Thanks for the information, I ended up ordering the brake winch model, like yours, from RoadsterSolutions for the full price. I have been e-mailing IMC directly with some questions and they were very helpful and I'd like to support their business so I don't mind paying their asking price, it sounds like a product people are happy with... Plus, I'll be using the hoist to store my hardtop at times and want a proven product.

Thanks everyone!

 

There are less expensive options. I picked up a hoist from Harbor Freight years ago, and it works great.

I'm going to rig up a better fixture to grab the hardtop, but the hoist works great. The electric control can easily be operated with one hand, and I never need help removing or installing the hardtop.

 

I've also got the motorized one in slalom44's pic, and literally just installed it 2 days ago. Took me over a year and a half of driving around with the hardtop to finally get a hoist setup. Would definitely recommend it (it's a Chicago tools electric lift). I must say whatever you end up going with, I feel, you can't go wrong. I can't say how excited I was to drive with the top down after almost 2 years of hardcore hardtop (but at the same time, love the look of the HT as well, not to mention no wear holes ).

For others with hoists, single support cable specifically, how've you solved the issue of the HT "spinning" a little while raised? I've noticed mine can rotate 30 or so degrees while suspended, and was considering adding a rope or something to one side of the support structure and attach it to the wall to keep it from rotating.

 

This is my setup:



This is an old pic, I have since relocated the hoist to gain higher access. Now I can lift the hood while the hardtop is up in the air.

The process takes some time to balance the front and rear lift points.

 

Just an update, I installed the IMC hoist with the crank winch and am loving it. It's really easy to install/remove the top by myself, the only real pain is connecting the belt that supports the back with the rear window because you have to be careful not to scratch your paint. I have no regrets, being able to remove the top by myself makes it more than worth what I paid.