Hard Top Storage: Cart or Lift

[drewmwillis]

Hey All,
I just bought a 1991 500SL and I'm wondering what everyone thinks about either the cart for the hard top or the ceiling winch contraption for storing the hard top.

Thanks,
~drew

[Dynamo]

I currently use a cart to store my hardtop as it is very easy to move it around and I do not have a garage for hooking up the lift. I have seen a couple of threads here where people discuss making their own lifts to verying degrees of success and disaster. I think it mainly depends on your situation and preference.

[SilverSL500]

Originally Posted by Dynamo

I think it mainly depends on your situation and preference.

Agree. If you have a garage that has the structure to support the top, then a lift makes sense. If you don't...well.

IMO the electric winches and such are grossly overpriced and unnecessary. Search the forums for ideas on building your own system.

S

[tecqboy]

I use the commercially made cart purchased from Ad***. I consider it merely adaquate. The wheels are too small, so it doesn't roll well on anything but the smoothest surface. If you have the room over head and the support, I'd go with the manual hoist.

[Strife]

I made my own cart with wood and carpet to protect the top. I used enormous caster wheels that I got from harborfreight.com (a local store). I'ts bigger and bulkier than the storebought one but it works.

On the winch, I bought a "fritzi hooker" as one of my first 107 purchases. I looked at it and decided that I could never really "trust" it as much as I could trust four people and eight hands. Certainly, you could never leave the top hanging, which would be nice, because it would save some space.

So, it sits in a box.

[G-Benz]

I bought the mechanical hoist a few years ago...it really is just a boat winch with some pulleys and cable you can procure from Home Depot.

My garage space is at a premium, so taking up floor space with a cart is not feasible in my situation.

The top rarely goes on the car anyway, so I find it best to leave it suspended near the ceiling.

[Walrus]

You might want to read my post from a few days ago entitled "from the damn I'm stupid dept..." The info presented there by me and others is something to consider...

The post can be found if you scroll down a few days ago in the SL forum...

[jjrodger]

I bought the Merecdes-Benz hardtop shuttle and it is excellent. I cannot imagine a better solution. One person can remove and refit the top with ease and the shuttle can be moved around the garage, with or without the top.

[droederer]

I made a stand out of 2" PVP Pipe. I put on 2 1/2 casters that I purchased from Harbor Freight. It rolls easy, is not bulkey and is light weight but sturdy. I also purchased an electric hoist from Harbor Freight for under 80 bucks. I made a bracket for the top from 3/4 sq. steel stock with rubber bumpers to come in contact with the top of the top and adjustable slide brackets to lift the top from the window openings.

The sysem works great

Dave
86 560SL

[Walrus]

PICS!!!!! PICS!!!!

Would also like to see pics of MB's shuttle!

[cbdo]

I'm still happy with my homemade hoist; the components all came from West Marine and are rated for way more than needed for the 95# (or so) top. I posted pix in a previous thread a while back, I think. It's a Yakima bar and gutter clamps, pulleys with four-part tackle, and cleat mounted on the wall within reach of the car.

[Roncallo]

Im in the process of making a hoist. Im using a boat winch but shortly after I got it I saw an electric winch with pendulum control advertized in Northern tool for under $100.00. I would really like the electric because then it becomes a one man operation.

John Roncallo

[dmorrison]

I have had my SL (107) since 1995 and had the hardtop on it may be 2 weeks total.

I have the Sto'away unit. It bolts to the ceiling and has a manual or electric winch capability. 2 inch wide straps and then arms that it rests on.
Also a cover for the top

http://home.earthlink.net/~garbiso/electric.htm

Dave

[drewmwillis]

Originally Posted by jjrodger

I bought the Merecdes-Benz hardtop shuttle and it is excellent. I cannot imagine a better solution. One person can remove and refit the top with ease and the shuttle can be moved around the garage, with or without the top.

How much was it?

[jjrodger]

I paid GBP235 on ebay. I think they are either GBP400 or GBP700 new from the dealer (they are still available). I will post a pic as soon as I can.