Trying To Go Topless
TopLess - I did
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 254
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From: Colorado
I tried leaving my backseat in the garage (I like having the cargo space). Turns out though, when the top is off, everyone always wants me to give them a ride, and they all want to sit in the back seat 
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 422
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I spent several hours drilling holes in the drywall ceiling of my garage, putting 2x4s across the rafters (to distribute weight), and dropping rope (and tying it)... but every day since then it's rained! (except for one night, when I had a date and really really really wanted to take the top off, but there were clouds to the west and a 70% chance of rain. Damn weather men.)
Do you guys have the rear tire holder? If so, do you take the spare off every time you take the top off, or do you have someone help you lift the top over it? Or...? I'm not sure I really want to take the spare off and on every time I take the top off/on, but I don't want to go around without the spare either (and I don't want to mount it inside because I like the look of it on the back... picky, I know)... just curious if anyone has done anything interesting...
Also, I'm planning on finishing my soft top tomorrow. Cost so far is under $50 and I've gotten everything from Home Depot.
Do you guys have the rear tire holder? If so, do you take the spare off every time you take the top off, or do you have someone help you lift the top over it? Or...? I'm not sure I really want to take the spare off and on every time I take the top off/on, but I don't want to go around without the spare either (and I don't want to mount it inside because I like the look of it on the back... picky, I know)... just curious if anyone has done anything interesting...
Also, I'm planning on finishing my soft top tomorrow. Cost so far is under $50 and I've gotten everything from Home Depot.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 422
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Lucky, whish I had a 10 yr old to drive my... wait a minute... You sir, are insane. 
Must be nice having an extra set of hands sometimes. I'm on my own though, unfortunately. And my garage is insanely small, but I'll try tying it open tomorrow!
Must be nice having an extra set of hands sometimes. I'm on my own though, unfortunately. And my garage is insanely small, but I'll try tying it open tomorrow!
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 39
From: North Dakota
I would love to take my top off! Too bad it got to 111 today. No need to whine, the fall here is great, I will wait tell then I guess.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Hays, Ks
very nice clean bronco, never seen a black one look so damn good, very nice
i got my top off right now too..gotta love the comments "hey joseph is that your bronco out there, thats cool" got that yesterday haha
i got my top off right now too..gotta love the comments "hey joseph is that your bronco out there, thats cool" got that yesterday haha
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
I had my top off for a couple of months (april, may) but put it back on b/c i like the cold A/C and the look better with it on. Of course, now I want to take it back off again... I really need a lift for it in my garage. I can say that it's very easy with 2 people, and no need to do anything with the spare. it can just stay where it is. My girlfriend and I took mine off in less than 5 minutes (not including time to get all the rusted bolts out). I would advise getting new clips and oiling the bolts before you put them back in. I did that, and it was 100 times easier to get off the next time.
Ubermich: with a good lift system you can get that sucker off by yourself really easily. I have been thinking of rigging up a hoist and pulley system for mine.
-Josh
Ubermich: with a good lift system you can get that sucker off by yourself really easily. I have been thinking of rigging up a hoist and pulley system for mine.
-Josh
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by djjoshuad
Ubermich: with a good lift system you can get that sucker off by yourself really easily. I have been thinking of rigging up a hoist and pulley system for mine.
-Josh
-Josh
I put 2 2x4s across the rafters of my garage (to distribute weight across the rafters), then dropped rope from those and tied it via a boatman's knot (so it definitely won't drop).
When I want to take the top off, I lift one end, slide a 2x4 under it, life the other end, slide a 2x4 under... Then lift the 2x4 ~6-9" into the hanging rope. Once that's done it's just a matter of driving the truck out and lifting the 2x4s over the tire.
I may wind up replacing the 2x4s with steel bent to accommodate the tire or cut and piece 2x4s together so they'll have a _____/~~\__ shape to go over the tire...
But it's super-easy to get it up onto the 2x4s by myself, and cost me about $20.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,758
Likes: 7
From: colorado
to all that are topless, just remember when you put the top back on to tighten the bolts from the top to the cab first, then tighten the ones from the top to the bed, otherwise it may leak...i learned that one the hard way
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
Originally Posted by ubermich
Actually, what I did was this:
I put 2 2x4s across the rafters of my garage (to distribute weight across the rafters), then dropped rope from those and tied it via a boatman's knot (so it definitely won't drop).
When I want to take the top off, I lift one end, slide a 2x4 under it, life the other end, slide a 2x4 under... Then lift the 2x4 ~6-9" into the hanging rope. Once that's done it's just a matter of driving the truck out and lifting the 2x4s over the tire.
I may wind up replacing the 2x4s with steel bent to accommodate the tire or cut and piece 2x4s together so they'll have a _____/~~\__ shape to go over the tire...
But it's super-easy to get it up onto the 2x4s by myself, and cost me about $20.
I put 2 2x4s across the rafters of my garage (to distribute weight across the rafters), then dropped rope from those and tied it via a boatman's knot (so it definitely won't drop).
When I want to take the top off, I lift one end, slide a 2x4 under it, life the other end, slide a 2x4 under... Then lift the 2x4 ~6-9" into the hanging rope. Once that's done it's just a matter of driving the truck out and lifting the 2x4s over the tire.
I may wind up replacing the 2x4s with steel bent to accommodate the tire or cut and piece 2x4s together so they'll have a _____/~~\__ shape to go over the tire...
But it's super-easy to get it up onto the 2x4s by myself, and cost me about $20.
-Josh
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
From: Tucson (Cortaro & I10)
Maybe I should have posted this on the "ghetto soft top" thread. Maybe I should just get some sleep and not post at all. But ...
We all hate the thought of drilling into our rides, especially the tailgate. Well, how different is the Bronco gate from the F-series? Yes, the obvious is the window, but what about width? height? Goodness knows plenty of boxes are yanked off the F-series so that a utility box can be thrown on, and those old gates are floating around somewhere. Drill the "spare" gate for using the soft top?
Perhaps this would be overkill, but if it works, it beats drilling. Thoughts?
We all hate the thought of drilling into our rides, especially the tailgate. Well, how different is the Bronco gate from the F-series? Yes, the obvious is the window, but what about width? height? Goodness knows plenty of boxes are yanked off the F-series so that a utility box can be thrown on, and those old gates are floating around somewhere. Drill the "spare" gate for using the soft top?
Perhaps this would be overkill, but if it works, it beats drilling. Thoughts?