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Gonzalo E.
Will this lift damage the Jeeps hardtop on a JT if the top was left on it for a few months. Like will the hardtop be stressed at the supported points from the lift or is it best to leave the hardtop on the ground.
Leaving your Gladiator hardtop suspended on the Lange Originals Hoist-A-Top for a few months will not inherently damage or stress the fiberglass, provided it was installed and balanced correctly. However, whether it's "better" to leave it hanging or put it on the ground depends on a few practical storage factors.
Why Hanging Long-Term is Generally Safe:
Even Weight Distribution: The Hoist-A-Top uses a balanced frame or strap system that distributes the weight across structural points of the hardtop. Fiberglass is quite rigid and holds its shape well under a static, balanced load.
Factory-Style Storage: Many Jeep owners hang their hardtops for the entire off-season (4 to 6 months) every year without warping or structural stress issues.
Things to Watch Out For (The Risks of Hanging Long-Term):
Sustained Tension on Winch/Cables: Leaving a heavy load suspended puts constant tension on the winch mechanism, straps, or ropes. Over several months, cheap or unlatched winches can experience cable/strap creep or mechanical slip if they aren't securely locked out or backed up by safety chains/straps.
Garage Movement and Environment: Temperature swings in a garage can cause materials to expand and contract. If the hoist frame shifts or isn't anchored solidly to ceiling joists, long-term hanging can introduce minor stresses.
Is it Better on the Ground?
Pros of Ground Storage: Resting the top on a dedicated hardtop cart (or sitting flat on foam blocks on the floor) completely eliminates any risk of winch failure, rope slip, or ceiling anchor strain.
Cons of Ground Storage: It takes up a large footprint in your garage and leaves the top more vulnerable to being accidentally bumped, scratched, or piled with clutter.
The Verdict: If your Hoist-A-Top is securely anchored into solid ceiling joists and has a mechanical lock or safety backup so the winch isn't doing 100% of the holding work unsupervised, it is completely fine to leave it hanging for a few months. If you want absolute peace of mind against mechanical drift, lowering it onto a storage cart or padded ground stand is the safest foolproof route.
Why Hanging Long-Term is Generally Safe:
Even Weight Distribution: The Hoist-A-Top uses a balanced frame or strap system that distributes the weight across structural points of the hardtop. Fiberglass is quite rigid and holds its shape well under a static, balanced load.
Factory-Style Storage: Many Jeep owners hang their hardtops for the entire off-season (4 to 6 months) every year without warping or structural stress issues.
Things to Watch Out For (The Risks of Hanging Long-Term):
Sustained Tension on Winch/Cables: Leaving a heavy load suspended puts constant tension on the winch mechanism, straps, or ropes. Over several months, cheap or unlatched winches can experience cable/strap creep or mechanical slip if they aren't securely locked out or backed up by safety chains/straps.
Garage Movement and Environment: Temperature swings in a garage can cause materials to expand and contract. If the hoist frame shifts or isn't anchored solidly to ceiling joists, long-term hanging can introduce minor stresses.
Is it Better on the Ground?
Pros of Ground Storage: Resting the top on a dedicated hardtop cart (or sitting flat on foam blocks on the floor) completely eliminates any risk of winch failure, rope slip, or ceiling anchor strain.
Cons of Ground Storage: It takes up a large footprint in your garage and leaves the top more vulnerable to being accidentally bumped, scratched, or piled with clutter.
The Verdict: If your Hoist-A-Top is securely anchored into solid ceiling joists and has a mechanical lock or safety backup so the winch isn't doing 100% of the holding work unsupervised, it is completely fine to leave it hanging for a few months. If you want absolute peace of mind against mechanical drift, lowering it onto a storage cart or padded ground stand is the safest foolproof route.
Neil W.
Hi
For the Crank a hoist. Does the height of the crank matter? How close to the ceiling can the crank be mounted?
Yes, it matters. You'll want the crank to be about 50" off the ground.
Jason W.
With winch mounted on wall not ceiling, what is the measurement from the ceiling to the bottom of the top with freedom panels stored on top when lifted to max recommended distance from ceiling?
You can get about 6"-8" between the hardtop and the ceiling.
Carl W.
Will this work on a JKU. I’ve got a 2014 Jeep Wrangler 4 door and need one of these
No, it will not. Hoist a tops are offered for JKU models. The power hoist can be seen in the following link Jk Power Hoistand the crank version in this link JK Crank Hoist a Top. Thanks for your inquiry.
Timothy L.
Would this work for a TJ hardtop?
Not this model. See the following link for the hardtops hoists that are offered for TJ models.Power Hoist for CJ, YJ, TJ Crank hoist for CJ YJ and TJ for the crank hoist. Thanks for your inquiry.
Jeff L.
Sorry also is it safe to keep your fiber glass top suspended from the ceiling
Yes, it is safe to store your hardtop suspended in the air. Thanks for your inquiry.
KEITH H.
When the unit is all the way up, how far down is the bottom of the top? How far is the part that meets the truck body, hanging down from the ceiling?
Lange's hoist, the frame and motor require about 12-15 inches from the ceiling to the top of the hardtop. How far the bottom of the top to the garage floor all matters on how tall the ceiling is in your space. So the answer can be formulated by knowing that we need 12-15 inches more than the total height of the top. Thanks for your inquiry.
Thomas L.
How long is the power cord for the Power Unit?
The length of the remote cable is 6 ft. The power cord is 2 ft. Thank you