storage for hard top

funmx5 · Postby **funmx5** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:00 am

now that summer is apon us??has anyone got any clever ideas for storage of a hard tops pictures etc.....

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:42 am

Two coach bolts on the wall to size to slip the chrome bits(ie act as the frankenstein(spelling) bolts on and a piece of padded wood that holds the front of the HT away from the wall so that it sits straight on the coach bolts rather than hanging down and putting pressure on them.

Peter

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:01 am

Was sitting on the lawn in the rain.
Now leaning against the garage door.

Eventually I'd like to do a similar thing to pcmx5

dave2221 · Postby **dave2221** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:03 am

Go to your local hardware shop, get some rope, pulleys and clips

Then just winch her up above the MX5 in the garage.....

Also guarantee's that you can install / remove the hard top as you please!

narcoticx2 · Postby **narcoticx2** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:22 am

Mine came with a custom built trolley and cover for it... So it just sits in the corner of the garage when i'm not using it...

But i'm always using it.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:44 pm

narcoticx2 wrote:Mine came with a custom built trolley and cover for it... So it just sits in the corner of the garage when i'm not using it...

A large suitcase trolley might be a subsitute.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:02 pm

if you have the head height the best solution is winched above as dave suggested. There was a post with ideas on this previously. The integrity of the pulley / system needs to be in place eg weight rating but a good winch system can be done with one set of hands. Storage on the floor eats up space. You can do the same thing with a car cover- held over the car.

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:15 pm

pcmx5 wrote:Two coach bolts on the wall to size to slip the chrome bits(ie act as the frankenstein(spelling) bolts on and a piece of padded wood that holds the front of the HT away from the wall so that it sits straight on the coach bolts rather than hanging down and putting pressure on them.

dave2221 wrote:Go to your local hardware shop, get some rope, pulleys and clips
Then just winch her up above the MX5 in the garage.....
Also guarantee's that you can install / remove the hard top as you please!

I have both of these methods and find the pulley system the best, it is fast and easy to fit the top by myself.
Most of the time I park the car under it although it helps that I am vertically challenged and can (just) walk under the top when suspended.

Coach bolts in the wall works well however it generally require 2 people to hook the top up and if you don't retain the top in place, it can be dislodged with a heavy bump resulting in a damage

(

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:22 pm

de Bounce wrote::
I have both of these methods and find the pulley system the best, it is fast and easy to fit the top by myself.
Most of the time I park the car under it although it helps that I am vertically challenged and can (just) walk under the top when suspended.
:

+1

I originally stored my hardtop on a trolley in the garage but that takes up space, you have to move it around occasionally and there's always the danger of accidentally knocking it. Most hardtop damage occurs when the hardtop is NOT on the car.

I purchased a hard top hoist (see http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=76709) but apart from the hardtop straps, the quality of the rest of the kit was crap and I ended up replacing a few components with fittings from a boat shop. You can see my install at http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=41091&start=157 I'd suggest just buying the components from a hardware or boat store store and making it yourself.

After the 3rd time you've hit your head on the hanging hardtop, you'll remember it's there and won't do it anymore (it probably only took my housemate 2 times since he really nailed it the 2nd time). Davex3 can confirm this too.

The hardtop is now completely out of the way so I don't need to move it around and there's very little danger of accidentally knocking it. If you have the height available in your garage, it's the best way to store it IMO, AND you can fit the hardtop on your own if you hang it above the car.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:01 pm

Go to Torpedo7.com.au - they have similar systems for hanging bikes overhead and I've also used it to hang my Thule luggage box. Some extra straps will do the trick.

Postby **Boyracer** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:35 pm

eBay.

funmx5 · Postby **funmx5** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:53 pm

What do you about eBay?

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:28 pm

funmx5 wrote:What do you about eBay?

Think what Lou is suggesting is treat ebay like the 'Cloud' in cloud computing, i.e. store off-site, then buy one when or if you need it. Of course, he could also be diplomatically suggesting there's no need for a hardtop on an MX5 in Oz. :mrgreen: