Annual Rite Of Passage For Jeep Owners: Removing The Hard Top & Praying For Warmer Weather
On the first warm day here in Nashville, Jim (the impatient one), couldn't wait one more second and just HAD to take the hard top off our Jeep Wrangler last Saturday.
Mind you, it only got to 64 degrees (with the sun shining)... and it dropped down to 37 that same night!
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."
How do you remove the top if you DONT have the hoist?!
I HAVE A 2004 WRANGLER. BEEN TRYIN' TO JERRYRIG SOME TYPE OF HOIST. CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW THE REAR PART OF THE SHELL IS HOOKED UP TO THE WINCH/HOIST?
Rich -
As long as there was a hardtop on it before (as evidenced by all of the pre-drilled holes), you'll just need bolts & nuts. Ours also had long metal rails that were placed between the Jeep sides and the hard top itself. (Also above the windshield & where the hardtop connects.)
Hope that makes sense...
I have just bought a hardtop for my 02 jeep. I beleive it may of had a hardtop at one time. It has the hardtop doors and the connections in the back for the wipers and rewindow defrost. What do I needs to do to install the hardtop?
Jim is certainly enjoying being topless... no matter what the price... til it warms up. Riding in that Jeep is like "therapy" for him!
I saw a jeep with it's top on yesterday and I couldn't help but thinking "WIMP"! :)