FAQ

Q: Why choose this hoist over a cart or dolly?

A: We used a cart for a year or so, so we have some knowledge of the advantages of the hoist.

~Save on garage space, since the hoist lifts your top out of the way.

~Carts leave your top exposed to dings and scratches since the top is at ground level.

~Makes mounting and removal a one-person job.

~No tricky manuevering of the top over the trunk of your car to get it mounted or removed.

One slip results in serious damage.

Q: Why choose this hoist over your competitors' products?

A: Several reasons to choose our hoist:

~Cost. In the majority of cases, our hoist is priced lower.

~Ease of use. This hoist was designed as a result of frustration with other designs.

There is no bothersome strap that needs to be worked out from under the top

after lowering it, or threaded back under prior to raising it. Our design uses two

hooks that easily slip in place.

~Hardtop protection. Unlike some other hoists on the market, ours uses a padded bar

under the roof-line. Some competitors use only straps, which can scratch your

paint if in contact with it.

Q: Can the hardtop be suspended indefinitely, for example, over the summer months?

A: Yes. I've thoroughly tested it myself, and have had my hardtop suspended for six

months at a time with no ill effects. Many of our customers have also left their tops

suspended to long periods of time.

Q: Can the hardtop be suspended with its storage bag to keep it dust-free?

A: Yes, as the following image will indicate. I will say though, that it is a bit of a hassle

lowering the top and getting the bag off the hardtop, unless you lower it all the way to the

floor. I personally don't use a storage bag--dusting off the top is easier.

Q: Will you ship your product internationally?

A: No. I was in discussions with a gentleman from Japan who asked about shipping charges.

In our exploration of the issue, we discovered shipping alone came to $160 (and that

was just for the manual version). In addition, we would have needed several documents

filled out and attached to the shipping box just to get it through customs. Due to

these obstacles, we've reluctantly decided to limit shipping to the 50 states and Puerto

Rico. Shipping is more expensive to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico--see the policies

page for more details.

Q: Car I park my car or SUV in the garage with the top suspended?

A. Yes. The following image shows my wife's Ford Explorer parked under the top. In our

case, this is with a 9' high ceiling. The electric version will set the top 4" lower.

The second image shows an unladen hoist, which gives even more space.

Of course, if your ceiling beam is further to the rear of the garage than mine, you have

more space over the hood area of the vehicle.

Q: Will my garage ceiling be the proper height to use a hoist easily?

A: Ideally, your garage ceiling should be between 8.5 and 11 feet for the manual hoist and

between 8.5 and 20 feet for the electric hoist. Any lower and you'll have to pull your car

forward to raise your softtop after hardtop removal. Any higher than 11 feet and

modifications are necessary to the pulley (manual) and hand controller (electric).

In most cases we take care of the modifications ahead of shipping out the product. In

some cases we let you know about the modifications that you might need to do

depending upon your particular situation. For electric hoist preparation for ceilings higher

than 11 feet we rewire the hand controller with a longer cord so it will hang down within

reach.