How to store your jeep hard top

I have several friends that over the years have hung their tops from the rafters an a year or so later after putting the top back on they damn things are warped from the heat and the weight of the top itself.
I see different ways to do it on YouTube and such but they don't address the warping issues.
So, what is the best way to hang it or whatever else that will keep the $$ top happy and healthy so that it will go back on without extra wind noise because of storing?

I hang mine on ratchet straps which I pull thru the back window and thru where the back door is and I hook the 2 straps together so the top is resting on the straps not the hooks. I use 4 straps 2 per side. The ones I saw on YouTube the people were using the hooks to hold up the top which I think would put more stress on the top, I hope I explained that well enough. I've done it the last 3 years with no ill affects. Knock on wood. It's a trick putting the top back on with ratchet straps but I'm 65 years old and it works for me. 30 bucks for some quality straps beats 400 for an electric hoist. It would be nice though.

Make one of these

that is really awesome! Looks like it's not too hard to build

This is what I built to keep the weight off of the straps for the summer.

This is what I built to keep the weight off of the straps for the summer.

Thanks for posting your setup. This is very close to the design I'm planning to build, and it's fantastic to see it in practice.

Now next time, please match all of your carabiner orientations for us OCD types. :redface:

This is what I built to keep the weight off of the straps for the summer.

I use a similar setup. When the hardtop is on the Jeep, I store other stuff on the shelf creating space in the garage for more stuff!

I used to own a 72 Chevy Blazer with a hard top similar to my Wrangler. I agree with the other posts re: something solid underneath and spanning the width. Anything less like the hooks and pulleys sold all over the Internet - asking for trouble. My 2 cents.

So I'm one of the unfortunate ones that don't have a garage. I live in a townhouse and I'm looking for creative storage solutions for my hard top. My initial thoughts were that I could store it under my deck which is raised about half a story up but it would be tough to crawl under there without damaging the top. Anyone successfully make a stand alone hoist or storage that doesn't require a garage ceiling?

I have seen plans posted here, that's my goal by spring.

So I'm one of the unfortunate ones that don't have a garage. I live in a townhouse and I'm looking for creative storage solutions for my hard top. My initial thoughts were that I could store it under my deck which is raised about half a story up but it would be tough to crawl under there without damaging the top. Anyone successfully make a stand alone hoist or storage that doesn't require a garage ceiling?

make it into a coffee table in the living room area?
make a great conversational piece for when people are over...
but assuming you are boring with no sense of style, I guess the coffee table idea may not work... so back to the porch idea...
I agree that crawling under the porch seems like a really bad idea...
but...
I don't think it would be all that hard to create a pull out/slide out shelf type thing.
it would be rather large, but should be doable...
and easy to deal wit...
ie pull out shelf, place top on shelf, then slide shelf back under porch...

the only hard part I could see is coming up with a good slider mechanism in the size needed that glides easily under the weight of the shelf + top...
I doubt you can just use the drawer sliders available at the local hardware store... I don't think they come in the size needed... so you will have to be creative...

I use the best top H.O.S.S. system

How is the rear window positioned with the HOSS? I never see pics from backside only front

I hang mine on ratchet straps which I pull thru the back window and thru where the back door is and I hook the 2 straps together so the top is resting on the straps not the hooks. I use 4 straps 2 per side. The ones I saw on YouTube the people were using the hooks to hold up the top which I think would put more stress on the top, I hope I explained that well enough. I've done it the last 3 years with no ill affects. Knock on wood. It's a trick putting the top back on with ratchet straps but I'm 65 years old and it works for me. 30 bucks for some quality straps beats 400 for an electric hoist. It would be nice though.

That's exactly what I do. I also use a cut up pool noodle around the straps where they contact the top for added protection.

Thanks for posting your setup. This is very close to the design I'm planning to build, and it's fantastic to see it in practice. Now next time, please match all of your carabiner orientations for us OCD types. :redface:

This was taken right after I put it up. Normally, all of the carabiners are hanging the same way and even oriented with the opening facing front. By putting the hardboard on top, the shelf is very slippery. I can put the freedom panels up there very easily.

I use the best top H.O.S.S. system

View attachment 2752889

I'm also interested in this system as I live in an apt and have no garage storing option. Could you post another pic showing it from the backside. I'm assuming most of the weight is resting on the back window?
Seems like a practical option, have you used the bestop system for a period of time?
Thanks!

So I'm one of the unfortunate ones that don't have a garage. I live in a townhouse and I'm looking for creative storage solutions for my hard top.

I made this one for my 4dr, fits nicely in my condo parking spot.
DIY Hardtop Storage Dolly JK

When I had the 2 door, I got a free skid and rested it on that, front side down, so the glass was at the top.

Some of these garages are nice and high!
Youtube vids mostly have the high ceilings as well, I'm stuck with a very standard 8'3 inch celing.
I do like the ones that can be purchased with the metal braces but notice that with the mounts and eye hooks that makes the top come down from the ceiling even more..gonna bonk my head always I just know it.
the problems of owning the hard top I guess. These are some nice ideas.
I do like the shelf style mounts, it will keep the top in a much better state I'm sure. When we go to the southern states for the sumer the damn garage gets to 112 on average temp. Thats crazt so I would like the top to be on something ridged so there isnt any twisting in anyway to create warpage.

The cart is nice but I dont know about equal pressures on it plus I'd need anopther set of hands to hump it off the cart onto the Jeep so that is not a option, it needs to work with just one person.

I'm also interested in this system as I live in an apt and have no garage storing option. Could you post another pic showing it from the backside. I'm assuming most of the weight is resting on the back window? Seems like a practical option, have you used the bestop system for a period of time? Thanks!

I currently have the top back on the jeep so I can't take any pics of the back side. I had it stored like this for about 6 months and there was no damage at all to the top. The wheels make it very easy to move and roll around. As for the back window it gets kinda clamped at the bottom and the cart holds the top of the top and makes no contact with the window so there is no actual weight on the window itself. These carts are kind of pricy but I think it is well worth it considering the value of the top. The smaller cart also holds the doors inside the top which also is a much better alternative than just laying them around somewhere risking getting them damaged