Storing Hardtop

legume · Postby **legume** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:07 pm

I was wondering how you guys with hardtops store them.
My main concern was if they are strong enough to hang just by the frankenstein bolt brackets? Or are they supported down by the windscreen rail?
Currently mine is hung by the brakets with it resting on the rail. It did appear it would be stong enough without the support, but wasnt sure about over a time.
I know its not the best, but if I could hang it with just the brackets I could place it somewhere better out the way. Ultimately I would like to hang it above the car, however with three cars and a two car garage the MX5 swaps place with the loaded work ute often.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 8:41 pm

It's common for guys who mount it on the wall to use the Frankenstein brackets.

You can always add additional straps.

I originally modified a trolley to store the hardtop on but the hardtop is so big that no matter how careful you are, you'l find ways to ding it up since it's at ground level.

I settled on a hoist above the car, not much chance of anything hitting it except your noggin when you get out of the car and forget about it - you learn quickly though, intense star-seeing pain is a great educator.

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:03 pm

I used a couple of coach bolts into timber a to take the F bolts and then a padded prop on the front edge to make it sit straight like when on the car.

Peter.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 11:05 am

https://www.miata.net/garage/toprack.htm

legume · Postby **legume** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 2:14 pm

So it looks as though its ok to hang by the brackets only.
That means I can hang it safely out the way.
Thanks guys

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 5:04 pm

93_Clubman wrote:https://www.miata.net/garage/toprack.htm

Getting that thing down and putting it back up looks like a hell of an effort!

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:03 am

Indeed! Helper or pulley system required.

strick · Postby **strick** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:22 pm

I'm relatively new to the MX5 way of thinking but what I built before summer was a stand, see pics. I looked at pulleys but read too many stories of something failing resulting in damage to top, car or both. I've found the stand to be great. I have it on lockable casters so moving it out of the way is a breeze. I'd seen some stands on the net, but I thought I could improve on them. The points where the hardtop sits on the stand is firm gym mat foam about 50mm wide at the edges and 150mm wide to take the weight in the middle so there are no point loads. The hardtop is stable even without any form of straps to tie it to the stand. I just wheel the stand to the rear of the car and with help lift it onto the car. I made the stand so that the base folds up so in winter when the hardtop is on the car, the stand can then be tucked away.

wasp47 · Postby **wasp47** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 9:28 am

Plenty of room on top of my car :lol:

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 10:26 am

strick wrote:I'm relatively new to the MX5 way of thinking but what I built before summer was a stand, see pics. I looked at pulleys but read too many stories of something failing resulting in damage to top, car or both. I've found the stand to be great. I have it on lockable casters so moving it out of the way is a breeze. I'd seen some stands on the net, but I thought I could improve on them. The points where the hardtop sits on the stand is firm gym mat foam about 50mm wide at the edges and 150mm wide to take the weight in the middle so there are no point loads. The hardtop is stable even without any form of straps to tie it to the stand. I just wheel the stand to the rear of the car and with help lift it onto the car. I made the stand so that the base folds up so in winter when the hardtop is on the car, the stand can then be tucked away.

I originally stored my hardtop on this modified Mitre10 trolley:

I moved the vertical handle bar forward 1/3 the length of the trolley, padded the bar with foam, added a rubber mat on the bottom, and added two rubber door stops to the front corners of the trolley so that the hardtop wouldn't slip forward.

This was great for moving the hard top around but wasn't great to store it.
The hardtop is very big and no matter how careful I was when moving it or putting anything near it, it inadvertently got knocked about.
Suspending it from a ceiling or a wall mount is the safest way to store it when not on the car since it's not at ground level.

Rovy · Postby **Rovy** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:18 pm

I store mine on the spare bed with an esky supporting the centre. If the bed is needed the occupant helps me move it to the lounge room floor for the night.

Always wondered if the hardtop can be warped if it is not supported at all 4 or 6 points.

DTH · Postby **DTH** » Mon May 22, 2017 10:03 am

I stored mine under the house for a year until I bought a hoist from MX5 Mania - it's now in position to lower on to the car when needed.
http://mx5mania.cart.net.au/epages/mx5m ... /Soft_Tops

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Mon May 22, 2017 4:42 pm

DTH wrote:I stored mine under the house for a year until I bought a hoist from MX5 Mania - it's now in position to lower on to the car when needed.
http://mx5mania.cart.net.au/epages/mx5m ... /Soft_Tops

Be wary of the cleat provided with this kit, it's very brittle - my top tung snapped off easily when I gave a perpendicular tug on the rope so I went to a boat shop and boat a more substantial one.

DTH · Postby **DTH** » Mon May 22, 2017 6:41 pm

Thanks Lokiel, for safety I doubled up with 2 turns of rope around the hook and the 3x2 it was screwed into. It's been fine for a few months now. The cleat doesn't have much weight to carry in my situation.
Cheers,
david