't know where to get any hoop tubing like you have in test #2? Any suggestions?

I had thought about just using the straps method you used in Test #1 and then storing it on the wall? Would the straps be sufficient for just lifting off then storing else where? I don't plan on leaving it suspended in mid air all spring.... Thanks

Todd
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you could go to any steel merchant and have a length of tubing supplied with a couple of 90 degree bends in it. Reason I needed tuding is there was not enough room allowing for sag on the straps to clear the garage door and get the car out. if I fitted the strap real tight I was worried about the crushing effect on the roof (think of pressing a taught washing/cloths drying line in the centre and how easy it is to bend the supporting pole if the line is taught)

Frankly if the ceiling were higher I'd have just used a 1 tonne lifting strap looped under the centre of the top and a stabilising strap down the back glass.

I lift my hood off move the car away, lower to the ground, bag it up and then hang it on the garage wall for the Summer.

Hope this helps
 
I don't know if it will work, but....i thought about using 2 inch PVC pipe? Then adding two 45 degree bends on each end...running the cable through that, and still using the foam wrap around it?

Suggestions? Criticism? Thanks
 
I have the genuine BMW hoist installed in my garage - if it helps I can take pics and measurements so you can replicate it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
There's a lot of strain at the point the cable exits the tubing and bends sharply towards the centre lifting point. I'd be fairly sure it would simple split or cut plastic tube.

That said this sort of project is all about ingenuity and adapting to the specifics of you garage, roof height, etc.
 
I've taken some pictures of the BMW hoist bar - Cannot find a tape measure, but will have another look and post measurements

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