Hardtop hoist for 20' garage ceiling??

[GFA]

So I've decided that I'll probably never use my soft top again but it's still nice to occasionally go topless. I want to get some sort of hoist system but my ceiling in my garage is vaulted to 20'. I did it like this when building the house to accommodate a lift but have yet to get around to putting it together.

I used to have a rope type lift with a few pulleys at my last house but I never really liked it. It was tough to pull it up and jumpy when letting the top back down. This time around I'm thinking of trying the Lange system with the powered winch. Anyone using one? It comes with 40' of cable so if I mount the winch high up the wall it might work with my height. I could also make a separate cable from the ceiling to the hardtop if need be that the winch cable could attach to to lift.

Any insight to this?

 

[zigsrig]

This is the system I have, and my ceilings are 17.5'. works great. Ill try and send a picture of it if I get a chance. I have the powered winch part mounted up in the corner where the wall meets the ceiling, running over to a set of pulleys mounted in the ceiling that lift the hoist. Works great. Also, like you mentioned, you could extent the line as needed.

 

[pugslyyy]

Because I'm cheap, I have the harbor Freight hoist. I think I paid $79 on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/440-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-60346.html

 

[zigsrig]

Here are a few pics of what I have.

I definitely think you could source your won setup for less money. I was lucky and found it second hand for a great price.




My only issue with it is i have to reach over my head to reach the remote for the winch at the height it is at...

 

[Septu]

I definitely think you could source your won setup for less money. I was lucky and found it second hand for a great price.

My only issue with it is i have to reach over my head to reach the remote for the winch at the height it is at...

Yeah, but you could use another pulley where the winch is and lower it further along the wall if you wanted to. But I'd definitely go the route of a powered winch of sorts (vs say a hand crank one). That way you should hopefully have the ability to reach the hard top and the winch remote at the same time so that you can lower it and guild it into place alone.

 

[Jurfie]

...my ceiling in my garage is vaulted to 20'.

I'm jealous.

 

[GFA]

Because I'm cheap, I have the harbor Freight hoist. I think I paid $79 on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/440-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-60346.html

Why I never thought to use a power hoist is beyond me. For $100 +or- a few it's a no brainier considering I can make a steel frame to attach the top to similar to the one in the Lange kit.

How long is the wire for the controller on the HF unit? Do you know if it's possible to lengthen it if necessary?

Thanks
SB

 

[GFA]

I'm jealous.

It's nice till you try to heat it in the winter...

I swear it's cooler in the summer though being that heat rises. A little cross flow ventilation and it's comfy even when 95° outside. I'll definitely do the same on my next house in another year or so.

 

[pugslyyy]

I don't see any reason why you could not lengthen the control cable, not sure how many conductors, but my guess is 3.

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

 

[GFA]

I don't see any reason why you could not lengthen the control cable, not sure how many conductors, but my guess is 3.

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

Picked up a northern tool powered hoist and was able to lengthen the control cable with a sleeved 4 wire trailer light wiring. I was going to make a frame to lift the top with but instead ordered the frame only from Lange. Hopefully I'll get it mounted and working this week.