How to lift a Jeep hard top with a hoist (or lifting winch)

Feb 15

I love my Jeep hardtop - as cooler weather reminds me it’s time to replace the soft top, I welcome the warmth and sturdiness a hard top provides my Jeep YJ. What I don’t love is moving and storing the hard top when I am not using it.

The solution I like best is take a winch built for lifting and use it to hoist the Jeep top up, up and away. No one pinches any fingers, I am not grunting with the weight on my back and no glass windows get damaged (don’t ask). Best of all, this winch won’t break the bank.

The Novawinch CH500 is the winch I choose for this kind of operation - lifting. Rated for up to 500 lbs (the typical Jeep hardtop is 100-200 lbs or so) the CH500 is built for lifting with an automatic brake and no free-fall clutch. The heavy-duty steel aircraft cable is reliable and will do this job without complaint.

Your setup can be as simple or complicated as you like. I use a couple of straps and some blocks to keep the top balanced - easy stuff.

This winch comes with a big push-button controller that is perfect for mounting to the wall. The switches are pressure sensitive meaning that all winching action stops when you stop touching the button - safe and simple.

Learn more about the CH500

CH500 Hoist

$0.00

Built with a 4:1 safety rating for lifting, the CH500 is the right winch to safely lift and move materials up to 500lbs. This hoist features full power in and power out and a full-load mechanical brake to ensure secure and easy operation.

Standout features:

5.9’ (1.8m) battery cable, 4.3’ (1.3m) motor cable controller
Can be mounted vertically or horizontally
15’ of aircraft-grade wire cable

Specifications

Rated Line Pull 500lbs(226kgs) single line Motor(Series wound): DC 12V: 0.53hp/0.4kW Gear Box 1-Stage Planetary Gear Ratio 153:1 Braking Action Differential Self-Locking
Fairlead 4-Way Roller Wire Rope 3/16″×15.7′ (4.8mm×4.8m)