Annual Rite Of Passage For Jeep Owners: Removing The Hard Top & Praying For Warmer Weather

No matter. Jim had the itch and he had to scratch it.

Here's my photo montage of Jim's annual rite of passage: That day when you turn your Jeep into a convertible... only you can't drive it anywhere (cuz the wind chill is something like 10 degrees!).

Jim: "This hard top... it has to go!" I'll start by disassembling it from the frame.

Destin: "Where's Jim?... Inside taking out all the screws???"

Jim: "Thank goodness for this handy-dandy hoist that raises the several-hundred-pound hard top to the garage ceiling for safe keeping and storage."

The Jeep is beginning to resemble its former self... nothin but skin and bones... just the way we like 'ol "Scruffy".

Now THIS is more like it... and there's no better storage system than this all-in-one hoist which lifts the hard top up and out of the way for the Summer.

Destin: "Yeah, this is more like it! NOW I remember why you like this Jeep... There's nothing like feelin' the wind blowin' through your fur."

Jim: "Are you comin' or what?... It's not that cold out here. Really. Ah, ya wimp, I'll just take the dogs for a quick spin."

Five minutes later... Jim's done Jeepin' with the dogs.

Lynnette: "Allow me to help you... I vote we put on our pseudo soft top (duster over the trunk, bikini top over the seats, and windjammer between the front & rear seats). This will at least help to block the wind, if nothing else!"

Exit stage left...
Next day... Sunday... Bright and sunshiny at noon.

Jim: "I'm takin' the Jeep to softball practice!"
Lynnette: "You better wear something warm... it'll be chilly when you're driving home after dark."
Jim: (silence)

Ring...ring (it's Jim -- calling to say he's on his way home from practice. And he's freezing!)

Lynnette is there to greet him, with camera in hand, as he's pulling into the driveway!

Jim: "This isn't funny... I'm cold!!! What's the temperature out here?... like... 1?!?!?"

He's a good sport about it though. Cuz everyone knows you're not REALLY a Jeeper unless you can handle the ups & downs of weather changes, sudden rainstorms, flash floods, and anything else that Mother Nature throws your way.

Jim: "I can't wait to get this thing in the garage... and get into the house where there's HEAT... and take a nice hot bath!"

Jim: "I still had fun."