How to Dismount & Mount Pickup Canopy -- Solo?

[MarkBC]

I'm interested in learning a way, a procedure, a rig that will allow me to dismount and mount my canopy (aka, "cap" "shell" "topper") on my F250 and do it by myself -- without anyone's help.

It's an ARE brand CX model and weighs about 175 lbs (according to ARE specs).





I'm thinking...some rig, hoist, from the rafters in my garage...something like that. There's clearance (just barely) to back my truck-with-canopy into the garage, and the rafters are open.
It would be great to see specific examples -- with photos -- showing what you or others have done.

A local friend said I should just call him and a couple of other guys and we would lift it manually. Yeah...but I don't always have 3 friends ready to respond at a moment's notice. I'd rather be self-reliant, independent so I can gitter dun whenever I feel like it.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Mark, I used Brophy cable jacks to get it in the air, and then lower it to a dolly.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

Four trash cans or 55 gallon drums; one at each corner with lumber going across. Lift up front first then rear. Drive off.

 

[Taku]

I built a frame attached to the fence. Same height as the truck bed rails. Lift up the topper (either with using my back flat against the topper or lately using the speaker stand for raising the camper roof) put a pipe under it and roll it onto the frame. Same for putting it back on the truck. I think having a way to lift it directly would be the easiest but I have not been inspired to build that kind of contraption.

 

[OutbacKamper]

I built a 4' x 8' 6 wheel dolly then built wooden sides that were about level with the mounting surface of the canopy. I would roll the dolly behind the truck, chock the wheels to hold it in place, then get inside the canopy and crouch in the middle of the canopy with my back against the top. As I straitened my legs the canopy would lift off the truck just enough to slide it back. It was actually easier than it sounds.The side benefit was that there was lots of covered storage space under the canopy for camping gear etc.

 

[thisoldcamper]

I have mine hanging from the rafters by a cable pulley system and 120 volt wench. I was going to use this idea in the barn to load/unload my Alaskan, but changed my mind. The short chain sections are there as safeties to carry the load and keep the cable stress-free during storage. Check out youtube for how-to's.
I made a 2x4 T-post to hold the topper up off the bed rails while I slip the 2x4 stretcher under the topper. Also, one of the eyebolts on the front stretcher is removable to make it easier to slip it under the topper during install/removal.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I built a 4' x 8' 6 wheel dolly then built wooden sides that were about level with the mounting surface of the canopy. I would roll the dolly behind the truck, chock the wheels to hold it in place, then get inside the canopy and crouch in the middle of the canopy with my back against the top. As I straitened my legs the canopy would lift off the truck just enough to slide it back. It was actually easier than it sounds.The side benefit was that there was lots of covered storage space under the canopy for camping gear etc.

My first attempt at solo canopy removal was almost exactly like this, and I put my back muscles into spasms while lifting. It worked quite nicely, but be careful lifting.

 

[ntsqd]

My old bed shell had false gutters from Thule or Yakima bolted to it. I made some clips that attached to those and used a manual HF game hoist to lift it into the rafters in my old shop. I screwed a small deck cleat to one of the studs to tie-off to.
That was almost exactly 20 years ago. Today I'd use a manual HF worm gear type boat tongue winch instead. That would give better lifting power and better lowering control.

 

[ski3pin]

I did similar to thisoldcamper but with a manual hoist system - as I'd just lift up and shorten the chain on each corner until the topper is up near the ceiling.

 

[pvstoy]

I put something like this,

Racor - PHL-R, Garage Ceiling Storage Rack Lift mounted to the garage ceiling for taking on and off a roof top tent. I removed the platform and used 2 electrical superstruts. Hand crank down and slide the superstruts under the tent at either end and hand crank it up to the ceiling. You can use a electric drill to turn the crank. I still have it mounted in the shop and that is where the trucks back seats are stored. Yes it may cost more than making your own pully system but 22 years ago they were cheaper. Just giving you a idea...

https://www.amazon.com/Racor-PHL-1R-HeavyLift-4-Foot-Cable-Lifted/dp/B0009I8AO6
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Electrical-Boxes-Conduit-Fittings-Struts/Strut-Channel/N-5yc1vZbm55Z1z116bd

 

[MarkBC]

Thanks, guys!

I'm partial to the ideas that don't require "build", other than attaching eye-bolts and chain or cable or rope to lumber -- 2x4s and/or rafters.

"...get inside the canopy and crouch in the middle of the canopy with my back against the top. As I straightened my legs the canopy would lift off the truck..."
I remember (about a million years ago) my dad using this approach as part of the process to dismount the camper/canopy shell from our Datsun (pre-"Nissan") pickup.

I'm glad that my canopy's weight -- at 175 lbs (allegedly) -- is in the range that one non-Superman can wrangle without needing major mechanical advantage such as the burly steel jacks required for my FWC. And at that weight, no more than "body-weight", the gear (chain, rope, rafters) doesn't have to be too burly either.

ANY MORE SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME -- IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT YOURS!
I'm not quite ready to try anything yet...until I clear some junk out of the way in my garage.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Mark could you come up with a way to use your camper jacks?
Just a thought.
Just be careful with lifting yourself, backs are hard to replace.
Frank

 

[MarkBC]

...
Just be careful with lifting yourself, backs are hard to replace.
Frank

So I hear.

A friend of mine has had a chronic bad back, lots of pain, for a long time - one of an assortment of injuries from 20 years in the Army. One expert has told him - twice - that he's not a good candidate for surgery. "Try pain management" he's been told. Can you say "opioid"?

I'm very grateful that I've never had any skeletal, joint issues (knock on wood).
OK, I did slip and fall on black ice while riding my bicycle 20 years ago...putting a crack in the socket my femur ball fits into.. and setting me up for an increased chance of arthritis in that spot. But so far I've only had very few, rare, flate-ups.

My back is fine (k.o.w) and I do plan to keep it that way. I'll be careful.

 

[Jon R]

I did similar to thisoldcamper but with a manual hoist system - as I'd just lift up and shorten the chain on each corner until the topper is up near the ceiling.

That is exactly what I do. It’s important to raise the corners only a little at a time to avoid twisting the canopy too much, which can shift the glass in the windows and mess up the seals (I have a 1990s Gem Top plastic canopy that’s pretty flexible in twist.)

On my new truck I am trying to find a steel canopy that can double as a lumber rack. I’ll probably make a boat winch hoist that attaches to the racks to lift it off.