Advice on talking the Hardtop off please...

[MHQC]

The snow is gone and they are announcing a nice weekend. I have not had the hardtop off yet. Apparently it is REALLY easy to scratch the car if you are not careful. I have a little allen wrench that came with the car. Could anyone share a trick or two please?

Oh yeah, I would be doing this alone...

thanks

 

[larry milo]

Michael,
I would ask a neighbor to help and then keep it off til the weather changes in the fall. It's not the weight of the top it's just awkward to lift off alone from one side.

 

[BADVENOM]

The snow is gone and they are announcing a nice weekend. I have not had the hardtop off yet. Apparently it is REALLY easy to scratch the car if you are not careful. I have a little allen wrench that came with the car. Could anyone share a trick or two please?

Oh yeah, I would be doing this alone...

thanks

You could do it alone if you were careful. Loosen the two allen screw on the inside rear end of the top. Push the two front clips alll the way to the opposite side they are presently to release the front latch. Then just gently lift off. Be careful when removing. The top is light as a feather but large and cumbersome. Usually two people is advisable, when lifting off walk towards the rear of the car so both people can keep their hands on the top and still reach.

Adam

 

[Snake Bitten]

Michael,

Ditto on what Larry said...Take it off...and leave it off...and I can't believe there is a pile of dirty snow in your avatar...Please fix it!!!

Looks like you gotta keeper though!!! Now you need a Black Durango R/T to match!!!

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

It's not overly heavy but the taller you are the easier it will be to get leverage. I'm 6' and remove/install my top all the time, with lots of care.

Keep a towel or two in the trunk to throw over the windshield frame when installing the softtop or hardtop. You can then rest the top on the towel and pull out the towel after the top is aligned.

A towel is also handy in rain. I drape it over the center counsel after installing the soft top.

 

[Snakester]

This is MUCH easier with two people, but I have gotten pretty good at doing it myself.

I have two ways that I usually take the top off.

First, I roll down the windows, undo the front top latches and spread open the rear scissor catches, then I lift the top up slightly from sitting in the car because often the rubber seal initially sticks to the car when it's been on for more than a week. It's no problem, but you want to make sure that you aren't also fighting that seal when you are trying to lift the top off.

Then one way that I take the top off is to open the driver's door, sit down, lift the top straight up over my head and then get out of the car and stand up holding the top over my head.

This method does work, and you won't scratch the car, but it does take a lot of effort and balance to manage it.

The second way is that I do it is to lean over the driver's side of the car, with your legs braced against the door, and grab the top from the front and back in the middle, and slowly lift it straight up. The key is using the door and your legs/thighs as a brace. This is NOT a method that I would attempt if I had a weak back.

From my experience (I take my top off a couple times a week) I'd say that it's more risky for scratches when putting the top back on, because it's hard to gauge where the front metal locking studs are when you are setting the top down from above.

With some practice, you can get pretty close, at least hitting the plastic surround rather than the paint.
But I don't try and get it dead-on on the first try, I just gently set it as close as possible, and then sit inside the car and reposition the top in the slots correctly and then lock it down securely.

Just my two cents.
-Dean.

 

[MHQC]

thanks for the answers guys. Gerald, please feel free to use my avatar as your screen saver. I know you were just shy to ask; but be my guest! I will take some better ones later. That Durango R/T is a mean looking truck; saw one whip by me on the highway 2 days ago (black). I am looking for a black Ram 1500 (for snowmobiling and the quad etc...) to go with the Viper; but reliability has got me looking at a Toyota Tundra instead...unless I was misinformed. I would rather pull the Viper with a Dodge rather than a Tundra

 

[ViperJoe]

Any secrets / tips / landmarks to use as a guide when placing the top back ON?

 

[Matt]

When putting the top back on my RT I drape towels over the sportcap in back and I actually put tape over the rear bolts to keep them from extending as I set the top down. After it's down I lift each side individually and pull the towels out and secure the front latches and the rear bolts.

 

[DEVILDOG]

I would just ask it nicely to get off the car or perhaps you could promise it a night alone with a nice big soft top.

 

[Newport Viper]

Snakester has windows? Girly cars have windows!!!

 

[Steve Miehe]

Michael:

Listen to Chuck. Have plenty of towels handy and simply place them under the top as you pop the latches loose. Lift up, very gently, and slide the towel between the top and the body of your viper. ALL FOUR CORNERS. Keep moving from one corner, to the next while continuing to be sure there is plenty of protection between the top and your viper. If your back is reasonably strong, you can lift the top off and set it to the side by yourself - I do it all the time. Have a place ready for the top (if not a stand) and gently set it down.

 

[MHQC]

Have plenty of towels handy and simply place them under the top as you pop the latches loose

The towel keeps coming up; so I went to WALMART to buy some. Thanks for the responses. She will be removing her top tomorrow...I can't wait