FUNX3 - hoist and spare

[AZTB]

Well, I feel like a kid again. So far in last couple of weeks we got a lot accomplished: Ford Premium ESP program, got her titled/registered (finally!) with the State of Arizona, new spare arrived/installed on rim and installed hoist.

The registration was delayed by California due to ownership being transferred from the (owner's) trust to the dealership from whom we purchased the car. This week we finally received the new title from them; we took it to SofA DMV and they titled, registered and tagged it right at the counter (nothing to wait on from the mail).

Next, the spare we ordered arrived from Cal to Discount Tire. They called to notify me it was ready for pickup. The stock spare was a 185/60/R17. That tire is no longer available, so went with the closest & least expensive tire available: a 135/80/R17. The chart below shows the size differential, and then I've included a couple of snaps of the spare in the trunk. It fits in trunk with no oversize issues of any kind.

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[AZTB]

Next came the hoist. We've had the car for a little over 5 weeks and haven't had the hardtop off yet. Getting the hoist was a little more difficult. I ordered the manual/pulley hoist from Top-Hoist, but found the hoist hung too low in our garage. So I went to Harbor Freight to buy an electric, only to find that what they had was too much - like swatting a fly with a sledge hammer. So I went online and found one from Northern Tool - ordered it and it arrived Thursday. It's designed to hoist up to 110 pounds on one line, or 220 on a double line. Took me a couple days to get it done, but here it is:

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[AZTB]

So, it's been an expensive 5 weeks (for us) getting it to this point. Still need windows tinted, boot for soft-top, cooling system flush and tranny flush - all before I start getting to the more "fun" stuff. But all in all, it's been a hoot so far - glad to be back in the saddle. (And yes, the tranny still runs as smooth as silk - have put almost 400 miles on it in the 5+ weeks I have her.)

[wcoates]

Nice job Jim. As I said in another post I bought the same bar and strap hoist from Chromer. See you have two straps in the back. The one I bought has only one strap. Will have to look at adding another. Others, do you have two or only one strap to the back/window side.

[AZTB]

Nice job Jim. As I said in another post I bought the same bar and strap hoist from Chromer. See you have two straps in the back. The one I bought has only one strap. Will have to look at adding another. Others, do you have two or only one strap to the back/window side.

Thanks Bill. I'm going to install a double strap underneath the top next week to act as a redundant system, JUST IN CASE the hoist should fail. The straps will be anchored to the ceiling joists in front and behind the top, with a strap running on each side to "catch" the top should the hoist fail. Should only cost me about $20 to do, but it will help me with peace of mind.

[hippy_mailman]

I have the exact same setup but I did double the line ,not for the 220 lbs but for control .if you have the room to do it(does make top a bit lower stored) double line makes the winch work at half the speed and easier to control especially when lowering back to car. I also adjust the straps intentionally to hold the roof not perfectly even from side to side, that way I can lower it myself guiding the lower side pin in first then move to other side to guide second pin.
just my preference, yours could be different

(2 straps down back)

[AZTB]

I have the exact same setup but I did double the line ,not for the 220 lbs but for control .if you have the room to do it(does make top a bit lower stored) double line makes the winch work at half the speed and easier to control especially when lowering back to car. I also adjust the straps intentionally to hold the roof not perfectly even from side to side, that way I can lower it myself guiding the lower side pin in first then move to other side to guide second pin. just my preference, yours could be different (2 straps down back)

Thanks for the tip, Keith - I may try that. My challenge is the ceiling height in our garage is only 8.5 feet.

[BillyL]

I use a three point hitch with only one strap in the back as it is only for balance. All the weight is on the support bar. I do recommend putting some "socks" over the metal connectors to prevent chipping the paint during installation. I also found a rubber coated 3" double half round hook that grabs the rear of the top perfectly. Found it in the storage attachments section of Home Depot.

[Gobird]

Top only weights 80 lbs.

[AZTB]

I use a three point hitch with only one strap in the back as it is only for balance. All the weight is on the support bar. I do recommend putting some "socks" over the metal connectors to prevent chipping the paint during installation. I also found a rubber coated 3" double half round hook that grabs the rear of the top perfectly. Found it in the storage attachments section of Home Depot.

The metal connectors on the 2 rear straps are rubber coated on our hoist.

[AZTB]

Installed a couple of straps this morning to act as a redundant system should the hoist fail - they're really simply designed to catch the top and prevent it from falling. The hoist I owned before had a redundant system built into it which prevented failure - I simply wanted the same thing, but had to utilize a system based on design of prior hoist.

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[RustyFrye]

Installed a couple of straps this morning to act as a redundant system should the hoist fail -

Unbeknownst to Jim, a friend of mine in the area took a candid photo of him testing the strength of his new setup....

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[AZTB]

If only...

[007Cruiser]

Is there a reason why every hoist setup has the car backing into the garage?

[steelblue5505]

Gene, most garages the roll up door needs all the ceiling space when the door is opened(up) forces the HT lift or hoist to be stored further back in the garage. This causes the car to be backed into the garage to get under the hoist.