Best Jeep Hardtop Hoists of 2021 – Complete Round-up

| Last Updated: January 4, 2022

Winch Central is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

One of the best parts about owning a Jeep is that its hardtop can be removed according to convenience. So, when you go off-roading and simply want to enjoy the fresh air and the sunlight, you can simply remove the hardtop.

However, that is easier said than done. Removing the hardtop of a jeep can be a difficult job. They aren’t necessarily heavy but can be bulky and, if not removed carefully, could harm your vehicle. However, owning a hardtop hoist can make the process easier.

Thus, we have the complete round-up of the best Jeep Hardtop hoists. They certainly will make the process of removing the hardtop a simple and convenient process.

If you want to learn more, then keep on reading!

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Designed to be operated by a single person
  • Made with self-locking instant grip cleats for accident prevention
  • Stainless steel design provides quality and durability
View Latest Price →
  • Best for the Money
  • Provided with a motor that is energy sufficient
  • Easy remote operation with safety brakes included
View Latest Price →
  • Best Jeep Wrangler Hardtop Hoist
  • Fitted with a powerful 460W motor - operates remote controlled
  • Pulley hook incuded for dual line operation
View Latest Price →
  • Best Jeep 4 Door Hardtop Hoist
  • Built with a strong frame and centre backbone for durability
  • Equipped with a 200A motor that supports 440lbs
View Latest Price →

Are Hardtop Hoists Necessary?

Hardtop hoists can be considered to be a crucial appliance for the purpose of removing a hardtop from your Jeep. There is no way that a person can remove a jeep hardtop on their own without any assistance. Even if they do get assistance, it’s easy to injure yourself or harm the vehicle in the process as the entire operation requires a certain level of expertise and practice.

Now, a jeep hardtop isn’t incredibly heavy, but it still is bulky and inconvenient for a person to remove by themselves.

HARKEN Jeep Hardtop Garage Storage Ceiling Hoist in use.

Thus, this is where a Jeep hardtop hoist comes into action. This appliance makes the entire process of removing a hardtop easy. They come in three different configurations in which the product is either operated manually, electronically or manual-mechanically. The three different variants of the device allow there to be space for personal preference.

A lot of people don’t quite understand why there is a need to spend money on a hardtop hoist. Well, one of the biggest reasons is that it’s a fool-proof method of removing a hardtop. When correctly used there, it diminishes the chances of one hurting themselves while removing a hardtop hoist; thus, it’s an overall safer method.

How to Choose a Hardtop Hoist For Your Jeep

It’s very important to choose the right hardtop hoist for your jeep. There are certain factors that overall contribute to making the product more suitable for usage. These are important considerations one needs to make when looking for a hardtop hoist. Let’s take a look at them:

Compatibility

The very first thing to consider before you’re off buying a hardtop hoist is the compatibility it has with your vehicle. It should be capable of lifting the hardtop thus look into the specifications and find out the lifting power of the product and then match it against your vehicle. Also, ensure that the product you opt for is capable of working in your garage space.

Installation Process

The installation process of the product should be easy. When it comes to this, the manual which comes along with the product needs to be well-written. It should be descriptive enough to explain how to operate the product. The product should be intuitive, and it should be easy to use, so the installation process can be swift and convenient.

Construction

It is important to opt for a unit that is constructed to be durable and sturdy. Perhaps, this is one of the most crucial features to look for in a jeep hardtop hoist. The reason is simply that if the unit isn’t sturdy, it could drop the hardtop on your vehicle, potentially damaging it, or it may not prove to be long-lasting enough and turn out to be a wasteful investment.

Thus, hardtop hoists need to be heavy-duty and sturdy.

Review of the Best Jeep Hardtop Hoists 

There are a plethora of products available in the market, which, even though it gives one choice, can also make the process of buying a single hoist incredibly difficult. Thus, we have some of the best jeep hardtop hoists in the market. These products are certainly worthy of looking into. To find out more about them, keep on reading!

Best Overall:
HARKEN Jeep Hardtop Garage Storage Ceiling Hoist

HARKEN - Hardtop Overhead Garage Storage Hoist for Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, Self-Leveling, Safe Anti-Drop System, Easy One-Person Operation, Garage Organization

PROS

  • Can be operated by a single person which makes it convenient
  • Highly durable due to the stainless steel hardware and double braided rope
  • Features patented design that lifts and lowered the load evenly despite weight distribution
  • Self-locking safety cleats can grip instantly in case the rope is released, making the design safe
  • Comes with descriptive installation instructions and four-point host kit, making it easy to install

CONS

  • Installation requires a lot of tools
  • Some buyers found the installation process to be time-consuming

What Recent Buyers Report

The buyers are highly impressed with this unit due to its practical and simple design, as well as ease of use. This product is very user-friendly, unlike many of its competitors. Even though the installation can take up time, the operation and performance of this unit are so smooth that it is worth the effort.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It features a safety design which has a self-locking safety cleat that can easily grip the case if the rope is released. This makes the unit safe and secure to operate. The design is patented and lifts and lowers the load regardless of the weight distribution with great ease.

Who Will Use This Most

This unit is a great investment for anyone looking for a hardtop hoist that is simple and capable of being operated by a single user. You no longer need assistance to work this unit as its simple and highly practical. It carries a very descriptive manual, which makes installation a breeze.

Bottom Line

All in all, this unit turned out to be a hit. It features a very ergonomic design that allows it to be highly reliable and convenient for the consumer. The brand also puts customer safety first and manufactured a safe and feasible design.

Best for the Money:
Goplus 440LBS Lift Electric Hoist Crane

Goplus 440LBS Lift Electric Hoist Crane Remote Control Power System, Carbon Steel Wire Overhead Crane Garage Ceiling Pulley Winch w/Emergency Stop Switch, UL Approval

PROS

  • Highly efficient as it has low electricity consumption
  • Comes with all necessary mounting, making it easy to install
  • Features automatic brake function and built-in safety mechanism
  • Made with high strength carbon steel line and a braided, anti-twist cable
  • Has an incredible lift speed of 26ft per minute and a weight capacity of 220 lbs.

CONS

  • Manual needs to be better
  • Some buyers found that cable was too short

What Recent Buyers Report

Reports show that this product is one of the most loved and appreciated by consumers. Be it its design or the ergonomic nature; it has highly impressed the buyers. The manual does need slight improvements, but the product still performed and turned out to be a great purchase.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It caught our attention with its impeccable design and highly reliable nature. It features a highly efficient and low energy consumption design that enables it to be a great investment in the long run. It has an amazing lift speed of 26 ft per minute that enables it to be highly reliable.

Who Will Use This Most

If you are on a tight budget and still want a durable and good quality product, then this unit can be a great investment. The installation process can be slightly tricky; thus, it’s better suited for those with certain expertise and knowledge on how to handle the appliance.

Bottom Line

In all, this unit comes at a great price and features an excellent construction. It offers great value to the consumers; thus, it is worthy of the best for the money position in our listing. The durable construction enables it to be long-lasting as well. Thus, it proves to be a great investment.

Best Jeep Wrangler Hardtop Hoist:
Five Oceans Electric Hoist Crane (FO-3780)

Five Oceans 440 Lbs Electric Overhead Hoist Lift Crane Ceiling Garage Pulley Winch, Zinc-Plated Steel Wire and 20FT Remote Control FO-3780

PROS

  • Has 440 lbs. lifting capability as well a 39.4 feet cable
  • Durable and reliable as it comes with a 1-year warranty
  • Capable of dual-line operation as it includes a dual pulley hook
  • Comes with high power 460-watt motor and tethered remote control
  • Certified for usage in USA and Canada as it meets quality requirements

CONS

  • Control cord is too short
  • Some buyers noticed that the motor occasionally froze

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers find that it is rare to find a unit that comes with such high-quality construction and an easy installation process, which often is the most difficult part of owning a hoist. It features a stop bracket that immediately shuts down the hoist if the line blocker pulls it upwards.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It features a dual-line operation as it features a dual pulley hook. The unit is also capable of lifting 440 lbs. and carries a 39.5 feet cable. It is highly durable and comes with a 1-year warranty. It is one of the most affordable options out there, which makes it highly accessible to people.

Who Will Use This Most

It has been certified to be used in the USA and Canada as it met all the quality standards. The product is highly durable as it comes with a 1-year warranty, and thus it proves to be a long-lasting investment. The product can be good for jeep wranglers, given its quality construction.

Bottom Line

Smooth operation, swift installation, and high-quality performance, what else could you want from a product? This particular model exhibits all of those qualities. The operation of this unit is easy and convenient for the consumer, plus it is highly durable; thus, it proves to be a long-lasting investment.

Best Jeep 4 Door Hardtop Hoist:
Smittybilt 510001

HOIST MOTOR FOR 510001 ASSEMBLY

PROS

  • Features a 200 Amp 1/3 HP AC motor
  • Has an incredible 1000 pounds capacity
  • Installation process is easy and convenient
  • Comes with all required accessories and is easy to operate
  • Constructed to be highly durable with top quality materials

CONS

  • Not intuitive and requires practice to get used to
  • Some buyers found its movement to be too rough

What Recent Buyers Report

Users are very fond of this product. A unit of this quality is usually worth a lot more than this, which is exactly what surprised users. Some of them did find that the product’s movement needs to be modified. But apart from that, the unit operation is efficient, and the installation process is easy.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It captures our interest with its highly impressive lifting capability of 1000 pounds. There aren’t many units out there capable of achieving that. Furthermore, it is well-constructed with durable materials and is considered to be a long-lasting and durable product. The motor included is powerful, and the operation is swift and smooth.

Who Will Use This Most

Most hardtop hoists have a very difficult installation process hitch makes beginners steer away from the appliance itself. This isn’t the case with this unit. The installation is easy and convenient, and even though it does require a little practice to work with, it’s wonderful to operate and install, even if you aren’t very crafty.

Bottom Line

This product is a gem. Its simplicity and efficient nature make it a worthy investment. It features a sturdy design that is capable of working well for a wide range of vehicles, given its incredible lifting capacity. It certainly is one of the best.

 5. Racor - Ceiling Storage Heavy Lift

Racor - PHL-R, Garage Ceiling Storage Rack Lift

PROS

  • Reliable as it allows an 8 feet vertical lift and securely locks the hardtop into place 
  • Comes with all the installation accessories and allows lowering and raising by crank 
  • Provides 16 sq. ft of additional overhead storage space and frees up space in the garage
  • Capable of mounting to any ceiling and can adjust to angle ceilings with built-in Nylon rings
  • Highly durable as it is constructed from high strength steel and is capable of lifting 250 pounds 

CONS

  • Installing the product can be time-consuming
  • Some buyers found the lag screws included to be poor quality 

What Recent Buyers Report

This is one of the most highly regarded products amongst the consumers. They find it to be highly functional and capable of being a great investment in the long-run. Some buyers did find that the installation process was slightly long, but the unit overall is worth the effort.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It can adjust to angle ceilings with built-in Nylon rings as well as mount to any ceiling that makes it highly versatile. The unit is reliable and allows an 8 feet vertical lift. It can secure your hardtop into place; thus, it proves to be a smart device. 

Who Will Use This Most

Since it comes along with all the accessories that are required for its installation, it proves to be highly convenient. The installation process is time-consuming, but the results are worth it. It can provide one with 16 feet of additional overhead space; thus, it is a must-have for any garage. 

Bottom Line

Overall, this product is a great investment. It features a highly reliable and durable design that has been constructed from top quality materials to make it a worthy investment. Furthermore, it doesn’t break the bank either.

Pros and Cons of Hardtop Hoists

If you are still finding it hard to make a decision on whether or not you want to invest in a hardtop hoist, looking at the pros and cons of the product side by side may help you decide. Thus, let’s take a look at them:

Pros

Let’s first look at the pros of investing in a hardtop hoist

Storage

One of the best parts about owning a hardtop hoist is how convenient it makes storing your hardtop. Normally, people have to wonder where they would store their hardtop once removed. However, that wouldn’t be the case as once you have removed your hardtop, it will remain suspended up so, you won’t have to worry about occupying garage space either.  

Ease of Use

The biggest benefit of owning a hardtop hoist is that the process of removing a hardtop becomes incredibly convenient. Normally, you would have to ask assistance from a friend to remove the hardtop as it simply can’t be done alone. But with a hardtop hoist, you can easily remove the hardtop without a sweat.

Safer Alternative

One of the biggest risks of removing a hardtop from your jeep is that of harming yourself or the vehicle in the process. This altogether can be avoided if one is using a hardtop hoist. It proves to be a safer alternative to manually removing a hoist and is a better way of doing it in terms of safety.

Cons

Meanwhile, one prominent disadvantage of this kind of equipment is:

Expensive

The only drawback of investing in a jeep hardtop hoist is that it can be expensive to buy. The more features a unit carries, the heftier the price can be. This appliance, therefore, may not be accessible to everyone.

Conclusion

If you haven’t yet experienced a beautiful drive on your Jeep without the hardtop on where there is fresh air and warm sun, you truly are missing out. Moving the hardtop from your jeep may look like a difficult and inconvenient process, and it can be one if not done properly. This is precisely why hardtop hoists came into existence. 

They don’t only make it easy for you to take your hardtop off but also provides a convenient way to store them once they are off. This is a win-win situation. 

Thus, this post was aimed at finding you the best hardtop hoist for your jeep. It included all you need to know before buying the right product, along with some incredible product recommendations. Hopefully, by the time you reach this portion of the post, you’ll have a good idea of which product to opt for. 

People Also Ask

It’s very important to get the right hoist for your vehicle; thus, people often tend to have a lot of questions regarding them. Hence, we took the liberty of answering your most frequently asked questions in order to remove any confusion that you may have.

Can One Person Remove a Jeep Hardtop?

No, one person cannot remove a jeep hardtop by themselves without any help.

Smittybilt 510001 Hard Top Hoist for Jeep

How Much Does Jeep Hardtop Weigh?

Jeep hardtops weigh around 140 pounds.

How Do You Remove a Jeep Hardtop?

Removing a jeep hardtop is easy; however, there are certain tools required, such as a T40 Torx bit, a socket wrench, and a hardtop hoist.

The first thing to do is to remove the freedom panels from the top. In the case of a four-door, there will be two hidden bolts underneath, whereas there aren’t any bolts underneath a two-door. At the back of the hardtop, there are three more bolts as well as an electrical connector and a washer fluid connector which need to be removed.

Use the T40 Torx bit and socket wrench to remove the two bolts hidden underneath the freedom panel. Afterward, remove the three bolts on each side of the hardtop. Then, disconnect the electrical harness and the washer fluid hose. Next, using the hardtop hoist, remove the hardtop.

Insert Custom HTML

I used to work in construction and landscaping, so I've seen my fair share of ratchet straps, winches, and similar rigging gear. I started Winch Central because I've seen some nasty accidents due to crappy rigging or poor practice. I wanted to be able to recommend good equipment that's SAFE and also provide resources for how its used. I handle the research side of things here as well as product selection for gear reviews.