Hardtop Storage Question

[HGR3inOK]

Our hardtop is currently on its standard storage rack. We have not had it on the car since March 2007, and I don't expect to put it on in the next year. I would like to get it off the garage floor. I understand that one of the issues with using a hardtop lift is potential damage to the weatherstripping. Is there any good reason that the hardtop should not be stored for an extended period upside down? (Properly supported, of course.) That would avoid any pressure on the weatherstripping.

[bronzebird]

Re: Hardtop Storage Question

Hank:

I understand the desire to get the top out of the way if garage space is limited.

My lift has a well-padded arm that runs across the underside of the hard top and I just re-installed the top this week. It has been on the lift for the past seven months and I see no indentations or evidence of damage to the weatherstripping on the top. This is a composition material that appears to be quite solid and I don't think it would be damaged even if I left the top on the lift for a year or more.

The top weighs less than 80# and with the weight distributed on the three main points of the lift there isn't any one area that gets a heavy amount of "crush" effect. If it weighed a couple of hundred # that may be different but I wouldn't worry about damaging anything by leaving it on the lift for an extended period.

Bronzebird

[Gobird]

Re: Hardtop Storage Question

Hank, Not sure I can answer your question regarding storing the top upside down. As was said in the previous post the top is a composite material and laying the top upside down I'm not sure how that would or could effect the shape of the top over time and what the weight of the top on the paint may do. That said.

I too have stored my top on my EZ Top Hoist for 5 to 6 months at a time the last two years we lived up north after losing/selling a second garage I had back then. It was stored that way the last full year we lived in York,Pa. This had no ill effects on the gaskets on the top. I haven't installed the hoist down here in the new garage yet but will get to that in the future and I'll probably take my top off the stand and store it back on the hoist because of floor space. This brand of hoist hardly even touches the gaskets of the top and also has safety straps running side to side and front to back under the top along with safety straps that fit around the side mounting pins of the top.

I would feel much better about storing my hard top this way then laying it upside down but then that's just my opinion.
.

[15AGAIN]

Re: Hardtop Storage Question

I agree with GOBIRD, I store my top from around April 1 to Oct 15 each year on the top lift--same brand as GOBIRD uses. I have not seen any damage on the rear seal of the top.

[HGR3inOK]

Re: Hardtop Storage Question

Everyone - Thanks for the responses. I should have been more specific that I would like to avoid the cost of a good hoist, if possible.

[Peculiar]

Re: Hardtop Storage Question

Each winter put mine in its cradle (I live in Florida), roll it into the house, and it stays right next to my side of the bed. My wife doesn't like it.

Life is full of tough choices.