okay, i bought a 1st gen 4runner a few weeks ago, and i took the top off in this nice weather we've been having lately. I just had a friend help me lift it off and i'll have him help me put it back on no big deal really, but i was wondering if any of you had an idea/ method where I could find a way to do it myself

 

Do you have a garage or a big tree in your yard?

You can make a simple pulley system with a rope and some pulley for probably less than 10 bucks

 

Yes.

You have to build a stand out of 2x4 though.

Build essentially two saw-horses that are the height of the back of your 4runner where the top bolts to. Unbolt the top.

Put the stands right behind the truck. Put down the rear seats and clear everything out of the bed area.

Then, get inside the truck, and essentially "stand up", but not all the way. Just enough to get the top up to clear.

Then, just "walk" it to the back, and rest it on the stands. You need to do it in a couple of jogs though. Once to get it up, and partly on the stands. Then, move it a very short distance off, so that you can get around the roll bar. Then go on the other side of the roll bar and move it the rest of the way. As soon as it will sit on the stands by itself, move the truck out of the way, and manhandle it onto the stands.

Then, just cover it with a tarp.

Good luck.

 

Here is what I do:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechI...tml#TopRemoval

 

You should try getting the top off of this by you're self.

 

thanks! good ideas. I wish i had a garage to use I thought about that, but thats where the chevota lives since the accident. I could use that sawhorse idea, simple yet effective.

 

yeah very easy and one maned with out anything to lift with top unbolted tail gate open stand on tail gate lift up and back about 2 feet then lift from ground so theres about 10 inches still on the truck then stand her up and walk her to were you gotta go just go slow and you should be fine or flip her on the roof and drag it on a blanket to where you gotta go

 

I find a big tree or inside the garage with a pulley and some rope works.

 

i thought about all those fancy ways at one point. but my 4runner is so beat to hell i just stand under the top and slide it off on my shoulders now.

 

Hey those of y'all with a roof rack...do you think you could just use a rope with some hooks and pulley? Cause that would be really handy. Definately drilled through the top, I don't know about anything on the gutters. Just a thought.

 

i don't know if this could work for you.... but my friend takes the topper off his tacoma by setting up a motorcycle ramp and picking it up from the center on his shoulders and walking it off. you could do it if you feel comfortable with it. and you could use a good piece of wood or something not only a bike ramp. good luck

 

If you look at the picture that 4crawler posted up that is the set-up I use, except I put a piece of rope through the front windows in the top so I don't have to lift the top so far to clear the roll bar with the front support, thus it doesn't require a tall ceiling to raise it in, such as a garage. I use rope because its flexible and conforms to the window frame with out damage. plus its easy to line up when you putting the top back on too, just make sure you get the roll bar into the top and your good to go.